Board discussing a possible fee increase
Fee Board members discussed the state of their budgets and possible fee increases Tuesday at the ASUSU Executive Council/Fee Board meeting.
Board members from six of the nine fee-receiving units said they don’t anticipate fee increases – meaning the bus, activity, athletic, building, health and music and theatre fees are expected to remain at current levels.
The three other board members from the computer, recreation and library units said they were looking into whether they would request increases at the next Fee Board meeting in December.
Board member and Team Coordinator for IT Security Bob Bayn said a computer fee increase may be requested should the student consensus request one. Academic Senate President Michelle Lundberg said the IT department is looking at opportunities to expand the TSC Computer Lab into the next-door Statesman office, an idea that was proposed last year by Quinn Millet. There is also opportunity to expand the University Reserve Lab in the University Reserve Building when a copy center moves out. The lab is a Macintosh lab used primarily by art students.
“We’ll do what people want to pay for,” Bayn said.
The computer fee is currently $57.00 for students taking eight or more credits. Before making a decision, the board will get feedback from student fee committee members to see what students want.
Bayn said if either lab were to expand, they would undoubtedly get used since he said the TSC Computer Lab is always busy.
Library fee board member Kevin Brewer said the financial health of the Merrill-Cazier Library budget has him concerned and he doesn’t know if a fee increase will be requested in December. According to the library student fee allocation form, book and journal price inflation has increased 8-15 percent and book inflation increased 3.5-8 percent, costing around $230,000 in inflation costs alone. “We’re walking a tight rope,” he said. “It’s a sad situation.”
Board member Kevin Kobe said he is also looking into whether or not a recreation fee increase will be necessary. The recreation fee is currently $19.50 and funds intramural clubs and sports, the ORC and the HPER/Fieldhouse.
In addition to explaining the budget for the Student Health and Wellness Center, Dr. Jim Davis proposed a health insurance option to the council. Currently, the center is funded by student fees and time of service payments for things like prescriptions and stitches. Insurance has never been accepted, though switching to an insurance system is an option. Many universities operate this way, Davis said, and the option would significantly reduce student fees.
“It seems like a no-brainer,” Davis said.
The only drawback is that patients would have to bring an insurance card with them to the doctor’s office.
The physical therapy portion of the center is already operating this way and is saving students more than $200,000 in student fees, Davis said.
-mof@cc.usu.edu