Fee Board discusses proposals for 2019 student fees

The Utah State University Student Fee Board met Wednesday night to discuss proposed increases in student fees from the Counseling and Psychological Services office, the Institute of Government and Politics and the Global Engagement office.

LuAnn Helms, the interim CAPS director, emphasized a need for mental health services at USU and its lack of funding, partly due to the restructuring of the Division of Student Affairs.

James Morales, the Vice President of Student Affairs, explained excess funding from other departments had been used to help fund CAPS in the past, but since the division’s reorganization last September, departments that had provided about $250,000 have since been removed from student affairs.

“I no longer have those resources to provide year-to-year support for these positions,” Morales said. “It’s a critical, unfortunate situation that we’re in.”

Helms cited student surveys that showed almost 40 percent of USU students feel depressed, and more than half reported overwhelming anxiety. To meet the International Association of Counseling Services standard and earn re-accreditation, USU will need to fund between 18 and 28 positions. Helms said that should the proposal pass, CAPS could hire 13 therapists on the main campus and five therapists for regional campuses.

The CAPS proposal includes five items, listed in order of importance, Helms said. First, to fix the CAPS budget deficit, it will cost students each $1.82.

Second is funding for a 75 percent time psychologist position, which would cost students $2.21. Helms stated that the salaries for CAPS employees range from $63,000 to $69,000, compared to the national average for university counseling centers, $64,000 to $85,000. Helms said the office has had multiple employees leave for better-paying jobs.

Third is funding for the second half of a psychologist position for the Caine College of the Arts, which would cost $1.39. Helms said the college, whose students make up a disproportionately high number of the students seeking mental health services, offered to fund part of a position that will devote part-time to art students, while still being partly available to other students. The position, which has yet to be filled, would be new.

Helms said while CAPS provides therapy services to about five percent of students, they provide therapy services to about 10 percent of CCA students. CCA Senator Sierra Wise stated that part of the position’s creation was in response to the piano department investigation.

Fourth on the list of items is funding for a full time licensed clinical social worker, which would cost $2.17 per student. Helms said this position would be used to handle lots of initial consults and crisis intervention.
Lastly, the proposal included an item for funding a full-time licensed marriage and family therapist, and two USU practicum students, which would cost $2.87 per student. If passed, this therapist would also be able to work with individual students should the demand for family counseling be lower than expected.

“We’re operating in the red. We don’t have enough money,” Helms said. “I don’t believe students should have to pay for all our services, but if we help one student to cope better, that usually has a positive impact on their roommates, friends and classmates. There’s a ripple effect to create a healthier environment.”

Most students expressed support for the proposal, with a few expressing concern about the sustainability of the new CCA psychologist position. The proposal will be voted on during the next meeting on Jan. 23, with the board considering options to fund all five items, funding only the first four, funding only the first three, or not pass any at all.

The second proposal for additional funding came from the Institute of Government and Politics and the Global Engagement office. Shannon Peterson, the director of global programming for the IOGP, proposed a new $5 semester fee that would create a Global Opportunity Scholarship Fund, a seed pool creating $1000 travel scholarships for 210 students.

Peterson said priority would be given to seniors, previous nonparticipants and students who demonstrate financial need, considering “current participation is primarily limited to scholarship recipients and students of higher socioeconomic status.”

“It’s not really fair that these opportunities are only going to those who know about them and have resources already available,” Peterson said.

Multiple board members brought up concerns about the accessibility of scholarships, compared to the number of students contributing to the funds. Diversity and Organizations VP Josh Johnson said there is no reason to believe the students receiving the new scholarships won’t be the exact same students, given that roughly 500 to 600 students apply to study abroad each year and there will only be 210 scholarships available.

Peterson stated that while only about 2 to 3 percent of USU students study abroad, a spring 2018 campus survey indicated that 90 percent of students want to participate. Johnson pointed out that the survey was only completed by 255 participants, about 0.01 percent of the Logan campus student population.

Erik Olson, the College of Engineering senator, mentioned that STEM students are less likely to study abroad than students in the humanities. Olson said engineering students rarely study abroad because the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology applies to programs mainly in the United States, and most engineering credits in international schools would not transfer back to USU.

Cameron Pitt, the Huntsman School of Business senator, said he supports widening the audience for study abroad opportunities, but also expressed concern that the scholarships would go to students that already have the means and access to global opportunities.

“Before I vote yes or no, I really want to know what the qualification process is to award these scholarships,” Pitt said.

In a straw poll, three board members voted partially while all remaining members voted against. Because the proposed fee is new, if passed by the board the proposal would be included as a referendum on USUSA election ballots this February.

The board will meet again on Jan. 23 to vote on the proposals.

– naomiyokoward@aggiemail.usu.edu

@naomiyokoward

On January 9th 2019, the University held their first fee board meeting of the year held at the Senate Chambers in the Taggart Student Center. The University Student Fee Board (USFB) is comprised of members of the Utah State University Student Association (USUSA). Photo by Jason Rimando.

• naomiyokoward@aggiemail.usu.edu
• @naomiyokoward