Fee reflects small budget changes

A $1.6 million student services budget had 11 programs receive increases or decreases during the summer with the addition of the drum line. Student Life and Leadership and Model U.N. received the biggest increases.

Dr. Peter Fos, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, said permanent funding through the Office of Academic Affairs is needed for the Model U.N. and moved the funding out of student fees. “There is so much value in the Model U.N. and we felt since it was more of an academic affairs area that we would take on the funding,” Fos said.

Two new programs are being funded by the students for a new drum line, led by the music department and an Internet Television Broadcasting program. “The drum line is new and the students said they that they wanted one,” Dr. Howard Patterson, vice president for student affairs said. “It is being run through the music department and the drums have been ordered.”

Where do all those fees go?

The Internet Television Broadcasting is a program, which is scheduled to film chorale events, volleyball games and other events around campus for use through YouTube. “The students said they wanted to begin Internet Television Broadcasting and Dean (Alisa) White said her area is interested in it from a mass communication area,” Patterson said. “The $10,000 recommended budget gave us a start on buying some cameras and other equipment.”

Sheryl Dennis, assistant vice president for Business Affairs, said students pay $11 per semester credit hours not exceeding $150 per semester. The Student Fee Advisory Committee is comprised of five students picked by the Student Government and four faculty and staff members selected by the president.

The University collected about $1.5 million in student services fees last semester, which helps support 25 programs at the University. Patterson said the University is currently in fiscal year 2010, which runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31.

The top five student organizations receiving recommendations from student services fee included: intramurals ($88,672), student publications ($84,139), student government association ($57,778), speech and debate ($41,984) and Greek life ($21,750). The commencement account for the University saw an $8,000 decrease and Patterson said this needed to be changed.

“We felt like we were double dipping with the students because they are paying a fee. and then we are taking money out of their fees account that is being held through the registrar’s office. “They determined the funding previously allocated for expenses associated with diplomas and printing graduation documents should be funded from the Diploma Fee collected by the Registrar’s Office.”

Student Life and Leadership had the biggest increase of 15.69 percent in regards to student services fees with a total of $6,500. “I am guessing that the Student Life and Leadership increase was for programming in the new University Center renovation,” he said. “We approved them for transfer initiatives and they did a transfer program during orientation this year.”

The Patriot Center-Student Services also saw an increase of $2,287, which is scheduled for the Patriot Zone and other areas. “The Patriot Center-Student Services had an increase in wages throughout the department,” he said. “They got part-time people for the Patriot Zone and fringe benefits, which is workers compensation and different student jobs have different benefits.”

The emergency management office had an increase of $10,000 for start up cost related to a new software program, which will help students, faculty and staff receive e-mails and text alerts faster in the case of emergencies on campus.

Patterson said overall he is pleased with the committees’ recommendations. “I think the committee did a real good job,” he said. “They did a lot more research this time and asked some really good questions. I think this is their best job yet.”