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SFAC hearings conclude with questions

'Stage fright' led to Urban Experience's fund-raising report, Lee tells committee

Cougar News Staff

Members of the Student Fees Advisory Committee questioned the director of the Urban Experience Program on Friday about her fund-raising efforts, suggesting the base funding for the program should not be raised until external funds are secured.

Faculty SFAC faculty member Wilford Weber told UEP Director Robbie Evans he wondered whether her request for a $36,378 increase in base funding -- which would fund the addition of an office coordinator to the UEP staff -- should be considered a one-time request pending fund-raising success.

Holden Chang The Daily Cougar

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Vice President for Student Affairs Elwyn C. Lee makes closing remarks during Friday's Student Fees Advisory Committee session. With hearings complete, the committee will begin deliberating on how to divide student fee money among fee-funded groups.

Responding to committee questions about her fund-raising activities, Evans said she had made one presentation seeking a grant in the current fiscal year. She also contacted five of 100 companies targeted for a sponsorship program.

The UEP, based in Learning and Assessment Services, helps "at-risk" students -- those who have financial, personal or educational difficulties -- earn degrees from UH.

The concerns persisted during Vice President for Student Affairs Elwyn C. Lee's closing remarks later in the day.

"I think we were taken back a bit by the fact that, from September to now, (Evans) had submitted one proposal and contacted, but not met with, five sources of funding," Weber told Lee.

Lee distributed copies of a proposal from UEP dated Jan. 27 requesting $150,000 to fund three internships for three years. He said the proposal had been given to the chief executive officer of a "very rich" company, but neither the printed proposal nor Lee gave the name of the company. He said Evans will make more proposals in March.

Evans' UEP is not related to the Urban Experience Program based in the Center for Mexican-American Studies, which had its SFAC hearing Monday.

In other business, Lee withdrew a request for $22,483 for a Student Affairs Web Development Office. The office was designed to help departments within the Division of Student Affairs maintain their Web sites.

"The decision was the result of a tighter overall budget and concerns from last year's SFAC about the program," Diane Murphy, assistant vice president for student affairs, said.

Learning Support Services, which provides free tutoring and learning development programs for enrolled students, requested a $49,702 increase in base funding to allow the hiring of a second learning strategies counselor.

UH Wellness requested $184,582 in base funding, more than double its previous level and the Central Business Office for the Division of Student Affairs asked for $58,755 to pay some salaries and administrative costs.

The committee will now begin deliberations on how to allocate student fees. Its recommendations will be presented to UH President Jay Gogue for approval.
 

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