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News

SFAC report: increase fees

A 5.11 percent increase is called for to fund groups; report approves base budgets, asks SPB to diversify 

by KELSIE HAHN
The Daily Cougar 

The Student Fees Advisory Committee report for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 -- beginning Sept. 1, 2007 and ending Aug. 31, 2008 -- calls for a 5.11 percent increase to student service fees, raising the amount for full-time students to $185 from $176 per fall and spring semester.

SFAC Chair Jeremy Ruth said the increase was necessary to allow the UH Health Center to offer competitive salaries to improve staff retention and in anticipation of a possible 4 percent state-mandated salary increase.

"We did everything we could to not raise the fee," he said. "(But) if we don't budget for the mandated salary increases, in the middle of the fiscal year we're gonna have to cut the services. We're trying to keep the services at their full potential."

The SFAC recommended .38 percent increase of $1.50 to the Health Center Fee for a total of $21.50.

With a predicted enrollment base of 33,500 students, the fee would bring in $13,696,130 of revenue -- up $687,516 from last year. 

From the SFAC recommendation, President Jay Gogue will present a recommendation in April to the UH System Board of Regents, who will make the final decision on the fees for next year.

The report, released March 9, outlined whether specific program and organization requests were approved or denied and why.

After expressing concerns about a lack of diversity in the Student Program Board's activities at open hearings in late February, the committee recommended half the organization's base budget of $145,343 be converted to a one-time allocation as a probationary measure. To maintain the entire budget next year, SPB needs to attract a wider range of the student population and "justify all spending," the committee's report said.

Ruth said SFAC has been concerned with the issue before.

"We believe this has been going on for a few years now, so hopefully this will lead (SPB) in the right direction regarding their leadership and their programming."

The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 SFAC recommendation also asked SPB to offer more diverse programming, but took no probationary measures.

Dean of Students William Munson said the measures are uncommon, but have been used by the SFAC before.

"SPB's budget has been divided like this once in the past and once in the past for the Council of Ethnic Organizations," he said. If future SFACs find it necessary, further measures could include converting more of the organization's base budget to a one-time allocation, cutting the overall budget or even causing the dissolution of SPB, though the latter would be unlikely, Munson said.

The committee also asked the Dean of Students Success Programs to examine the effectiveness of a program which matches new UH students with upperclassmen for support.

The SFAC did not deny any requested base budgets, which are the same as the approved budgets from last year with the addition of any required increases in salaries.

Permanent additions to organization's base budgets, or base augmentations, included $5,000 for the Blaffer Gallery for its two annual student exhibitions, $15,000 for student scholarships at the Child Care Center, $17,040 for a UH Forensics part-time director, $13,752 for Learning Support Services' tutor wage increase and $14,652 for the Student Video Network. 

The recommendation approved $277,709 in 2007 and 2008 one-time allocations that will not be added permanently to the budget: $10,656 for an office assistant for Academic Achievers, $40,000 for Band Program and Spirit Squad travel expenses and $20,980 for Greek Life Outreach and $4,000 for printing for Campus Activities.

The SFAC also recommended a $7,604 for a shade over the infant playground area at the Child Care Center, $8,440 for the Student Satisfaction Survey, the $72,671 probationary measure for SPB, $21,749 for new computers for Student Publications, including The Daily Cougar, $13,200 for equipment and $16,900 for furnishings and electrical work for the Student Video Network, $29,500 for an employer relations coordinator for University Career Services and $10,076 discretionary spending for Urban Experience Program.

The SFAC recommendation denied requests for funding for a career counselor for students and veterans with disabilities for the Center for Students with Disabilities, a base augmentation to handle an increase in learning disability and ADHD testing for Counseling and Psychological Services, office renovations for UH Forensics, accounting software for Student Publications and a printer for the UEP.

The committee was favorable toward a University Center marquee and a Campus Recreation ropes course, but requested more information before allocating funding.
 

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