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Student fees on the rise for 2013-14 year
By Katie Anderson
On May 2, 2013
Student fees are on the rise again for next year, as the athletic fee, health fee and
transportation fee will all be increasing.
The transportation fee will see the largest increase of the three at 19.7 percent. Increased by
$15, transportation will now cost students $91.
President Aaron Podolefsky responded to the College Senate recommendations in a press
release and explained the high increase for the transportation fee.
"This unfortunately steep increase results from a three-year contract negotiated two years
ago with full engagement of students," he said in the release. "We have little choice but to
honor our contract with NFTA."
Michael LeVine, vice president of the finance and management office, said that
approximately one-third of the student body uses the bus service on campus.
"It's well used," he said. "If we didn't have that, it would impact parking. If those students
were now bringing a car onto campus, everybody would pay."
The health fee, which offers physical and psychological services, will increase by 2.8
percent. Students will have to pay $277.50 per academic year for the health fees, which can
be waived.
In his response, Podolefsky said that some health fee funds were being spent on unrelated
services, and that the use of those funds would need to be reviewed.
LeVine noted that some of the services in question include disability services and financial
aid.
"Disability services I think is appropriate," he said. "I think some of them need to be looked
at. I think the president is saying that we need to look at those things and make sure that
we're only putting the appropriate expenditures against the fees."
The athletic fee, which is taking a 2 percent increase and costing students $281 a year, is
rising due to fringe benefits imposed by the state as well as salary increases.
"The fee increase is simply to keep our nose above the rising water of those costs that we
have no control over so that we don't have to cut the equipment, travel budgets and games,"
Jerry Boyes, director of athletics, said.
According to LeVine, the senate voted on the growth of the athletic fee, but did not pass
it. LeVine said that the senate can only make recommendations to the president and that
student opinions were just as important.
"There were some complaints last year that we didn't do efficient student consultation,
so we wanted to make sure we address that going into the new year," LeVine said. "So, we
let the senate process happen, but we also had some individual meetings with the Student
Welfare Committee of the senate and held an open forum to all students."
LeVine said that the students who were willing to provide input, were supportive of the
increase.
Receiving student input regarding the fees was a priority during the decision-making
process, according to LeVine.
"The students are impacted by this, both in terms of having to pay an increase, but also in
getting additional services," he said. "We wanted to give the president information, not just
from the senate, but also, from the broader community."
LeVine said the senate budget committee made recommendations that were challenged by
the Student Welfare Committee at the last senate meeting because of feedback they received
from their constituents.
"Not only were we out doing more consultations with students, but the Student Welfare
Committee was out talking to students, also," LeVine said. "So, when the president made the
decision, it was based on what he heard from the budget committee, the Student Welfare
Committee and the open forums. So his decision gets made with a bigger picture than
maybe it's been done in the past."
Katie Anderson can be reached by email at Anderson.record@live.com or on Twitter
@katetheskate91.
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