Two new student-fee proposals from the Gerald R. Sherratt Library and SUU’s Study Abroad program were heard at the Student Fee Review Committee meeting Thursday.
John Eye, interim dean and associate professor of library media, was in attendance to present the new Library student-fee request of $5 to the committee.
Eye said the Library’s budget has remained static for the past ten years despite a growth in student body and inflation and as a result, expenditures have had to be cut each year.
Eye explained that LexisNexis, a searchable database for news, public records, legal documents and more, was in danger of being cut.
‘Presently we would have to cut something in our budget to keep LexisNexis beyond July 1,’ Eye said.
Eye also said a significant portion of the Library’s collection budget is received through the regents office from the state legislature.
‘It is likely there will be significant cuts to that budget,’ Eye said. ‘We probably won’t know until the legislature finishes its session.’
Director of International Outreach Alla Paroiatnikova proposed a new $2 student-fee for the Study Abroad Program to the committee.
Paroiatnikova said that in our changing global economy the types of skills a student will acquire from study abroad programs are not just a luxury, but are becoming a requirement.
She explained that costly living expenses and transportation coupled with the fact that students will not be earning an income while abroad, make the proposed student-fee beneficial to the students that want to ‘go the extra mile.’
Paroiatnikova said the $2 student-fee could provide students who want to participate in the study abroad program with scholarships of approximately $250 each.
She explained some departments are also providing an additional $200-$250 to study abroad students.
She said the total combined amount could mean the equivalent of half of a student’s air-fare.
Student-fee increase requests from the University Journal and the Music Department were also heard at the meeting.
University Journal Operations Manager John Gholdston requested a $1 student-fee increase for the University’s news platform. The $1-increase would raise the student-fee to $7 and would help to off-set the 75 -percent increase in printing costs since the last student-fee increase more than seven years ago.
Gholdston explained that a large portion of the paper’s operating expenses is expected to come from advertising revenue, but revenue has declined as advertisers have suffered during the economic downturn.
He called the news organization a hybrid, ‘with one foot in the academic camp and the other in the student service camp.’
The Music Department Chair Keith Bradshaw asked the committee to consider a fee increase of 50 cents for the Music Department, which would bring the fee to $2.50.
Bradshaw said it is important to the Music Department to be able to offer free concerts and recitals to students.
He said benefits include providing an active cultural life for the university and many opportunities for students to attend and participate in performances.’
