SHC fee increase proposed
Published March 18, 2008
A fee increase for the Student Health Center of 3.9 percent, or $3.50 per student, has been sent to the UM system Board of Curators for final approval. The increase would go into effect for Fall Semester 2008.
According to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs, the dean of the School of Medicine — who oversees the Student Health Center — approved the increase proposed by SHC director Susan Even and supported by the Missouri Students Association.
Scroggs said the proposed increase has been forwarded to the Board of Curators to approve at its next meeting on April 3 and 4 in Rolla.
Student Health Center representatives originally sought to increase the center’s fee by 4.1 percent, or $3.66 per student, which would have matched the maximum percentage as allowed by the inflationary cap. The Board of Curators at its Feb. 1 meeting considered a 4.1 percent increase, but the proposal was tabled when a discrepancy was noted between what MSA recommended and what was presented.
In a letter to School of Medicine Dean William Crist, Even said the decision was “tabled to allow more opportunity to communicate with students.”
According to previous Maneater reports, MSA passed a resolution at its Nov. 28 meeting supporting a fee increase of $2.32, but the Board of Curators was presented with a document saying MSA supported an increase of 4.1 percent.
Since the board tabled the fee approval, MSA passed a resolution on March 5 supporting an increase of 3.9 percent and requesting the health center decreases advertising spending to account for the lower increase.
Senate Speaker Jonathan Mays said he is relieved MSA and the Student Health Center have come to an agreement on the fee, but he will continue to monitor the proposal’s progress at the Curator’s meeting.
“It seems like we’re in good shape,” Mays said. “We’ve kept our student curator up to date, and we’re not expecting any controversy at the board meeting, but you never know, so we need to be prepared.”
