Fees could rise in Fall

In the midst of an unstable national economy, the GCSU Mandatory Student Fee Committee, associated with the Student Government Association (SGA), has ruled in favor of an increase for the fall 2009 Mandatory Student fee, averaging a $60 increase.

Ryan Greene, SGA President, explains that student fees do rise every year with the inflation of prices, yet he admits this year’s raise was more significant.

“Students demand for better services and more events, such as GCSU Idol and Homecoming, require a rise in fees to get the job done,” says Greene. “The rise in these fees is for the benefit of the student.”

The mandatory student fee is composed of eight specific fees: activity, technology, athletic, health, transportation/parking, bobcat card, green and temporary wellness fee. The green fee, meant to support clean campus initiatives, was voted upon by the student body and this fall semester will be its initiation. The temporary wellness fee is meant to fund a new Student Wellness Center for West Campus. Yet, 74.4% of the rise in fees is from existing facets.

“The school has changed so much in the past ten years, growing in size and demand, that it has impacted the increasing of fees,” said Dean Bruce Harshbarger, Vice President and Dean of Students.

The process ordaining a rise in these fees begins when the Mandatory Student Fee Committee, composed of five students and five GCSU staff, accepts proposals for raises in individual fees. After voting on the proposals, their decisions are edited or cut by President Dorothy Leland. Her final decision is sent and reviewed by the Georgia Board of Regents. If the fees are improved, they are official and can go into effect the next school year.

“Overall, President Leland and her office have been doing a great job considering the financial affairs of the student body,” said Greene.

The proposed raise in fees was around $76 originally, but Leland trimmed it down to $55. This brought the total student fees for fall 2009 around $525, compared to $465.

Even with the efforts to lessen the increase, many students seem to be unhappy about it, claiming that GCSU is not considering the well-being of their wallets in a time where many families struggle with their incomes.

Sophomore English major, Samantha Mandernacht, is frustrated with this raise in student fees after learning that the 2009 Homecoming budget sits at $66,000.

“Maybe if funds were being allocated more modestly and responsibly during a time of financial stress, students wouldn’t have to bear the weight by paying higher fees,” said Mandernacht.

Addressing this argument, Greene believes the majority of the student body can carry the extra burden to satisfy their requests for better services.

“Generally speaking, the (GCSU) student body didn’t voice concerns to SGA,” said Greene. “We did not hear from the students that they were adamant for fees increasing this year.”

If there are students who experience problems with paying this extra fee, then talk to GCSU officials.

“I encourage students to set up special appointments with Financial Aid,” Dr. Harshbarger said.

Institutionally, GCSU has taken precautions by freezing positions that are vacant in the faculty, by delaying non-essential expenses and by cutting down on surpluses. Since all the state education cuts, the school has had to be careful with their provided budgets already.

Dean Harshbarger sums up the issue.

“We need to make hard decisions on what is essential in this economic downturn and only make necessary expenses,” Harsbarger said.