With enrollment declining, less revenue is being generated for the Student Service Fees account.
This year, $2,180,196 came from fees, a decrease of $235,569 from last year. The Student Service Fee is $15.50 per credit hour, capped at $250 per semester.
The revenue shortage forced the Student Allocations Committee to make some touch choices. No department or organization was allocated more than what they requested.
The Vinson Health Center suffered one of the biggest hits, asking for $504,524 and getting $359,224.
Counseling Center director Pam Midgett said she requested $303,296 for next year in order to purchase new material for the center including a bar code reader.
The Center got $299,996.
“We were going to use that for events so it could keep a record of attendance,” Midgett said. “That way we would know which events were more popular.”
The bar code reader would also identify the classification of the student.
“We were going to use that to plan our programming for next year.”
Disability Support Services requested $197,716 but got $170,976, a loss of $26,740. The amount, however, was $7,865 more than it received last year.
Debra Higginbotham, director of Disability Support Services, said the department is in need for more interpreters for deaf students.
“Interpreter can command $30 to $90 an hour,” she said.
“It is also very high in demand. We do not have a lot of interpreters in Wichita Falls and when you have a student that is deaf the university must provide that.”
Higginbotham said one deaf student is currently registered through the program.
“Using the average of $35 per hour cost to provide one interpreter for one full-time student, summer included, would be approximately $24,500 per year,” she said.
The Artist-Lecture series got $81,700, Career Management Center was allocated $150,000, Clark Student Center received $432,992 and Student Government got $34,000, the amounts they requested. MSU cheerleaders were also granted the $57,783 it asked for this year. Last year it received $1,702 more.
Homecoming got its requested $30,000. The Honors Banquet was given its requested $6,000. Voices asked and received $11,000,
Music requested $43,000 but got $39,000.
Mustang Maniacs received $3,500, $1,000 less than it asked for. Family Day got $18,000, $1,000 less than requested.
New Student Orientation was given $13,500, also $1,000 less.
Student Success Series got $10,000, $4,000 less than it asked for.
Ultimate Frisbee Club got the $2,000 it asked for as did the Student I.D. Handbook, $4,500.
Wai-Kun asked for and received $10,500.
The Wichitan was allocated $25,000 for the 2012-2013 school year. It had requested $28,490.
These numbers are not final and have to be approved by MSU President Dr. Jesse Rogers.
“The student committee did an excellent job managing the cuts and they were most concerned about the student experience,” said Dr. Keith Lamb, vice president of enrollment and student affairs.
“This was a very difficult problem for them to solve, and they are to be commended for their thoughtfulness and hard work.”
Every year the Student Allocations Committee considers requests by certain departments and organizations and allocates funds based upon the demands.
