USF St. Petersburg’s Student Government held an emergency general assembly meeting on Feb. 4 to vote on increases to student health fees and activity and services fees.
Senators at the assembly meeting voted to approve a total $1.58 increase to the two fees, which are charged to all students per credit hour every semester. The $1.58 figure came from a suggested 5 percent increase by USF Tampa.
The suggested increase allows Student Government to better anticipate the school’s growth, which is estimated to increase by 7 percent next year. The capital fund, where unused activity and service fees are collected, currently stands at about $100,000.
Student body President Mark Lombardi-Nelson originally proposed the $1.58 be split equally between health and activity and service fees, with a 79-cent increase to both. Sen. Anthony Patterson amended the proposal to give the health center $1.30 per credit hour.
The health center, located on the second floor of the Student Life Center, is operating with half the staff that director of Student Achievement Diane McKinstry would like. Prior to the general assembly meeting, McKinstry told Lombardi-Nelson she would be happy with a 60 cent per credit hour increase next semester.
Senators spent the remainder of the meeting debating the need for more staff in the health center. The original amendment put forth by Patterson was pared down from $1.30 to $1 for health service fees. Next year that fee will increase from $3.90 to $4.90 per credit hour, incorrectly recorded as $4.91 in the official minutes of the assembly meeting.
Activity and service fees will increase by 58 cents per credit hour, going from $25.05 to $25.63, also incorrectly recorded in the minutes as $25.62.
USFSP has the highest activity and service fees among all Florida public universities. However, $13.08 of that total is a special fee used to pay for the long-term bond on the University Student Center. The $11.97 remaining is only 26 cents higher than Tampa and in line with the $14.41 average across all state schools.
Senators chose not to raise the athletic fee, which helps pay for the USF sailing team and other USF athletics. That fee will stay at $2.45 per credit hour.
The emergency meeting was necessary because the Campus Board meeting in which the issues would be voted on was moved up to Feb. 7. Minutes for the meeting were unavailable at the time of publication.
news@crowsneststpete.com
