Debate over tuition-hike veto leaves questions for students
|
|
Despite Gov. Charlie Crist's veto of a proposed tuition hike in May, legislators and administrators are still waiting to see if there will be a tuition increase for the 2007-2008 school year.
According to University of North Florida President John Delaney, a tuition increase is still possible because the legality of the veto is under question.
"There is some question [as] to if it was an effective veto," Delaney said.
While the governor has the authority to veto specific items within a bill line-by-line, lawyers are arguing that he can't edit only a few words within each line. It must be a veto of the whole line or no veto at all, Delaney said.
Increase or not, student fees will be effected. The university student fee assessment committee voted last year to increase the athletic fee by 43 cents per credit hour and the activity and service fee by 34 cents per credit hour for the 2007-2008 school year. Currently the athletic fee is $12.25 and the activity and service fee is $7.49 per credit hour.
The UNF Board of Trustees approved both increases, based on an estimated 3-percent increase in tuition.
Continue reading
Administration looks to trim student union costs
The University of North Florida is preparing to break ground this summer on the student union building, a project that's approximately $1.5 million over budget.
While a construction contract has not been finalized yet, university officials are conducting value-engineering analyses to see how to bring the estimated costs in alignment with the $50 million allotted for the project.
"What we're looking for now is to save money to come within the budget," said Dr. Lucy Croft, assistant vice president of student affairs. "We're considering concrete instead of brick, stucco instead of other materials, etc. [...] The idea is to not compromise the aesthetics of the building interior or exterior but find a way to cut costs."
While reviewing the project for cost, the university is also preparing the area where the building will be constructed.
Many, if not all, of the portables next to parking lots 3 and 4 have been vacated and offices have been relocated, Croft said. The parking lots are expected to be closed later this summer. Then, the portables will be removed and the area will be fenced off.
Continue reading
SG Senate regulates sponsorship of credit card solicitors on campus
Unanimous vote shuts door on solicitors
|
|
Although the University of North Florida Student Government Senate voted against a similar bill in the spring, it recently passed a joint resolution restricting credit card solicitation on campus.
By a vote of 10-0-0, the Senate approved the resolution requesting all student-funded entities be restricted from sponsoring activities involving credit card solicitation of any kind.
The resolution also recommends the university's board of trustees, legal counsel and student affairs department adopt the same policy, while providing credit and debt information at student events. Over 300 student signatures were collected in support of the resolution.
"We [student government] are not the only department that has sponsored these companies in the past, and if other departments continue to sponsor them, we want to make educational materials part of the process and requirements for soliciting on campus," said Jasmine Butler, SG attorney general.
Student Body President Rachael Tutwiler has signed the resolution and it's in the process of being forwarded to UNF President John Delaney and other university officials,
Butler said.
Continue reading