Survey results precipitate changes in shuttle system
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The results of an 11-day long survey conducted Nov. 5-15 by Auxiliary Services about the school's shuttle system are in, and the new information is leading to changes in the way the system will operate.
The survey explored many areas of the rider's experience, including wait times, bus conditions, driver attitudes, frequency of use, and stops.
Of the 243 people surveyed, 60.9 percent of them were students, 30 percent were staff, and 9.1 percent were faculty.
Of these, 28.9 percent said they ride the shuttle every day, with Tuesdays and Thursdays being the most used days of
the week.
Between 12 and 5 p.m. was the time frame with the most riders.
UNF Hall, Lot 18, and the library were the more popular spots for people to board the shuttle, and 61.3 percent of riders surveyed exit at the library stop.
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State cuts Bright Futures awards
As the spring semester draws near, college students across the state may be counting change to make up for the $75 cut from the educational stipend of the Academic Scholars Award in
the Bright Futures scholarship program.
The Florida Legislature passed three bills in October that affected Bright Futures, one of which decreases the amount students receive for books and other educational costs from $300 to $225.
For UNF, where 5,802 students rely on Bright Futures for financial aid, 729 Florida Academic Scholar students will be directly affected by the change.
"I think it's going to inconvenience a lot of students, because a lot of people who have the full ride were planning on that money," said Katie Penkala, a senior math major. "If [students] don't have enough money, they could work to make up the rest. But if [Bright Futures] is cut too much, they'll have to take out loans with their scholarships - or just not
buy books."
According to Florida Senate Bill 2C, the financial aid budget was reduced by less than 2 percent this year, but the cutbacks were made due to state revenue
shortfalls.
The only two programs affected by the funding decreases are Florida Bright Futures and the First Generation Matching
Grant Program.
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Committee votes for student fee increases
The Student Fee Assessment Committee met Nov. 30 and voted on proposed fee increases for next year. The committee's recommendations are below. The recommendations will be forwarded to UNF President John Delaney for approval and then put before the Board of Trustees for final approval in January.
ATHLETICS
APPROVED: $0.32
FROM $0.81 REQUEST
- CURRENT FEE: $12.68 per credit hour.
- REQUESTED INCREASE: 81 cents.
- COMMITTEE DECISION: Not approved; recommended 32 cent increase.
- NEW TOTAL: $13 per credit hour.
SG - ACTIVITY AND SERVICE FEE
APPROVED: $0.16
FROM $0.22 REQUEST
- CURRENT FEE: $7.83 per credit hour.
- REQUESTED INCREASE: 22 cents.
- COMMITTEE DECISION: Not approved; recommended 16 cent increase.
- NEW TOTAL: $7.99 per credit hour.
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