The Student Services Finance Committee of the Associated Students of Madison met Thursday to discuss the budget for Recreation and Wellbeing, Greater University Tutoring Services, University Health Services and the Wisconsin Union.
This was the SSFC’s first in-person meeting since they voted to end virtual meetings last Monday. As the representatives of GUTS failed to appear due to confusion regarding switching to in-person meetings, the SSFC read out the budget recommendations of GUTS instead.
SSFC representative Kevin Jacobson expressed concern about GUTS’ request to increase funding for the position of Coordinator of Educational Services. SSFC President Maxwell Lobenstein said that GUTS wanted to provide more funding for the position as they were planning to recruit more staff.
Jacobson then made a proposal to request additional financial support for a Coordinator of Educational Support Services, equivalent to the salary of the GUTS Director. The SSFC approved the resolution at the end of the meeting, with Vice Chair Riana Mukherjee saying that passing the resolution was good for the independence of the GUTS.
“I think it will help him establish himself as his body,” Mukherjee said.
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After the SSFC discussed the GUTS budget, Rickwell’s director Aaron Hobson presented Rickwell’s budget. Hobson began by presenting statistics on how the Nichols Recreation Center was accommodating more students than SERF—the fitness center it replaced—before Rickwell’s budget moved in.
Hobson separately requested a $10 increase in fees, which Rickwell would use to raise the minimum wage for student workers from $10 to $12 an hour, as well as increase other operating expenses related to the wage increase. Hobson also presented statistics on the upcoming Buckeye Recreation Center.
“This building is designed to help not only with the physical well-being of our students, but the overall well-being of our students as well,” Hobson said. “It’s going to be a game changer, just like the Nicholas Recreation Center.”
The SSFC then asked questions about Rickwell’s budget, including what would happen to the Camp Randall Shale after Bakke was built. Hobson said Shell will be vacated to UW’s athletics department for $5 million once the Buckeyes are fully operational.
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Following the Rickwell presentation, UHS representatives presented on the UHS budget, including Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director Jack Baggott and Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations Dr. Carol Griggs.
Baggott presented statistics on how UHS responded to both pandemics, delivering more than 18,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses in the fall semester. Baggott also explained how UHS spent its money, 50% of it went to medical services, 40% to mental health services, and 10% to prevention.
Baggott then requested a $10 increase in seg fees, a portion of which would pay for more dietitians, sexual survivor advocates and survivor counselors.
“We want to do a lot more on the front end to eliminate the need for Survivor Services,” Baggot said.
The Committee plans to make a formal request to UHS regarding its budget at the next meeting of the SSFC on Monday, 28 February.
Following the UHS budget, the SSFC met with Wisconsin union representatives to discuss the Wisconsin union budget. Jacobson asked about the recent movement to the Social Justice Hub, especially since it is currently a part of UW’s Office of Inclusion-Education under Student Affairs. Union director Mark Guthier said the social justice hub is still federally located and federally funded.
The agenda of the meeting, along with all the materials presented and discussed, can be found here.
SSFC meeting will be held next Monday, February 28 at 6 PM
