UNC-CH officials develop health fee reduction plan
By Laura Oleniacz, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
At a meeting in February, the UNC-system
In a memo to the budget committee sent before the meeting, board member
In particular, Long highlighted the use of fees by the health advocacy department Student Wellness for "non-essential programs and services" including support for staff to run a theater group called Interactive Theatre Carolina that used drama for education on wellness issues; for hiring three part-time "sexperts" to provide sexual health information; and for sponsoring a sexual education seminar called "Orgasm? Yes Please!"
"Approving this proposed decrease would underscore the desire of the BOG that funds be used only for their intended purposes and that we are seeking to make education more affordable and more effected," Long said in the memo.
In April, the board acted to set UNC-Chapel Hill's health fee at
After forming a group that included health care professionals, students, alumni and trustees, and administrators, UNC-Chapel Hill officials started the review in the summer and fall of the health fee and of
"We were asked by the
They came up with a proposed plan that, if approved, would cut the fee by another
The plan ultimately has to be approved by the
In the email, Crisp said the university will not have to cut health programs because of this year's
He said "legitimate questions have been raised" about whether the health fee was the most appropriate funding source for the sexual health programs.
"In response to that, we have removed those programs from the health fee while we determine the most appropriate funding sources for them and for the scope of the programs," Crisp said.
And regarding the drama program, he said it is used as a way to educate students about relationship issues, sexual violence prevention and other topics. He said those programs operate under the direction of Student Affairs.
Regarding Campus Health, Pittman said there are no expected service changes because of this year's fee reduction. He said
"As we have grown over the years relative to the scope of our programs and services, we've really outgrown the building that we currently occupy," he said.
In the current year, he said they have budgeted for an expected "small" surplus even with the current-year fee reduction. He said with the future cuts, their ability to put money toward the capital project will be "minimized."
They have more than
He said health officials have also discussed additional possible revenue streams such as opening the pharmacy for faculty and staff to generate additional revenues. Currently, he said services, such as counseling, are provided free-of-charge to students to prevent co-pays and co-insurance costs from keeping students from accessing health services.
"Our position at this point is that there will always be a value in having a health fee, which allows student health centers to provide a baseline level of service that creates maximum access for our students to make sure that that health care (cost) is not a ... barrier for students," he said. "What that scope of service is I think is flexible and may always be under discussion."
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