PSSS Finally Recommends Student Fee Increase

Kay Bailey

She/Her

Editor-in-Chief

10/27/24

Student Senate Speaker Will Loughlin began this week’s meeting regaling the successes of the town and police forces efforts to stamp out the Pirate Party festivities, claiming a total of 55 arrests. 28 of those arrests were students, while 27 were non-students: an even split down the middle, Louglin emphasized.

University Provost Nate Bowditch expressed his excitement for upgrades planned for the Health Services center. Their facilities would be shifted across campus to Highland Hall in collaboration with Concord Hospital, allowing for the addition of an EMT and OB-GYN on staff. Bowditch and Loughlin stressed that an increase to the health services fee would be unlikely to impact this development; the plans were underway regardless.

With a recommendation on student fee increases on the horizon of this meeting, Director of Student Experience Melina Baker-Murphy spoke of the reality of the Student Senate’s role in the student fee increase determination process. “At the end of the day I do want to remind you that that is what it is: a recommendation,” she said, speaking to the ultimate decision our representatives settle on. The university cabinet can change PSSS’s final determination as they see fit.

Still, a resolution was passed with a unanimous 13-0 vote after a meeting and deliberation just short of two hours. The final increase outlined under R AY2425.1 recommends a 3% increase to the total student fee charge, about $41 more per student per semester. The percentage increase breakdown is as follows: activity fee, 8% increase; athletics, 4.09% increase; transportation, 25% increase; health services, 2% increase; counseling services, 4% increase; HUB, 4% increase;  recreation, 1.89% increase. Technology and registration fees remained the same.

Though there was heavy deliberation between a 25% vs a 14% increase in the transportation fee, Loughlin reminded the room that this resolution could be revisited later, if more substantial information were to arise at a later meeting. Ultimately, the months-long goal of determining this increase had been accomplished, and that was marked as a success in the Student Senate’s books.

There was additionally an organization seeking recognition from the senate; the Plymouth chapter of Student Veterans of America. With Jacqui Nelson at the Office of Military Services as their advisor, this group sought to reinstate themselves as a student lead support service for veterans and veteran dependents on campus. President Ty Rivera spoke of the importance of integrating students back into campus life after active duty, as there are about 60 veterans on campus, and approximately 70 veteran dependents. With their organizational message focused on community and support, their re-establishment was passed 12-0, with 2027 Class President Quinn Haggerty abstaining from the vote.