Of the seven dollar increase, five dollars would go toward covering inflation and mandatory costs of SHS. One dollar would go toward covering the costs of initiating formal smoking cessation services.

The last dollar would go toward an additional five hours of service for the Registered Dietician for Consultation, Barb Troy. Troy worked three to five hours a week last year and was continually booked, said Clinical Health Educator Colleen Peck.

The proposal does not just raise the health fee. It also calls for a policy to require all students to provide evidence of adequate health insurance, SHS conducting a Web site survey to gather student opinion about a possible change in the hours of service, the infusion of a health education course into one of the core curriculum classes and sustaining Helping Abuse and Violence End Now as an essential service to the university.

“I’m very happy that we talked about a mandatory health insurance policy and finding other ways to fund HAVEN,” said Daniel Knauss, HFRC representative for graduate students. “It’s great that we’re having common discussion between grad and undergrad students. It was nice to see different people from different groups contributing to the HFRC.”

Most representatives to the board at the meeting praised the action.

“I was very pleased with the whole process,” said Assistant Director of SHS Donna Schoenfeld. “Generally speaking when it comes to getting student input we can always do more, but we also need to do things that are feasible as well.”

“I’m very happy with what went on,” said senior Musu Brimah-Sallu, an MUSG senator. “I was very content with the interest in the students this committee took. I have to relay all the information to MUSG but they should be pleased as well.”

“This was a great start to answering some of the health problems on campus,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Karen Ivantic-Doucette. “I like the way (the HFRC) talked about health education. I am very glad with what went on here.”

“The whole process was terrific,” Peck said. “It improves every year we do it. It was great to have so many representatives from so many organizations like MUSG, RHA, grad students, the parents association and other entities. We really got a lot of valuable discussion going.”

There is some speculation as to whether the budget proposal will be approved by the Board of Trustees.

“It really depends on how important the issues we spoke about are to the Board of Trustees,” Knauss said. “We are asking for what we want with very strong language. A big thing will be to see if the student body backs it. I don’t know why they wouldn’t because we made our suggestions with the student body in mind.”