 "Photo: Travis Turner")
It’s no secret that California is in a budget crisis, and the CSU system is suffering as a result.
HSU feels this crunch as increased tuition, mandated furloughs and dropped classes become the norm.
Next academic year could be even harder with more proposed fee hikes and less classes to choose from. One of these would be a $45 increase per semester to help keep counseling services open next year. In addition, the fee is subject to adjustment each year by the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) after Fall 2010.
Is this a cost on the long list of fees students really should be paying?
“Absolutely,” said Rebecca Stauffer, director of health and counseling on campus.
“We provide counseling for 11 percent of the student population confidentially and cost free.
Without this fee, we won’t be able to maintain our current level of service,” said Stauffer.
Currently the student-counseling fee is $147 per year, but it will be raised to $237 if this proposed increase is passed.
According to national standards for university counseling centers, HSU is already three staff positions short in relation to the size of the student body. Stauffer said this is the cause of long waiting lists for students.
If the increase is not approved, any minor budget cut could result in the removal of short-term counseling and the outreach services provided by the counseling center.
It is likely that only crisis counseling would be available for those who have experienced a traumatic event.
For the rest of the student body that needs counseling, they will have to look for a psychologist off-campus.
Counseling can cost up to $125 per session off-campus, so students that want counseling may need deep pockets.
“I’m not surprised. Everything is going to cost more next year,” said Logan Asmuth, a freshman attending HSU, “It’s bullshit we have to pay so much.”
Unlike other programs and services at HSU that receive money from the state or students only, the counseling center relies upon two sources of income.
The first is student fees which is the majority of the counseling center’s revenue. Presently the cost is $147 a year for students. The second source is general funding received from the state.
The proposed increase will not only help maintain the counseling center but also help fund other programs that are suffering thanks to the dual source income the counseling center receives.
“We are cutting budgets and increasing fees which will allow us to provide the level of counseling we have now, and help some other academic and student support services,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Steven Butler.
Kristy Eden of Associated Students said that there will be two separate votes in the spring regarding the increase.
The first will be Alternative Consultation, a vote consisting of four town hall meetings and the student advisory committee. The second vote will be a referendum starting on April 20 so all students can vote. In the mean time, students can send their suggestions about the proposed fee increase on the Associated Students’ website.
“One of the things we have been hearing is why don’t we make students pay who need counseling, but you don’t always know if you will need counseling,” said Eden. “If you lose a loved one or have a bad break-up and need counseling, you will be glad that the counseling center is free and confidential.”
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