Wellness
Center Alert
The Wellness Center
may CLOSE on December 31st, 2005, unless students vote to increase
the Student Activity fee by $12.00 per semester. The DSC is gathering
petition signatures now to ask for a student Referendum no later
than September 23rd on raising the fee.
The DSC pays
about 60% of the cost of the Wellness Center (much less than the
90% paid by student councils at most other CUNY campuses). For
2005, the DSC share is $96,000, or about 34% of the DSC operating
budget. The DSC receives its funds from student activity fees.
Costs for
the Wellness Center have increased continuously over the last
three years. Without an increase in the Student Activities fee,
the most recent cost increase would force the DSC to reduce other
student services, such as Travel and Research grants, departmental
funds for student needs, student organizations’ funds, cultural
affairs grants, subsidies for medical tests, our student newspaper
(The Advocate), and the contribution to the Child Care Center.
The Student Activity Fee has not been increased since 1999.
(Read
the rest of the story.)
Q&A:
Wellness Center Student Health Services Funding
Q: What is
the Wellness Center and what does it do for me?
A: The Wellness Center has a licensed Nurse Practitioner on staff
who can provide basic medical services and examinations. Students
can get routine check-ups and care for illnesses and the Nurse
Practitioner can write prescriptions and order lab work. There
is no cost for a visit. This is superior to the health services
at many other CUNY schools. The DSC advocated for and worked with
the administration to establish Student Health Services in 1992.
Q: What’s the
big deal if it closes?
A: For students without health insurance, this is a vital resource.
Graduate Center students do not have access to health centers
at other CUNY campuses and one or two visits to a local clinic
(like DOCS) would cost far more than the extra $24 a year in student
activity fees (even with insurance). For only $24.00 a year, virtually
all your basic health care is covered!
Q: Who is paying for
the Wellness Center now?
A: For 2005, the DSC share is $96,000 (or about 60% of the cost
of the center; up from a previous contribution of 50%). This is
about 34% of the DSC operating budget (which comes from student
activity fees). This increase could force the DSC to reduce other
student services.
Q: What services might
be reduced or cut if the DSC paid for the Wellness Center Student
Health Services out of its current budget?
A: Travel and research grants, departmental funds for student
needs, student organizations’ funds, cultural affairs grants,
subsidies for medical tests, our student newspaper (The Advocate),
and the contribution to the Child Care Center would need to be
reduced. The Student Activity Fee has not been increased since
1999.
Q: Why doesn’t
the administration contribute more for the Wellness Center?
A: The Graduate Center administration pays a larger percentage
toward our Wellness Center than most other CUNY campuses where
students pay about 90% of the cost of operating a Wellness Center.
At most other universities, a fee for health services pays for
the entire cost of operating a Wellness Center. (Read
the rest of the story.)
My
name is David Hamilton Golland, and I am the 2005-2006 DSC Co-Chair
for Communications. I am a fourth-year PhD student in the history
program, with an MA in American History from the University of
Virginia, and I am currently in my third year as a Graduate Teaching
Fellow at Brooklyn College. (
A
special greeting to all of new students and welcome back to the
rest of us!
Welcome
to all new GC students and Welcome Back to all returning students!
My name is Tina Lee, and I am happy to introduce myself as the
new Co-Chair for Business Management. I am a 4th year student
in the Anthropology Department and this is my 3rd year to serve
on the DSC. For the past two years I have served on the Steering
Committee, and I am happy to continue my involvement as a Co-chair
this year. I hope that my previous experience with the DSC will
make for a smooth transition into the business management job.
(