The UNF Board of Trustees approved a $1.33 per-credit-hour fee increase, following a two month deliberation at the annual Student Fee Assesment Meetings.

The SFA Committee, comprised of 50 percent administration and 50 percent student body, heard presentations from the Athletic, Health and Student Activity & Service departments to determine what fee increases, if any, should be imposed on students based on their undergraduate, per credit-hour matriculation, said Shari Shuman, the 09-10 committee chair and vice president of Administration and Finance.

This year, Student Activity & Service, Athletics and the Counseling Center requested raises for various reasons, including budget shortfalls that created constraints on departments and the appropriation of their funds.

Shuman attributed the increases to the rising cost of education.

“It’s not that the revenues are going down,” Shuman said. “In fact, the revenues are going up. It’s that the expenses are also going up.”

Another major factor in the budgeting and fee assessment process is the lowered projected enrollment in 2009, she said.

Traditionally, department heads are asked to under-budget their projected credit hours to be safe, but the realities of state budget constraints resulted in nearly 1,100 fewer anticipated credit hours for 09-10, according to student fee assessment committee meeting minutes.

“We didn’t get as many credit hours as they had estimated, so that means we have less money in our budget than we need to function,” Counseling Director Terry Dinuzzor said. “It is looking
like next semester there will also be a shortfall.”

Health Fee

The Counseling Center, which is funded by student fees, was the only entity of student health requesting an increase for the 2009-2010 school year.

After requesting 62 cents, the committee approved an increase of 31 cents. The Counseling Center portion of the health fee is now $2.21, and the total health fee will cost students $6.17 per credit-hour.

Half of the 31 cents will be used to convert two part-time positions to full-time and to improve salary equity issues, as the Counseling Center has had to deal with a high turnover rate – seven counselors in the past five years.

“When we don’t have the salaries at an equitable level, we lose staff and we have lost a number of staff for this reason,” Dinuzzo said.

Dinuzzo believes the counselors need to be able to develop trust with the student body, and is hindered by the turnover rate, she said.

The majority of the increase will be used to hire one additional full-time counselor to meet the International Association of Counseling Services accreditation standards, which require one counselor for every 1,500 students. The current ratio is one counselor per 2,300 students.

Activity and Service Fee

The Student Government managed A&S fee will also increase for the 2009-2010 academic year. The fee, per Florida statue, is to be used to enhance student life outside the classroom.

Recommendations were made by Student Body President John Barnes to increase the fee by 76 cents. But the committee unanimously approved a 66-cent increase.

The fee increase was requested for activities involved in the opening of the new Student Union building, expansion of Osprey Productions, student clubs and Recreation and Intramurals, SG Treasurer Mark Smith said.

With the increase, the A&S fee budget will now be more than $3.4 million for 09-10, up $150,000 from last year.

But the increase will not meet the $4.1 million in requests, so the Senate will have a challenging job of balancing the budget Smith said.

“This $730,000 deficit is a significant amount to cut,” Smith said. “Last year, the Senate had to cut $500,000 in requests, which was the largest amount in the history of our Student Government.”

Athletic Fee

As UNF completes its transition to NCAA Division I status, the Athletics Department met the SFA committee with financial needs directly related to the status change.

The department requested a 62-cent increase to defray the costs associated with university scholarship increases, team travel costs and university salary increases.

Most of the funding will be used to meet the needs of more athletic scholarships and travel expenses, Shuman said.

“To have a winning team, you need to have scholarship dollars, and we are low in the number of scholarships we offer for some of the teams,” she said. “Going to Division I means we’re traveling further out. They’re going to take buses and planes and so the costs are a little bit more.”

The committee decided unanimously on a 36-cent increase. The highest of all student fees will now cost students $13.36 per credit hour, a 33 percent increase since 2003.

E-mail Jonathan Morales and Rebecca McKinnon at news@unfspinnaler.com.

The Library will now be opened Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.

Fridays and Saturdays remain unchanged.

After receiving the funding, the Library’s new schedule will start Jan. 20 and will create an additional 12 hours each week.

“The usage needs to justify the extra costs, so we will monitor the amount of usage for the next few months to make sure we are using the money for the biggest benefit,” Delaney said.

Beginning fall 2008, the Library’s budget was reduced by about $30,000, which forced the library to cut late-night hours, said Rob Waltner, head of Access Services.

“The cost of keeping the Library opened includes personnel that must be present during opening hours,” Waltner said. “Three people from Sunday through Thursday between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. costs thousands of dollars.”

The Library’s decision to cut those particular hours was a result of data collected at the Library entrance.

Laser systems installed at the door indicated there was an average of 26 people per hour during the late night hours.

“Is it efficient to keep the Library opened for 26 people on average?” Waltner said.

The same data could have been interpreted a different way, said SG Treasurer Mark Smith. SG created and conducted an online survey to explore the students’ opinion on the issue.

“We have gotten an overwhelming response of more than 500 people who indicated that they would prefer the Library hours to be changed,” Smith said. “They were stopping by at the office, emailing us and calling us.”

Based on the data from the survey, Library employees met with SG several times, and  reviewed a proposal to increase late night hours and decrease weekend hours.

“The proposal requires more funding,” Waltner said.  “If we have the money, we’d be glad to pay even for the 26.”

E-mail Andrea Farah at staff2@unfspinnaker.com.

Why did the previous police chief Mark Foxworth decide to leave?
“He decided he had not had enough of being a street cop. It’s something he really enjoyed. He had been an administrator for years, and he just wanted to go back to his roots and his core.”

What were your previous positions here and otherwise?
“I was brought here as the assistant chief of police five years ago, so that’s the position I’ve held up until about three weeks ago. Prior to that, I was a captain with the Port Authority Police Department for two years. Prior to that, I retired as a lieutenant commanding officer over at [the] property crimes [unit] with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.”

What duties did you have previously as the assistant chief and what additional duties do you have now as police chief?
“The assistant chief, for the most part, runs the day-to-day operations of the department, accreditation, things to do with patrol, just a variety of different areas. As the chief, I’m responsible for the overall department, setting the course for the department, making sure that we’re fulfilling our community’s needs, working with the other chiefs of police in the county as well as the sheriff’s office and fulfilling the law enforcement functions here.”

What do you feel like is or isn’t working right now in the department?
“I think we’re working very well right now as a department. Our former chief, Mark Foxworth, set a good course, and we’re continuing that course. We’re just making some modifications as we see needed, but we’re progressing [and] moving forward. Our main focus now is to make sure campus is safe and secure for the students as well as the faculty and staff because of all the violence that is going on in Jacksonville.”

What do you hope to accomplish now that you’re the chief?
“I want to make sure, again, that everyone has a sense of safety and security here. I want to make sure they see the officers. I want to make sure we offer some programs for the students, faculty and staff here that will assist them such as safety-related tips and techniques they can employ when they’re working, leaving class, leaving work, whatever the case may be, as well as possibly a self-defense course I’d like to implement so if they do find themself in a difficult situation, they know how to defend themselves. Also, I want to make this a very undesirable place for the bad element to come to.”

What would you like students to know about the department under your direction now?
“Under my direction now, they can rest assured that we are going to be sensitive to their needs, we are going to address things as they come up, and we welcome their input and their suggestions. Their safety is our number one priority, we are going to do our best to keep the city from flowing over into the university as far as the violence goes. I want them to know that we are here for them.”

Compiled by Rebecca McKinnon.

But a new book written by an educator argues cell phones also are educational.

Cell phones can be a handy way for teachers to supplement their lessons, said Liz Kolb, an adjunct professor at Madonna University.

But before she can convince students, she has to get through to teachers.

Her book, “Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education,” was published by the International Society for Technology in Education and is geared toward educators. She provides a number of examples and tips for using cell phones.

Kolb said teachers can take advantage of cell phones on field trips, allowing students to snap pictures that can then be displayed in school.

Although some teachers might view cell phones as more disruptive than educational, others are embracing the technology.

Pat Sattler, a teacher and technology coordinator at St. Joseph School in Trenton, Mich., is sold on the use of cells in education.

“Anyone can do it,” Sattler said. “With a cell you can capture really any moment you want.”

(c) 2009, Detroit Free Press.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

The medical center is now able to evolve further as it is the recipient of a brand new digital X-ray machine, Perez said.

Distinguished UNF alumnus Dr. Syam Paryani, a Jacksonville radiation oncologist, made the addition possible through various contributions to the Brooks College of Health.

The radiographic system is built by Universal General Purpose Imaging Solutions, a company that has been in business for 75 years with an estimated one and a half million units in use throughout the world.

The equipment abandons the idea of reproducing images on slides by digitally producing an image in less than 10 seconds and downloading it onto a computer.

From there, the image can be burned onto a compact disc for students to take to a specialist outside the medical center.

“What they’ve been doing is having to send the students [who need an X-ray done] out when they come in to the medical center,” said Shari Shuman, vice president of Administration and Finance. “The idea is to get the [X-ray machine] in and to pay for an X-ray technician, and now students don’t need to leave.”

Although the clinic’s designated budget allows an X-ray technician to be hired, the technician’s only duty in the clinic would be to capture the images, not to interpret them or offer any additional treatment.

The medical center does not intend to hire an additional specialist for those duties, but the department is opening communication with some specialists throughout Jacksonville in order to find an off-campus radiologist to do the readings.

Perez visited both the University of Central Florida and Georgia Southern University’s student health centers to research before the decision was made to get the digital machine.

Perez believes the machine is of good enough quality for students to consider the medical center the home of their primary care, she said.

“This is it,” Perez said. “We want to be on the cutting edge of everything.”

The medical center has the new equipment tucked neatly away beyond the patient area in a room surrounded by tested lead walls.

It must be up and operational for 30 days before it is certified for use.

Perez called the implementation of the system a pilot study that will be reasonably priced to help accommodate students who might not have health insurance.

The maintenance price tag of the equipment for five years is estimated at around $30,000.

The clinic hopes students’ use of the machine will generate enough revenue to cover the costs, but if it doesn’t, the medical center is considering opening its services to UNF employees. Perez said faculty may be seen for acute care such as earaches, but the department doesn’t intend to become their primary care physicians.

E-mail Becca Grimm at news@unfspinnaker.com.
Rebecca McKinnon contributed to this report.

Crist discusses plans for state budget deficit

Florida lawmakers met Jan. 5 to discuss the looming $2.3 billion state budget deficit. The cuts are intended to be immediate to alleviate further deficit strain on the state’s $66 billion budget.

Gov. Charlie Crist’s plan depends on taking $1.2 billion from trust funds and state reserves. Half of the capital will come from proceeds stemming from a lawsuit against tobacco companies to pay for children’s services.

Crist’s plan would also include about $650 million in spending cuts, plus capital created through the issuance of bonds to fund prison construction.

Among the institutions expecting a budget cut are the Florida State Attorney’s office, public defenders offices, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, state funded public education and the state-run Florida Housing Finance Corp.

Amidst the spending cuts, Crist and the Republican lawmakers vow to take revenue-raising issues off the table until regular session begins in March.

AROUND THE NATION

Democrat politicians embroiled in scandal

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) stepped down as Commerce Secretary-designate Jan. 5 for the new administration of President-elect Barak Obama.

Richardson and his gubernatorial aides are under investigation by a federal grand jury probing the possibility of a “pay-to-play” scandal.

The prosecutors allege they steered state bond business to a Beverly Hills firm in return for $100,000 in donations to two Richardson Political Action Committees in 2004.

Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s senate appointment to replace Obama’s junior senate position, Roland Burris, was not allowed to be sworn into office Jan. 6 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Reid stated they will not seat any person appointed by Blagojevich while under investigating for his own
“pay-to-play” scandal.

However, Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) dissented with her party’s leadership Jan. 6 by calling for Burris to be seated in the Senate once his documents are signed by the Illinois secretary of state.

Burris is to meet with Reid Jan. 7 to discuss the situation.

AROUND THE WORLD

Isreali troops push into Gaza, only one soldier dead

Israeli forces pushed deeper into the Gaza strip Jan. 5 in its second full day of their ground assault.

Israeli troops have encircled Gaza City and have engaged Hamas fighters who are entrenched in built-up areas.

Israeli causalities have been limited to one soldier’s death with more than 50 injured while Hamas, according to statements by the Palestinians and the United Nations, estimate their death toll at more than 530.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with Tony Blair and Russia’s deputy foreign minister have ratcheted up their efforts to stabilize the region and offer diplomatic solutions to stop the conflict.

Meanwhile, Israel has called “tens of thousands” of reservists to active duty to counter the possibility of further violence in the West Bank, due to firebombings in the region  Jan. 4.

“The loss of civilian life in Gaza and in Israel is a source of deep concern to me, and after Jan. 20 I’ll have plenty to say about the issue,” President-elect Barack Obama said Jan. 6.

Compiled by James Cannon II.

The meeting will be an informational session for students who are interested in learning about SG and how to get involved with the Spring Elections.

For more information, contact the Elections Supervisor, Jessica Davis, at 620-2750.
UNF seeking top faculty

Nominations for the 2008-2009 UNF Faculty Awards for Distinguished Professor,
Outstanding Faculty Scholarship and Outstanding Faculty Services are now being accepted. Anyone within the UNF community is welcome to nominate a faculty member for the awards.

The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Jan. 15.

For more information, contact Cindy Chin at 620-2872 or by e-mail at cchin@unf.edu.

Compiled by Jonathan Morales.

UNF administrators did a very smart thing a few years ago. They began planning and putting money away for a rainy day.

And with the state, local and national economy facing a downturn and learning institutions across Florida being hampered by budget cuts, that rainy day has now come.

But while other state institutions are scrambling to avoid drastic measures, UNF only has to tap into its reserve funds.

The result: UNF accomplished a feat many other state universities could not – improving the learning level by bettering the campus community.

Budget cuts were eminent and affected many aspects of UNF, including class size, course availability and an enrollment cap. But compared to other universities that didn’t foresee this problem, UNF’s planning has put it in pretty good shape.

While public universities across the state – both large and small – are closing buildings and selling them off, UNF is preparing to build.

Construction on the Student Union continues to keep pace and is projected to open this spring. The new Education Building is also on schedule to be completed in the Spring 2009 semester.

The Fountains dorm complex will be opening its doors in August, and plans for Greek Housing and Varsity Village – a new sports complex including a baseball field, tennis facility and workout gym – are in the final phases of planning.

And it’s not just about new construction; UNF has taken several other steps to ensure the quality of learning students have become accustomed to doesn’t fade.

While the increase in tuition for the 2009-2010 school year might seem like a burden upfront, the increases will only be minor – a few dollars per credit hour.

But with those minor increases, UNF plans to invest in more experienced faculty members. This will not only improve the quality of the classroom product, but increase the quantity of courses and sections offered as well.

The proposed cuts to the Bright Futures scholarship program might also seem negative for many students and families.

But the program has been crippling the state university system for years, and now that it’s being slowly phased out, UNF will be able to once again accept more students – increasing the university’s funding for more educational improvements and more reserves – like the one that’s bailing out our school today.

The future of the state university system is beginning to look bleak for many school administrators, and although UNF planned well, with the economy continuing to struggle, the future remains uncertain.

But one thing is certain.

Now is the perfect time to be a student at UNF. And with all that has been invested in the growing university, the college experience as an Osprey can only get better.

Tom Farber, a San Diego high school teacher, was recently faced with a serious budget crisis: his copy budget for tests and quizzes was cut by one-third. He estimated his expenses for the school year at more than $500 while his budget was reduced to a little less than $300.

Rather than complain about a lack of educational funding while either paying for copies out of pocket – which isn’t a possibility for some educators considering their paltry salary – or simply omitting the exams – to the detriment of the students – he decided to sell advertising space on his copies.

Farber charged $10 per ad on quizzes, $20 per ad on chapter tests and $30 per ad on semester finals, according to USA Today. And he has already generated $350 in ad revenue. The USA Today article reported approximately 67 percent of the ad sales are inspirational messages paid for by parents while the remainder is bought by local businesses.

This free-market solution is the embodiment of applied liberty as it relates to economics. It relies only on voluntary donations, rather than further extorting the American public by paying for a failed educational system.

Local businesses will also benefit from an improved labor pool due to the improved education students receive from their funding. It is an excellent example of parties benefiting from participation in voluntary exchange: students benefit from the improved education; parents are grateful for improved standardized testing; and businesses benefit from a stronger labor force and a well informed customer base.

This is unhindered free-market capitalism at its best.

The success of this program only underscores the viability of economic freedom, even if the system is inherently flawed by government bureaucracy. Furthermore, this is proof small businesses understand the importance of a well-educated student population and are willing to provide funding for such a valuable resource.

Ad revenue is not the only source of funding for schools, but it is an important example of a way to provide excellent education without extracting funds by force.

Currently, everyone is forced to provide funding for schools, regardless of how dismal the reading and math levels are. Under a private system, various schools would compete for students and for funding. Both parents and business owners would be more willing to devote their resources to the betterment of schools.

Students would be the ultimate beneficiaries of such competition, like every other sector of government and private institutions.

E-mail James Cannon at asst.news@unfspinnaker.com.