Following collaboration with a 13-member advisory committee that provided insights on how revenues from the recently established co-curricular fee were most appropriately allocated for the 2002-03 academic year, Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs, has accepted the committee's recommendations for a series of student-centered programs that will receive financial support generated by the new fee.
"The committee is recommending funding for activities that support continued collaboration among students, faculty and staff, as well as initiatives that will positively impact the campus environment and its culture," says Wells. "The team of individuals working on this committee is an insightful and forward-thinking group whose ideas focused on what was best for students here at Syracuse University and learning and growth opportunities beyond the classroom experience."
Meeting since March, this committee of student leaders, faculty and staff carefully reviewed the programs and services proposed to utilize the co-curricular fee and considered their merit, along with the value of new proposed initiatives. Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw mandated the fee to fund initiatives that promoted campus safety, security and the needs of off-campus students. These items are identified via funding for the Commission on Substance Abuse Prevention and Campus Security and the Office of Off-Campus Student Services.
Other key areas that will be funded include an expanded club sports allocation, outdoor education, leadership development programs, further Light Work/Community Darkrooms programming, grants for diverse programming, campus residence-based programming, student professional organizations, recreational opportunities at Drumlins and staff salaries in support of student organization advising.
The committee supported the elimination of the declining balance account feature of the Arts Adventure program, and the creation of a program supporting the arts, which would be available to all undergraduates.
The committee has requested the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs to identify a process to reduce event overhead costs assessed to recognized student organizations.
Processes and protocols to ensure fiscal accountability for the allocation of all programmatic initiatives will be established, and the Division of Student Affairs will oversee all required committees and infrastructures to implement allocations.
The Advisory Committee on Co-curricular Initiatives has requested that the Division of Student Affairs collect participation data for all programmatic allocations and provide budget data for all allocations as requested. The committee will meet prior to Dec. 1 to assess the 2002-03 allocations and to establish a review process for the 2003-04 academic year.
