Student Services/Athletics Review University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Recommendations of the Student Services/Athletics Review Committee The Student Service/Athletics Review Committee has reviewed the materials submitted by each of the units. After several rounds of discussion, we offer the following recommendations. 1. Academic Advising Center. Discontinue the Academic Advising Center (Savings $143,000) Vote: 8-2-0. Comments: a. The committee believes that the university must provide high quality academic advising to our students. To accomplish this deallocation, the faculty must assume responsibility for advising all of our students including those who have not selected a major. b. The Dean's offices (or the Dean of the College of Letters and Science) will be called upon to process exceptions to university requirements, coordinate advising, and provide training to advisors. c. It will be necessary to reallocate funds for new positions in the Dean's offices to coordinate advising and to make decisions on exceptions ($60,000 to $90,000). d. The hall directors in conjunctions with the Dean's offices should create programs to help students learn about academic requirements and plan for meetings with their advisors. It may be possible to hire students who participated in Freshman Orientation to aid in these programs. e. The university reward system should properly encourage high quality advising. f. The current undeclared advisors, or some fraction thereof, could be used in the Deans offices during the transition. 2. Admissions. Combine Admissions, Records and Registration, New Student Programs, and High School Relations into one unit with a single director. With anticipated retirements two directors can be eliminated resulting in a savings of $120,000. Vote: 10-0-0. Comments: a. A similar recommendation by ASPRTF was approved but has not been implemented. This committee's recommendation also recommends that New Student Programs be added to this merged unit. b. In addition to the anticipated salary savings, the committee expects better coordination of the various functions. c. Staff may be given more flexible assignments to handle seasonal peak work loads more efficiently. d. Although the ASPRTF recommendations called for academic departments to take over recruitment, this committee feels that there is not enough funding for traditional high school recruitment. The committee recommends the reallocation of funds ($60,000) to support the recruitment of high school students. 3. Athletic Department. Deallocate $25,000 from Athletics. Vote: 10-0-0. Comments: a. The committee did not feel that it could recommend specific programs or sports to cut. The issues of gender equity and competition must be addressed in determining where to make reductions. b. The Chancellor should initiate within the Counsel of Chancellors discussions on the reduction of athletic budgets. This will permit a coordinated state-wide reduction that will maintain competition. 4. Career Services. If the Academic Advising unit is eliminated, Career Services could be moved to the Student Services building so that all co-curricular service units would be located in close proximity to one another. 5. Child Learning and Care Center. Explore the feasibility of outsourcing child-care services while providing UWSP space for the outside contractor. Vote: 10-0-0. Comments: a. The committee believes that the university must provide high quality child-care services. No change in support for the Child Learning and Care Center is recommended if the university is unable to find a suitable contractor. b. These services should be affordable and accessible service to the student community, i.e., flexible hourly scheduling. c. UWSP should continue to provide a site (presently GPR supported building, heat, lights, etc.), and student employment and work experience. 6. Counseling Center. Currently there are two open positions in Counseling. The configuration is as follows: Director 12 month Counselor 12 month Counselor 9 month Vacant 12 month Vacant 9 month Part-time Counselor (helps out from time to time as overload up to $4,300) The committee suggests that of the two open positions, one would not be filled. The position to be filled should be a 9-month appointment. By not filling the other position, there would be a savings of $30,000-40,000 Another option to explore would be to check St. Michael's Hospital to see how they might assist us with overloads. This recommendation has a savings of $30,000-40,000 (the cost of hiring a 12-month counselor). Vote: 8-0-0 7. Financial Aid. See Student Employment Office. 8. Foreign Student Program. The committee supports the continuation of the Foreign Student Program. The Foreign Student Program does not appear to have sufficient funding. The committee believes that The Foreign Student Program has common interests with Multicultural Affairs and International Programs. The Administration should explore new relationships among these units to share resources. Vote: 8-0-0. 9. High School Relations. See Admissions. 10. New Student Programs. See Admissions. 11. Records and Registration. See Admissions. 12. Student Employment Office. The committee recommends the Student Employment Office be merged with the Financial Aid Office. Vote: 7-0-1. Comments: a. The merger would provide combined clerical support and professional backup for the director. b. Given the increasing student costs and reductions in financial aid, there is a greater need for the university to provide student employment assistance. 13. Student Rights and Responsibilities. No Recommended Changes. Monday 17 April 1995