By Stephen George
SGA to propose plan for ACCESS Center
Talks have begun on a Student Government Association proposal that would close the Adult Commuter Center-Evening Student Services (ACCESS) center, due in part to a lack of future funding.
According to SGA President Chris Marlin, a proposal is being discussed that would integrate ACCESS with the Resources for Academic Achievement program (REACH), a move that would be “a positive step.” Contrary to recent campus rumors, a decision has not been made on the future of ACCESS.
“It’s just a proposal,” said Marlin. “Nothing at all has been decided. This is in the development stage.”
In the SGA proposal, ACCESS would become a part of REACH, which is funded by the university. “I believe REACH can take on the services of ACCESS and become the home for students who currently inhabit ACCESS,” Marlin said.
Marlin stressed that it would only be the center, not the programs, that could be closed. “We will not lose these services,” he said. “That is a guarantee.”
SGA currently provides just under $93,000, roughly one-fifth of its annual budget, to maintaining the ACCESS center. Of that number, 91.81% goes directly to salaries and fringe benefits, which include health care. Salaries have increased by roughly $2,000 over the past year.
Only 8.19% goes to services, such as building maintenance, software, and workshop programs and fees.
“SGA doesn’t have a mechanism in place to account for increase in salaries,” Marlin said. “The main focus of this is the quality of the services. Can we improve them? Do we have the capacity to see them constantly improve? SGA is concerned that we don’t.”
While problems with funding are inherent to the discussion, both SGA and ACCESS maintain the continuation of quality services to students as the primary goal. ACCESS director Barbara King said that students will suffer the most if the proposal is enacted. “If they close the center tomorrow, what’s going to happen to the services that are being pro-vided to these students? That’s my main concern.”
Marlin contends that services will only improve under the proposal. “It isn’t all about lack of funding,” he said. “It’s about providing the best quality service for the students.”
Another element in this discussion is the ACCESS center’s employees, who would be jobless if the center was closed. Marlin said SGA is prepared to help them find new jobs within the university. “We have engaged in discussions with other departments about taking these people on, about finding them jobs,” he said. “We have been completely open to helping them. We will work to make sure they have positions.”
King responded, “Maybe he doesn’t understand how employment within the university works. Those decisions are made by the supervisors that actually hire employees.”
SGA took over funding ACCESS from the university under former president Jason French in the 1999-2000 academic year. That same year, French introduced a three-dollar student tuition fee to go directly to funding for ACCESS. That year SGA budgeted $85,000 for the center. That number has increased nearly $8,000 since.
Thus the question arises of how REACH can afford the responsibility of ACCESS. While the decision ultimately comes down to the university, King would like to see SGA provide monetary support as well. “If I were a student,” she said, “the big question in my mind would be this: if you’re going to take this three-dollar a semester per student fee and close down the center it was supposed to be used to keep in place, then what is going to be done with that $90,000-plus a year?”
“That will be determined by the Senate,” said Marlin. “They make all the decisions on spending.”
A student forum will be held to discuss these issues on Monday, October 7, from 3-4:30 pm in the Floyd Theatre.
