President Hutchinson announces voting results on proposed fee increases

5,264 students submitted an advisory vote for each proposed fee increase. The proposed Health Services increase along with the other two proposed fees were opposed by over 60 percent of student voters.

Alex Grant

5,264 students submitted an advisory vote for each proposed fee increase. The proposed Health Services increase along with the other two proposed fees were opposed by over 60 percent of student voters.

Advisory voting results on the three proposed fee increases was released by President Gayle Hutchinson around 9 p.m. Thursday. All three; the Student Learning Fee, the Health Services Fee and the Athletics Fee, were opposed by the majority of voting students.

Hutchinson sent out an email that thanked students for participating in the forum and voting process. She also stated in that she has yet to make a final decision on which fee increases she will approve or not.

“As I make my decision in the coming week, I will be reviewing and reflecting on the comments collected, the referendum outcome, and the University funding requirements needed to provide important services and opportunities for students’ well-being, activity, and learning,” she wrote in an email to students.

In the email, Hutchinson also included the voter turnout for each potential fee increase as well as the voting percentages. 5,254 students voted for each proposed fee increase.

Health Services Fee Results: 62.6 percent voted no, 35.1 percent voted yes and 2.2 percent abstained from voting.

To view the chart below on a mobile device rotate phone sideways or follow this link:

https://create.piktochart.com/output/29943994-health-services-fee-increase-advisory-vote-results

Athletics Fee Results: 64.4 percent voted no, 33.4 percent voted yes and 2.2 percent abstained from voting.
To view the chart below on a mobile device rotate phone sideways or follow this link:

https://create.piktochart.com/output/29944037-athletics-fee-increase-advisory-vote-results


Student Learning Fee Results: 63.6 percent voted no, 33.1 percent voted yes and 3.3 percent abstained from voting.

To view the chart below on a mobile device rotate phone sideways or follow this link:

https://create.piktochart.com/output/29943994-health-services-fee-increase-advisory-vote-results

Hutchinson said that part of her final decision will pull from multiple aspects. In the email she listed three dates that include how and when she will come to her final decision.

On Monday she will meet with the Government Affairs Committee to hear their comments and, “to discuss outcomes of this entire process (including the online survey, open forum feedback and student advisory referendum results).

GAC meetings are open to students and are held in Bell Memorial Union 205 from 4 to 5 p.m. every Monday.

On Wednesday Hutchinson will meet with the Campus Fee Advisory Committee,  to discuss the “same” things she will talk about at the GAC meeting.

On Thursday before 5 p.m. she stated that her, “final decision will be shared with the campus.”

Alex Grant can be reached at [email protected] or @AlexThomasGrant on Twitter.