Student fees requested for Health Center repairs

The Committee for Fees Allocation "wandered" through the budget for the University Health Center Thursday night, guided by UHC Director James Guest.

"Wandered" was Guest's word, which he said after outlining the UHC's sustainability efforts. Outlined in the budget were last year's savings in personnel costs, the structural repairs the building needs and the impending launch of a web portal in conjunction with their Web site.

The health center is asking for $5,602,375 to pay for a majority of the utilities, small equipment, salaries and free visits for students.

Kat Farris, a senior animal science major, asked about possible building repairs.

"How do you decide what to replace or what to update in terms of the building and structural stuff, with the possibility of a new building?" she asked.

"With the economy looking the ways it is, I think students will still be reluctant to vote for a large expenditure," Guest said.

If Bill Gates gave Guest a bunch of money, he said he would replace the roof "at this very moment." It is the thing most likely to fail within the next 15 years, he said. Further down the line, he would replace the windows and the heating and air conditioning (H/AC).

"The H/AC doesn't appear to be failing," he said. "I don't want to say it'll last forever because I know it'll break tomorrow."

He also mentioned the column at the entrance of the UHC and that many of the bathrooms do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

UHC experienced several vacancies within the wellness program and was able to eliminate a position by distributing duties. The money was applied to promotion of UHC programs.

CFA Chairman Brian Coburn, a junior biochemistry major, asked UHC Student Advisory Board President Alexa Whitefoot, a senior Spanish and psychology major, about SAB's involvement with education.

Whitefoot said the board confers with the heads of department at UHC and are in the know about programming.

"These are college kids," she said. "These are the years they're building healthy or not healthy choices."

Anil Lodhia, a junior economics major, asked about the progress the UHC is making with their web portal.

"The web portal beta site won't be available to students yet," Guest answered. "We're still playing with it before the general release later this spring. We want to make sure it's secure."

The main concern, he said, is the security of patients' health records. Right now, only three to five people have remote access, and he wants to make sure those barriers are still present. Once the web portal is running, students can be in greater communication with physicians. The portal also simplifies the record system for UHC staff.

The UHC request is part of its almost $10,000,000 operating budget, which includes money from both student fees and speciality services and the pharmacy. The request is $5,198 less than last year's.

kiahhaslett@dailynebraskan.com