Graphic by Nethan Crew, Managing editor of production By Kendall Miller
The Montevallo Board of Trustees last held a meeting on August 25.
The biggest item of student concern at this meeting was the vote for the $100 health fee in the Spring. This was a discussion that administration had with the Student Government Association (SGA) over the summer, because counseling and health services costs have been rising quickly and the university has been absorbing those costs.
SGA was given three options: to charge insurance, to cut services, or to add a fee. SGA agreed that the fee was the best option but asked that they wouldn’t charge it until the Spring. Fortunately, the administration listened, and the fee will go into effect this spring instead of right now.
The good news from this meeting is that the budget for this year has been balanced and approved. Dr. DeAnna Smith has worked very hard all summer on our budget and finances and has gotten us to a better spot.
The student organization budget has stayed virtually the same. Administration has made students a priority and has done their best to leave us unaffected by any budget shortfalls.
The board also discussed the presidential search and how long we should wait to proceed with the search. They voted to change the requirements of the next president so that it isn’t required for them to be an educator by profession. This change will go to the state legislature in the spring to be approved.
