Carleton has announced three questions undergraduate students will vote on concerning increases in student fees in an upcoming referendum April 2-3.
The first question asks students if they are in favour of paying a fee of $22.50 per term to increase wireless performance and extend coverage to the entire campus. The fee would also permit students to access software available in public student labs from their own computer.
The second asks if students support an increase of the Carleton University Health Service Fee by $5.00 a term.
This increase would allow for Health and Counselling Services to add two additional permanent counselling positions to respond to “growing demand,” the question states.
“When we look at counselling visits so far this year, we’re up by nine per cent,” health services director Maureen Murdock said.
She said a National College Health Assessment survey last year showed the demand of the counselling service.
Carleton students reported three of the top six factors that affected their academic performance were mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression, she said.
According to Murdock, health services has taken steps to try to maximize the resources they have but, with demand growing every year, it is now necessary to have additional resources.
The final question asks students if they support an increase in the clubs and societies annual levy by $3.30 to allow for proper support and funding needed for the growing number of clubs and societies.
“In the past year and a half we’ve seen an increase in the number of clubs from about 170 to nearly 250,” clubs and societies commissioner Brandon Wallingford said.
The money would be put towards direct funding for student organizations and will allow the clubs to receive more funding, Wallingford said.
“We’re just really trying to build the community and make sure that students are getting the most of their experience at Carleton,” he said.
The questions will run through Ombuds Services.
