On December 9, the Quality Services to Students (QSS) committee met to discuss the operational and financial highlights of the different departments as well as the budget proposals for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The Department of Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness (DRAW) and the Health and Counselling Centre (HCC) have proposed to keep the sessional fees the same as the previous year.
The HCC budget presentation emphasized the department’s goal to maintain its operating reserve as they hope to continue providing virtual mental health services. The health services’ annual mandatory fees will remain at $117.88 for all full-time UTM students.
DRAW discussed the operational impacts of the global pandemic in its management report presentation. The department faced a significant decrease in revenue as in-person programs and community memberships were no longer possible amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Moreover, some members of staff were laid-off while others were transferred to other departments within UTM. Staff who remain employed by DRAW continued their jobs virtually and worked to offer the UTM community with accessible online wellness programs.
DRAW aims to maintain its capital reserves in order to fund future projects, such as redesigning the South Field. The department proposed to retain its annual mandatory fees at $411.76 per full-time student.
The Student Services departments have each proposed to either keep their fees the same amount or make very minimal changes. The departments included within Student Services are Transit, Career Centre, International Education Centre, Student Life Initiatives, Child Care, and Family Care.
In total, the mandatory fees for student services are projected to increase just over four per cent ($9.11 per semester, $18.22 per year) in the 2021-22 academic year, bringing it up to $420.72.
The committee will be voting on the proposed budgets for the departments in the next QSS meeting on January 13.
