Overview

Sacramento State is more than just a teaching institution. Our campus designates resources to help positively impact all aspects of students’ health and wellness, including mental health and access to health care and basic needs.

Over the past several years, we have remained committed to providing comprehensive health services to our students. Unfortunately, due to limited funds, Sac State’s resources have fallen behind in keeping pace with your needs.

The last adjustment to our student health fee was made in 2010, while the demands and needs of our student body have significantly evolved. In the 2023/2024 academic year alone, the Student Health, Counseling, & Wellness Services (SHCWS) saw a substantial increase in patient numbers across various services, indicating a pressing need for expanded services. Without increasing fees, it will be challenging to continue providing services at this scale.

Proposed Solution

To continue providing exceptional and comprehensive care, we must address the growing needs of our students by adjusting our student health fees. Our goal is to enhance mental health services by achieving a counselor-to-student ratio 1:1500, reducing wait times, and improving access to care. We propose a tiered approach to increasing student health fees, with options to add 3 or 5 counselors, which would allow us to improve our services significantly.

• Option 1: Increase the fee from $152 to $203 to add 3 counselors, reducing wait times and enhancing mental health programs.
• Option 2: Increase the fee from $152 to $212 to add 5 counselors, allowing us to offer specialized services and improved crisis response.

Additionally, we aim to enhance medical services by providing after-hours, weekend, and holiday medical care, upgrading equipment, and introducing in-house STI testing.

Proposed Fee Options

Pros of Raising a Student Health Services Fee

• Increased funding can enhance the quality and range of health and wellness services provided to students, including mental health support, medical care, and wellness programs. Access to counseling and mental health services helps students manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues, leading to better focus and academic performance. On-campus health services can help students manage chronic conditions, reducing the likelihood of these conditions interfering with their studies.
• Higher fees can support hiring more healthcare professionals, both mental health and medical care, reducing wait times and providing more timely and personalized care.
• Early intervention in health issues can prevent students from needing to take prolonged absences or drop out altogether.
• On-campus medical services provide quick treatment for illnesses and injuries, minimizing disruption to academic activities.
• Enhanced funding can enable the development of new health initiatives, including more mental health resources, wrap-around after-hour care, outreach, workshops, and preventative care programs tailored to students' and faculty's needs. Programs such as nutrition counseling and fitness programs promote overall well-being, which can enhance cognitive function and academic performance, and educating students about healthy lifestyles can lead to better physical and mental health outcomes, improving their ability to succeed academically.
• The last fee increase was in 2010. Raising the fee adjusts for inflation and increased operational costs since then, ensuring the sustainability of health services. Implementing the fee increase over three years allows for the gradual increase of fees for our students.

Cons of Raising the Student Health Services Fee

• Without the increase in the student health fee, our services will not be sustainable, causing increased wait times for mental and physical health services and a decrease in diagnostic testing.
• Increasing fees may disproportionately affect our middle-income students, potentially limiting access to higher education due to increased costs.

Student Benefits

• Improved Access to Mental Health Services: Increased counseling staff will reduce wait times and improve access to timely support, including specialized services for diverse student populations.
• Enhanced Crisis Response: With more counselors, we can provide robust mental health crisis intervention, ensuring immediate support for students in need.
• Comprehensive Medical Services: Extended hours and upgraded equipment will ensure students receive medical care whenever needed, reducing reliance on external emergency services.
• Academic Success: By investing in student health and wellness, we support a healthier, more engaged, and more productive student body that is better equipped for academic achievement.

By investing in these improvements, we are investing in the well-being and success of our students. A healthy student body is more engaged, productive, and better equipped to achieve academic success. We are committed to supporting our student's health and wellness, and this fee increase is a necessary step toward fulfilling that commitment.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we strive to enhance our student health services to meet the evolving needs of our campus community.