Health services decision could take months

It could take weeks or even months before action is taken on the health and student services recommendations presented to university officials in October — including the possible move of health services from Olin Health Center.

“The recommendations are pretty broad,” MSU Provost Kim Wilcox said. “We’re weeks, months away from any actions.”

The recommendations could include moving some or all health services currently offered at Olin to the MSU Clinical Center on Service Road.

The recommendations are part of efforts to reduce MSU’s operating budget by 15 to 20 percent during the next three years and support activities that enhance the university’s future.

Officials are sorting through the recommendations and Wilcox said he is not sure who will be in charge of making the final decisions.

“(It’s) hard to tell,” he said. “We’re trying to get this mapped out (and) develop some kind of plan. Then we’ll decide what needs to be done.”

Olin Health Center officials said they are not directly included in the health services discussions.

“We still don’t know what the recommendations are or what’s going to be accepted,” Olin Director Glynda Moorer said.

Moorer previously has said a team of Olin officials will be formed to handle the recommendations after Wilcox makes a decision regarding them.

Moorer said she has been meeting with James Hillard, associate provost for human health affairs, who is able to relay information to Wilcox.

“Once the provost decides what he wants to do, we will be included,” she said. “I feel confident that (Hillard) knows all of the concerns and issues.”

Wilcox said he is satisfied with the way discussions have gone so far.

“I’d characterize it as very early in these discussions,” he said. “This is a complex entity (and the) health center is a great example. … It’s one that everyone can point at, everyone can talk about.”

Although officials currently are separately discussing Olin, faculty health benefits and campuswide services for students, they could later become part of one conversation, Wilcox said.

“(We will) think about the ways those might be interwoven,” he said.

Journalism senior Sara Qamar said she’s not concerned with the length of time it is taking officials to make decisions based on the recommendations.

“It’s normal that it’s taking so long and there are so many discussions going on,” she said. “There definitely needs to be discussion … everyone needs to get their words and their opinions out.”

Moorer said it makes sense not to expect immediate decisions.

“That sounds normal to me,” she said. “(Wilcox) has a lot to look at with all the changes going on at this university.”