Students who receive the finanical aid BOGG student health fee waiver will soon have to pay for the health services beginning in the fall semester.

Stephen Johnson, vice president of student services, explained the details to the Board of Trustees at its meeting last Wednesday.

In addition, ASCC Paulo Amaral gave a report on his recent trip to Washington DC, and meeting Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) along with President Dr. Noelia Vela, Board members Bob Hughlett and Dr. Ted Edmiston.

Benjamin Pendleton, student services assistant for admissions and records, was the Classified Employee of the Month for January.

AB982 bill was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September of last year and took effect statewide Jan. 1, requiring student health fees to be paid by all students.

However, Johnson said, “Only 47 percent of the enrolled students at Cerritos College actually use the health services on campus.”

Students who receive finanical aid and the fee waiver “continues to grow” Johnson noted since Cerritos College began to charge for the health services fees in the 1991-92 fiscal year.

“Currently without the bill implented, the student health services department is open 32 hours per week,” Johnson continued, “And when the bill is in affect the department will be open 40 hours per week.”

Lastly, Johnson said that currently 29 community college will begin to have students pay for the services in the fall including Cerritos College.

Charles Gale, director of the student health services, mentioned that a small percentage of students do use the services.

“Thirty percent of the approximately 23,000 student utiize(our services).”

Cerritos College students like Angel Ramirez, music major, said that the school doesn’t promote the health services to students, and to have a small percentage using it is not fair.

“We have a student health center?”

I didn’t know we have one,” he said.

Amaral informed the Board that both the Cabinet and Senate passed the bill to have the students pay for the health fee.

Johnson mentioned the student health services do not provide student with psychological service because of staff reduction to which, board Hughlett replied, “That (the staff reduction and services) need to be replinshed.”

Amaral then explained that his trip to Washington DC was a great experince along with meeting Rep. Napolitano.

Edminston joked, “It is startling the young people who are running the government.”

Vela agreed with Amaral that it was a great experience as well, but, “Paulo really did his homework as he attended every meeting (with government representatives).”

She praised Amaral for his commitment saying, “He would stay up until 1 A.M. and I would ask him, ‘Didn’t you get any sleep?'”

Hughlett also said that he was glad to be there as well.