BOV votes to raise price of room and board next year
3 min readBY JESSICA SPENCER
The price of board in Randolph, Mason, Alvey, Arrington and Willard Halls, the University Apartments and Eagle Landing will be raised the full three percent because of their updated amenities, such as air-conditioning. All other hall prices will rise two percent.
A double room in the University Apartments will rise three percent, or $206, and will go from $6,844 to $7, 050, according to the Free Lance-Star. Because they have not been recently renovated, the price of rooms in halls such as Virginia Hall will rise two percent. The rise in price for a double room in Virginia hall will rise $112, raising the overall cost from $5,598 to $5,710. Virginia Hall is only undergoing a two percent raise because it was not updated recently.
The rise of price for room and board at the University has increased the past two years, and will be expected to increase for the 2015-2016 school year as well.
“The rise in price is from inflation of prices with utilities, Apogee, as well as the increase of pay of teachers that we are not given the money for. Some of the money for the dorms is put into a pot of reserve money to replace beds, carpeting and new paint,” said Richard Pearce, vice president of administration and finance and the head of the room and board committee.
The BOV previously voted to increase costs of room and board for the current school year by four percent and dining plans by two percent.
“I understand the need for the school in increase the costs. But it is very frustrating to have the costs raised when we continue to have such poor quality food. I would be alright with the school raising the costs of dining plans if they actually gave us healthy and diverse options,” said junior English major Caroline McCarry.
Other students will be effected by the rise in cost due to the large number of students who live on campus.
“It is unfortunate and doesn’t help the cost of college, but I understand that it is necessary and I will deal with it,” said Grambo.
According the Pearce, the school recognizes student concerns, but must raise prices to stay competitive with other schools.
“Our price of rooming is higher here than at other schools because we don’t have as updated renovations as schools like CNU. We’re around the middle of rankings with other schools which is where we want to be,” said Pearce.
The rise in price of room and board effects all of the students at the university in different ways given the various financial situations of the student body.
“The increases makes the cost of my education rise, which makes me have to spend less on the things outside of school,” said Grambo.
The school makes adjustments to the price of living for students based on what expenses they project for the upcoming year.
“The price of dining is expected to increase for the 2015-16 school year because we have to pay the debt services for the new dining hall, as well as, keeping up with the rise in price of food, which increases two to three percent each year. The pay for the employees also affects the prices of dining because it is state mandated, and we aren’t given more money for it,” said Pearce.
The increase in prices of living on campus give extra funds to the University to use at their own disposal.
“I think the money should be used to open more academic departments and to hire more teachers, as well as offering a wider variety of majors,” said Grambo. “I think an increase for the following year would depend on what that money would be spent on. If it seems necessary and beneficial, yes, under other circumstances no,” said Grambo.
