UCA considers room, board rate hikes for students

The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees will consider increasing room and board rates for the 2015-16 academic year at its 10 a.m. Friday meeting.

If approved, students could see a 2.5 percent increase to room rates and a 6.75 percent increase to board rates.

The overall room and board increase for 2015-16, based on double-occupancy and a total access meal plan, would be $2,991, an increase of 3.53 percent or $102 for per semester costs.

Double-occupancy room rates would increase by $41 each semester, from $1,630 to $1,671 in the 2015-16 school year. Single rooms would cost $2,496 instead of the current $2,435 semester rate.

Five of UCAs apartment options Bear Village, Torreyson, Erbach, 321 Western and Greek Village would see an increase of $49 per semester, from $1,949 to $1,998. Other apartment options such as Stadium Park and Oak Tree would see a slightly less increase of $46 per semester, from $1,839 to $1,885.

This increase is primarily related to the continuing effort to maintain and upgrade housing facilities, the agenda states. Recommended repairs to the residence halls and university-owned apartments exceed $17.5 million. Estimated net annual revenue generated from the proposed increase for the housing room rates is $325,000.

Prior to the finalized proposal, UCA considered a 4 percent increase in room rates. Initial rates were presented to the universitys Student Government Association in January for review.

With board rates, UCA will review its food service agreement with Aramark and potentially increase semester meal plan rates across all payment plans.

According to the board agenda, the board rate is set to increase 6.75 percent overall on average. Total access plans would jump from $1,259 to $1,320 for the 2015-16 academic year, an increase of 4.8 percent.

The higher average is based on larger increases in block plans to cover added amenities and to cover higher contract rates, the agenda states.

Read the original post:
UCA considers room, board rate hikes for students