21 Feb 2013
Staff Writer
Melissa Wylie / Senior Staff Writer
The UNT System’s Board of Regents approved an increase in the cost of room and board last Thursday.
Beginning in fall 2013, rates for rooms will increase by 4 percent and rates for board, which includes meal plans, will increase by 2.3 percent. Overall, the two average to a 3.6 percent increase.
Students will be charged $2,135 for a standard double-occupancy room and $1,425 for a seven-day meal plan, according to the UNT Board of Regents meeting agenda.
Assistant director of UNT housing James Fairchild said the increases were approved by the board, but proposed by housing and dining services.
“It’s not to do anything extravagant or wasteful,” Fairchild said. “The money is for doing what we’re already doing at the same level.”
According to the Denton Record Chronicle, there were discussions about requiring sophomores to live on campus. Similar ideas were brought up in August, and decisions on the matter have yet to be made.
The costs of housing elements, like utilities, gas, and services that are provided to students – such as dining and repairs – have increased, and the higher rates will ensure that quality can be upheld, Fairchild said.
The revenue from prices approved for this year will be used right away, but there is a potential for some of that money to go toward future housing plans, Fairchild said.
“Every year, everything that doesn’t have to be spent on budget expenditures goes into a reserve,” Fairchild said.
A discussion on constructing new housing units is in a very early stage, and no details as to location or building specifics have been finalized, Fairchild said.
“There is a general agreement that sometime in the next two to three years we’re going to need additional housing,” Fairchild said
There have been small percentage increases to housing rates each year for the past few years. Similar to the ones recently approved, and there is no anticipation of negative feedback, Fairchild said.
