Iowa State's proposed room and board increase will be the hot topic during today's Iowa State Board of Regents meeting. The board is expected to give final approval to a 6.3 percent increase to ISU's current room and board rate. Director of Residence Randy Alexander said the increase will be used to fund basic inflationary costs, the department's Master Plan and other residence hall features that students have requested. Alexander said the plan is to raise the room and board rate 5 percent through 2004 and 4 percent in the following years. Every year, about 1 percent of the 5 percent increase will go toward the Master Plan, he said.
Salaries are a huge part of our budget.
The extra funds will go to projects residents have requested, he said. The increased rate also includes students' desire to have optional cable television. This fee is mandatory and part of the base rate for the 1999-2000 academic year. Alexander said he has not heard any feedback from students about the overall increase, although he said members of the Inter-Residence Hall Association have expressed their support. ISU President Martin Jischke said the increase will benefit students who live in the residence halls.