Dorm costs face 3 percent increase at University of Michigan
Students living in residence halls at the University of Michigan may face a 3-percent fee increase starting this fall if the Board of Regents approves the rate hike on Thursday.
The increase is the second consecutive 3-percent hike, adding $276 per year for a student in a standard double-room.
Dwight Lang/Contributor
The change accounts for a 1-percent increase to offset a hike in operating costs, according to information provided to regents.
The other portion of the increase will fund residence hall renovations, as part of the Residential Life Initiative. Multiple dorm projects have taken place in recent years, including construction of North Quad and renovations to Mosher Jordan and Stockwell.
According to data provided to regents, the dorm rate increase is the second-lowest among projections for all Big Ten schools. Indiana University was the highest at 6.3 percent, and Purdue was lowest at 2 percent.
However, U-M had the third-highest overall costs for a double room in the Big Ten, according to the same chart. Only Northwestern ($12,345) and Purdue ($9,510) were higher.
Also part of the vote will be a 1-percent increase in fees for the Northwood Apartments on North Campus.
The proposal comes before regents when they meet at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Fairlane Center at U-M Dearborn.
Comments
alan
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 5:12 p.m.
@whatsupwithMI No Um student is graduating with 50-100K in loans. The average is about 20K. @trespass Inflation was 3.2% for the 12 months ending April 2011. The hike is less than inflation. @InsideTheHall Please stop perpetuating myths. The average tenured full professor still makes less than 100K with a PhD.
OverTaxed
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
This is another reason why I do not like U of M. The school sits on the largest pile of cash of any university, their endowment fund. The sole purpose of the fund is to put rich people's names on buildings. It has nothing to do with educating people. It has been used to fix many buildings, but in this case, make the students pay. If there are donations made to a PUBLIC university, then the public should be able to direct the money and benefit from it. Otherwise, go private and stop robbing me and this city. Please go public! On a side note, why are football games mainly limited to cable TV. I pay for these PUBLIC universities, put the games on local channels so I can watch them.
alan
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 5:14 p.m.
The purpose of the endowment is to generate income annually which it does very nicely. Spending more than is practical will lead to increased costs for students.
InsideTheHall
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 10:16 a.m.
The U ginning up more bucks so the sacred cow Profs can continue to live the life of Reilly. Give em all a shave and a haircut!
DBlaine
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 1:52 p.m.
residence hall rates don't pay for professor salaries, but thanks for playing...
lester88
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 3:40 a.m.
The City should raise the fines as well. Especially for loud parties, minor in possession of alcohol and urinating in public. Costs go up all around. The costs associated with policing and providing fire services to U of M students has gone up too. Easy to justify if you ask me. Tie up limited resources and it will cost you more. A tax you one easily avoid.
Tom Joad
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 3:12 a.m.
Mary Sue Coleman: The Buck doesn't stop here until the family is bled dry
trespass
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 2:12 a.m.
Why are students responsible for the cost of capital improvements? Don't the fees already cover the costs of room and board including depreciation of the buildings? It just sounds like a rationalization for increasing the cost at 3 times the rate of inflation.
Ignatz
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
tresspass, Fees do cover the cost of room and board and for substantial repairs and upgrades. However, the cost of these renovations outstrip those fees. With less money coming in from the state, students and their families must bear the cost of any discrepensies whether it's with housing, tuition or anything else.
whatsupwithMI
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 1:59 a.m.
AA should care about this as this city is mainly a service economy (and this is especially apparent with the folding/ buyout of the real, local, product-possessing companies). There are fewer people to who can pay for the llama-spit-glazed breads at Zingermans ( to paraphrase the owner egregiously). Even U of M students sucking up 50-100k in public-school student loans have to be rethinking and eating more ramen these days. And thats before the mandatory (depending upon graduating class status) dorm fees.
loves_fall
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Well the U should be offering cheap, safe, clean accommodations for students. If they want a ritzy experience, they can rent a luxury student apartment. There's no reason dorms should cost as much as they do.
loves_fall
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 1:59 a.m.
I can't believe people live in dorms. I used to, but if I had to do college over again, there's no WAY I would pay that much for crappy food and zero space.
whatsupwithMI
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 2 a.m.
Its mandatory, for varying periods, depending upon the U. Yay Regents, hail the Deciders.