2008 Woodie Awards
Students to Pay for 'Green' Changes in Campus Housing
Michelle Wood: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: News
Once again, student housing prices increase, this time by 10 percent. Next school year, UCM housing facilities implement some of the "Go Green" philosophy.
The University Board of Governors approved an increase in room and board for the 2008-2009 school year at its open meeting Wednesday. In an effort to make the residence halls and on-campus apartments more environmentally friendly, the increase was unanimously approved.
A 10 percent increase for double occupancy rooms, a 7.56 percent increase for single rooms, a 4.76 percent increase in board and a $10 per bedroom per month increase for apartments was proposed and approved.
Currently, UCM is the ninth lowest of twelve universities in Missouri for room and board rates and the increase will keep the University in the lowest quartile. However, the Board expressed concern this may not be a positive thing.
"It isn't necessarily a good thing to be in the bottom quartile," said Michelle Wimes, chair of the board committee on student affairs. "Yes, we want to compare ourselves to our peer institutions, but at the same time, don't we want to be better? I am in support of it."
Board members believe the revenue generated through minimal increases was not enough to make necessary improvements to appeal to UCM students and thought the University would have difficulty retaining students in on-campus housing.
Governor Anthony "Art" Arton proposed the 10 percent increase in housing because of rising energy costs and said the extra revenue created by the increase will be used for repair upgrades, maintenance and energy efficiency.
"It will be a good expenditure; it's an investment to help curb rising costs of energy," Arton said. "Also, it will hopefully move the campus forward to carbon neutral."
Being carbon neutral means that no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, thus no longer contributing to the possible dangers of global climate change.
Arton said the Student Government Association also approved the increase at a meeting Tuesday. He added that a 10 percent increase was also approved last year and with the extra funding, the University was able to get wireless Internet.
"We have very strong student approval for this," Arton said. "The increase amounts to around $300,000."
Richard Morrell, vice president of student affairs, and Patrick Bradley, senior director of University Housing and Residential Dining Services, proposed an initial recommendation that called for a double-occupancy room rate increase of 6.73 percent and a single room rate increase of 5.10 percent, with the board and apartment rates staying the same.
However, with the inclusion of rising energy costs, the board motioned to raise the rates.
Morrell said some of the improvements could be completed by the summer with hopes the University will see immediate benefits.
The University Board of Governors approved an increase in room and board for the 2008-2009 school year at its open meeting Wednesday. In an effort to make the residence halls and on-campus apartments more environmentally friendly, the increase was unanimously approved.
A 10 percent increase for double occupancy rooms, a 7.56 percent increase for single rooms, a 4.76 percent increase in board and a $10 per bedroom per month increase for apartments was proposed and approved.
Currently, UCM is the ninth lowest of twelve universities in Missouri for room and board rates and the increase will keep the University in the lowest quartile. However, the Board expressed concern this may not be a positive thing.
"It isn't necessarily a good thing to be in the bottom quartile," said Michelle Wimes, chair of the board committee on student affairs. "Yes, we want to compare ourselves to our peer institutions, but at the same time, don't we want to be better? I am in support of it."
Board members believe the revenue generated through minimal increases was not enough to make necessary improvements to appeal to UCM students and thought the University would have difficulty retaining students in on-campus housing.
Governor Anthony "Art" Arton proposed the 10 percent increase in housing because of rising energy costs and said the extra revenue created by the increase will be used for repair upgrades, maintenance and energy efficiency.
"It will be a good expenditure; it's an investment to help curb rising costs of energy," Arton said. "Also, it will hopefully move the campus forward to carbon neutral."
Being carbon neutral means that no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, thus no longer contributing to the possible dangers of global climate change.
Arton said the Student Government Association also approved the increase at a meeting Tuesday. He added that a 10 percent increase was also approved last year and with the extra funding, the University was able to get wireless Internet.
"We have very strong student approval for this," Arton said. "The increase amounts to around $300,000."
Richard Morrell, vice president of student affairs, and Patrick Bradley, senior director of University Housing and Residential Dining Services, proposed an initial recommendation that called for a double-occupancy room rate increase of 6.73 percent and a single room rate increase of 5.10 percent, with the board and apartment rates staying the same.
However, with the inclusion of rising energy costs, the board motioned to raise the rates.
Morrell said some of the improvements could be completed by the summer with hopes the University will see immediate benefits.
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