ISU students living in the residence halls may be paying more next year if this week’s Board of Regents meeting goes as expected.

Board members will vote on new residence hall rates for Iowa’s three regent universities during their meeting today and Thursday in Council Bluffs.

Iowa State is proposing a new rate of $4,432 for the 2000-2001 school year. This is an increase of $261 from the 1999-2000 rate, which was $4,171.

While the new rate includes $207 as a base increase, it also includes a $54 fee toward ethernet connections for all residence hall students. Students living in the Towers Residence Association also will be paying $35 for a CyRide pass if the proposed rate is approved.

Regent David Fisher said he thinks the new rates are appropriate.

“I’ve got a couple questions, but they seem reasonable,” he said. “They seem to be improving the quality of the residents’ facilities.”

Another important item of discussion during the Board of Regents meeting will be the status of the education appropriations bill in the Iowa Legislature.

The bill has been a source of concern for many regents and administrators since it may cut a substantial amount of state funding from the requests of Iowa’s regent institutions.

“We’ve been able to build our universities up to a point that they’re very competitive with others,” Fisher said. “I think the Legislature is sending a very bad signal of their support of higher education.”

Fisher said he has not heard much about the status of the appropriations bill, but he said it seems that little has changed since the last regents’ meeting.

“Hopefully, it’s moving in the right direction,” he said. “I know the people of Iowa treasure and value their regent universities.”

Regent Clarkson Kelly also said adequate state support of education is important.

“I think very strongly that we need all the help we can get from our government,” he said.

In addition to legislative and university news, board members will also be voting for a new president for the 2000-2001 year.

Fisher said the president is chosen from the nine regent members, and presidents can be elected from year to year.

“I just expect Owen Newlin will want to continue,” he said. “He has served the board well, and we will continue to support him.”

Kelly also said he thinks Newlin has done an excellent job but added he thinks other regent members would also be very competent.

“Owen Newlin has been a very good president of the Board of Regents,” he said. “But I believe that there are many other members of the Board of Regents who are very qualified to be president and deserve it.”