An increase in room and board rates effective next year and a proposed replacement for the current continuous housing plan were brought before the Inter-Residence Hall Association Thursday night.

Randy Alexander, director of the Department of Residence, presented a plan for a 5 percent increase on room and board rates.

IRHA will vote on the increase at its meeting next Thursday. The proposal must be passed by IRHA, Iowa State President Martin Jischke and the Iowa State Board of Regents.

Alexander said increases are based on the average 4 percent inflation rate.

“We knew [the increase] was coming when we were presented with the master plan last year,” said IRHA President Ben Chamberlain, senior in agricultural studies. “A certain level of increase was planned with that plan.”

Alexander said last year’s room and board increase of 6.8 percent was “the highest we’ve had in years.”

Matt Craft, Richardson Court Association president, said students should understand the reason for the increase, though it is not as high as last year’s increase.

“We have been ready for a substantial increase; they told us it was coming, but you still don’t look forward to it,” said Craft, junior in political science and pre-law. “Hopefully, [students] will understand that to be able to make all these renovations and the master plan, our generation is going to have to be the one to pay for it.”

Alexander said this increase would rank ISU ninth among the Big 12 schools for room and board rates.

The continuous housing option, which will be decided by IRHA, would allow any student to stay in his or her own room, dining service not included, for any period of time during Thanksgiving and spring break.

An extra $15 would be added to the cost of every student’s room each year, regardless of whether he or she stays during the break.

According to the proposal, students wishing to stay at ISU during winter break would be charged an additional amount and be assigned to specific houses, much like the current continuous housing plan.

Alexander said the change is being considered because more students have inquired about staying at the residence halls for part of break but do not want to pay $180 to stay for only a few of the days.

Although this would be an additional cost to the department, Alexander said it would also be less of a hassle.

The current plan brings in about $153,000 in revenue to the Department of Residence, he said. The proposed continuous housing plan would bring in $108,000, a loss to the department of $45,000.

“It simplifies our life to do away with it, so it’s worth it to us to pick up the extra cost,” Alexander said.

Craft said he has talked to a lot of students who would have used the opportunity to stay a few extra days, had the option been given in the past.

“I think most of the students are very much in favor of it,” Craft said. “[They] look forward to being able to stay an extra day or two for a very reasonable price.”

Chamberlain agreed the continuous housing option would be a good opportunity.

“The increase in price is so minimal, I think it’s a good deal,” he said. “The only downside being someone who would absolutely not stay for any of the break, but I could see the vast majority of students taking advantage of it.”

The Department of Residence also was looking into installing Ethernet into all rooms, but Alexander said the cost was going to be “a lot higher than expected” and will not be considered for next spring.

Other increases in the proposed room and board rate plan include:

• Double room per person rates would increase 6.1 percent to $2,252.

• Board plans for 14, 15 and 20 meals per week would increase 3.7 percent. The 10 meals per week plan will increase 3.6 percent.

• The add-on of a single room would increase 9.7 percent to $658.

• The add-on of a double room used as a single would increase 9.8 percent to $916.

• A room in Maple Hall would be an extra $266, and a Maple Hall suite would be an extra $390, due to recent renovations.

• The add-on rate of continuous housing would increase 5.6 percent to $190 if IRHA decides to continue with the current continuous housing plan.

• Undergraduate room and board rates for summer 1999 would increase 5 percent for all meal plans.

• The summer rate of an add-on of a double room as a single would increase 9 percent to $218.

• The summer add-on of a single room would increase 8.8 percent to $160.