Iowa State is proposing increased student housing rates to help pay for an improved residential experience in all its facilities, according to Michael Harwood, associate vice president for campus life and director of residence.
The proposal for residence housing rates was brought up in an Iowa Board of Regents meeting Feb. 28 and was approved without floor discussion during the regents’ Thursday meeting.
Iowa State has increased rates across campus, with the rate increases for every building at approximately 6.5%.
For instance, Friley held the most students last year at 860 students and will see a $340 increase to the current rate of $5,248 to $5,588 per year for a double with air conditioning (AC). Geoffroy was second at 716 students and received a $418 increase to its current rate at $6,436 to $6,854 per year for a double with AC.
The least populated dorms, such as Freeman at 61 students and Barton at 86, are experiencing a $316 increase to their current rate, which sits at $4,862 per year for a double with no AC.
Changes are coming to apartment rates too. Frederiksen Court housed 2,260 students this past year and is looking at a $332 increase to the current rate at $5,100, raising it to $5,432 per year for a four-bedroom, four-person private bedroom.
“Our facilities are aging, and we must reinvest in the facilities to ensure the comfort and overall satisfaction of students living on campus,” Harwood stated in an email response to the Daily.
Harwood, who started at Iowa State in August, said the projects include Friley Hall bathroom renovations and courtyard resurfacing, 30 more air-conditioned beds in former Oak-Elm office spaces, updated fire alarm systems and other repairs and updates.
The University of Iowa received a 4.9% residence hall room rate increase and the University of Northern Iowa received a 3.5% increase in residence hall room rates.
Newly elected Inter-Residence Hall Association (IRHA) President Braden Fels, a junior in history, spoke on the proposal and how it came about.
“The Department of Residence (DOR) works closely with IRHA throughout the entire school year, and each winter DOR leadership presents annual rate proposals to the group of student representatives from each residence hall. This year the DOR requested a 5% increase, but after reviewing all of the information and the ‘why,’ IRHA proposed and passed a 6.5% rate increase,” Fels said.
Fels said he believes it will be beneficial to incoming residents because the additional funds will go to something that they reside in every day.
“IRHA prioritizes the student experience and will do whatever steps necessary to benefit the residents we represent,” Fels said.
Meal dining plans will have a few different increases, and Dining Dollars will not be affected.
The 100 flex meal option is seeing an increase of $62 to the current rate of $1,225. The 50 flex meal option sees a $31 increase to the current rate of $625. The 25 flex meal option will see a $16 dollar increase to the current rate of $320.
The academic year plans are experiencing increases too. The Cardinal plan will see an increase of $244 to the current rate of $4,864. The Gold plan will see an increase of $230 to the current rate of $4,570. The Campanile plan will see an increase of $188 to the current rate of $3,740.
