The MSU Board of Trustees unanimously approved a proposal Friday to raise housing rates across the board by 6 percent starting in the fall.
The higher cost of living on campus can be attributed to inflation rates, increasing Ethernet usage, maintenance and bus services, said Charles Gagliano, assistant vice president for University Housing and Food Services.
The decision to raise rates will be the start of MSU students shouldering the burden of state funding cuts, expected to be upward of $60 million.
For the first time, students will be charged for using the Internet - a fee of $57each year starting in the fall.
"Our rates cover other services normally not covered by other universities," Gagliano said.
In August, about 14,500 students - 65 percent of returning students - will be living in the 24 residence halls across campus.
University spokesman Terry Denbow said the board can change housing rates even though students reserved their rooms earlier this year. When students sign up for a room, there is a note on each contract which states that all rates are pending board approval, he said.
Gagliano said the increase will also allow the university to have money in reserves when officials start renovating Snyder and Phillips halls, as well as add a seventh dorm to the Brody Complex. The projects will start between 2004-06.
"(The increase) guarantees other students won't see peaks as specific maintenance projects occur," Gagliano said.
Trustee David Porteous,chairman for the Board of Trustees, said the increase is important as residence halls undergo renovations to add critical safety features.
"Our housing rates are very affordable," Porteous said. "Even with the increase, of all public universities in the state, we would be the lowest."
MSU housing rates are also low among other Big Ten universities.
In 2002-03 the cost of living on MSU's campus was $1,434 cheaper than the University of Michigan. U-M is expected to increase its housing rates by 3.6 percent for the next academic year.
During the meeting the board also approved memorandums to change the name of two academic departments effective in July.
The Department of Telecommunication will now be known as the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media.
"The consensus was we had modified our curriculum but not our name," said Dean James Spaniolo. "It didn't reflect what we're teaching and what our research is."
Spaniolo said students in the program were receptive to the name change because it better describes the wide range of issues and topics studied in the department.
The other name change comes from the Department of American Thought and Language, which has modified its title to the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures.
The change reflects the program emphasis on professional writing and degree certification.
"This brings stature and significance to this writing program," Interim President Lou Anna Simon said.
