The board also voted to increase rates for 1855 Place and University Village apartments.

Budget and Finance Committee Chair and Trustee Sandy Pierce contextualized the rate increase by noting that residential and housing services are reliant on housing and dining revenue, since the department gets no support from state funds or tuition.

“So, this revenue supports debt service, supports ongoing maintenance, and all of us know that many of the residence halls need ongoing maintenance and need upgrading,” Pierce said.

She said the intention behind this raise is to build a reserve as part of a university plan to determine and prioritize improvements to residence halls.

This raise was discussed at length among the board yesterday, Trustee Mike Balow said. He explained that improving residence halls is always a priority among the board, and that they are always trying to find ways to “do what needs to be done."

Balow pointed towards last year’s $37 million renovation for Campbell Hall as a successful upgrade. He said around $4 million of that funding was sourced directly from donors via a capital campaign and encouraged donations for future residence hall endeavors. 

“There are always deals that can be struck to inject capital into making the living arrangements better for our students,” he said.

Balow echoed Pierce’s sentiment that this raise will support reserves for future endeavors to improve the quality of residence halls.

Associate Vice President of Residential and Hospitality Services Patricia Martinez said these housing and dining rate increases will help complement a long-term study conducted by her department to improve infrastructure not just in residence and dining halls, but also in recreational spaces.

“We're really trying to look at what's next for our Spartans,” Martinez said. “So not just in the immediacy, but what will the Spartans of 10 years from now be looking for in their Spartan home experience, in their residential dining and recreation experience.”