By Dennis O’Niel
The University of Louisville’s Board of Trustees was busy at its April 5 meeting, approving motions for increases in tuition, housing and meal plan rates. They also passed a motion to establish a new $25 technology fee for Speed School students.
Undergraduate tuition will increase by 9.9 percent, meaning in-state undergraduates will pay $3,435 per semester, $309 more than this year’s rate. Non-resident undergraduates will see a $796 hike, brining their semesterly bill to $8,832.
Rates for graduate and professional students are also set to increase between $336 and $4,056 over this year.
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education recommended that rates go up at U of L (just as it did for other state schools) because of a lack of federal and state funding.
The hike still makes this the fifth straight year of at least a nine percent increase.
Housing rates increased 10 percent for traditional residence halls and four percent for apartments.
Meal plan rates also went up $145 for incoming first year students and $135 for returning students. The meal plan increases will result in increased hours of operation for many of the eateries on campus, as well as other hoped-for improvements by the administration.
The $25 technology fee for Speed School students will be used to purchase tablet computers for classes. U of L Provost Dr. Shirley Willihnganz said she hopes this will help students in their courses without making them spend a lot of money independently on software.
The Cardinal will have more information about the new technology fee soon.
Though not overjoyed about the various increases approved at the meeting, Student Government Association President Darrell Messer commended U of L President Dr. James R. Ramsey’s office for being respectful to students’ wishes and seeking their input in the process. He said he felt the situation “went as well as could have been expected.”
“I think that generally the university tried to meet our request and I think that they did a pretty good job of it,” Messer said. “I think that all the increases came from a very rational place.” Messer is a senior engineering major.
Director of Housing & Residence Life Shannon Staten said much of the money accumulated from the residence hall and apartment rate increases will help cover facility maintenance costs.
“There isn’t anything big that is planned on being added as a result of the increases,” Staten said. “But in case a boiler goes out or we need to do some work on a roof or an elevator in one of the residence halls, we need to have money available for those types of things.”
Staten also said even though there is nothing significant planned, students should expect heavy renovation to be done to the lobby of Unitas Tower. The renovation will take place over the summer. “It is a large change that we think students will definitely notice.”
Staten also said students’ input was heavily considered in the process of increasing the housing rates.
Students voiced their thoughts and concerns through the Resident Student Association and knew about it as early as January when the current housing rates were posted online.
Vice President for Business Affairs Larry Owsley said students will benefit from the meal plan increases, especially because of improvements to food service operations on the west side of Belknap campus. Owsley said the university hopes to build a new eatery on that side of campus, but until then, the university wants to establish a better hot food service.
Starting in the fall of 2007, an “all-you-care-to-eat” dinner buffet will be available at the Cardinal’s Nest restaurant from 5 to 7 p.m., seven days a week. The dinner will include hot entrees, sides, vegetables, salad and dessert.
Owsley said the meal plan changes came from researching U of L’s benchmark institutions, other Big East schools and Kentucky schools. Owsley said the plan is a good deal for students.
“We are trying to put together a plan that provides our students with a lot of options and helps us move toward the type of facilities that we want to put together for them,” Owsley said.
Messer commented that he felt meal plan increases were necessary this time, but the university needs to keep close tabs on the quality of service.
“I think we need to continue to look at the profit margin that Chartwells, [U of L’s food service provider,] is using,” Messer said. “As we know that they are making a profit, I think we need to make sure they are using that profit to improve the quality of their services.”
Owsley also said future renovations to the Student Activities Center should also yield improvements in the food situation.
Owsley did not set a timetable for this but said the administration is looking to invest more capital in improving dining services and the facility.
For a closer breakdown of the increases and new hours of operation for all campus eateries, visit http://louisville.edu/president/trustees/agenda/april07/fullboard/.
