As the university continues to weather the storm of budget cuts and potential cutbacks, a recent UT housing proposal suggests a housing-rate increase of $175 per semester for regular residence halls. UT apartment residence halls would also raise rates, and Greve Hall would be closed.
The rate for the standard four-person apartment at the Apartment Residence Hall would increase by $130 per semester. The fee for the two-person apartment with a large private bedroom at the hall would rise $20 per semester.
The four-person private bedroom with shared bath apartment and the three-person private bedroom with shared bath apartment at Volunteer Hall would each go up $100 per semester.
The cost for the two-person, shared bedroom apartment and the two-person, private bedroom apartment at Laurel Hall would each climb $105 per semester. The proposal would also add a super single room as an option at the hall.
“(The super-single option for Laurel Hall) was developed at request of some of the sorority residents residing in Laurel,” Ken Stoner, executive director of university housing, said. “Essentially, it is an option similar to the super singles offered in our residence halls.”
Even if the housing rates go up, UT would still compare favorably with other universities, Stoner said. He cited an October 2008 College Board annual report titled “Trends in College Pricing.”
“The College Board figure is $7,748 per academic year,” Stoner said. “Using our ‘most common’ average room and board rate of $6,439, UT is $1,309 per academic year below the national average for room and board assessment at public four-year institutions.”
He also referenced a 2008-2009 survey of 23 colleges in the South, in which UT placed 22nd in cost of double-room rental rate. Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas were the most expensive by a wide margin.
Even with UT increases, Stoner said there would be increases at the other universities listed.
Furthermore, Stoner said increases are necessary to combat inflation, especially in utilities, and to pay off bonds of completed renovations, not to mention the tough economic climate of the nation.
“As part of the university, the Department of University Housing is financially participating in efforts toward meeting budgetary shortfalls of the institution,” he said.
Stoner said the increased housing rates would be similar to rises the last three fiscal years.
The rates for Laurel Hall and Volunteer Hall are not increasing as significantly as the fees for the regular residence halls because of data compiled after their first full year of operating, he said.
As to why the proposal would take Greve Hall off the list of options, Stoner said it would be more cost-effective to run 12 residence halls and apartment residence halls, instead of 13.
He said when UT re-opened Laurel Hall and acquired Volunteer Hall and closed Strong Hall and Melrose Hall, the university gained 680 beds. Closing Greve Hall, which has 365 beds, would still maintain more beds than were present before the 2008 changes.
The proposal would also keep the Apartment Residence Hall, Volunteer Hall and Laurel Hall as locations on campus without provided landline telephone service.
“Landline service was not provided in Knoxville Place, and the same arrangement was continued when the university acquired the property and renamed the facility Volunteer Hall,” Stoner said. “During the last year of private operation as Knoxville Place, it was determined that only seven apartments of residents opted for landline service. ... Preferred personal cell phones to shared landlines is an emerging trend.”
Stoner said many universities have gotten rid of phone service at residence halls, as well as in university apartments.
In the proposal, some residence halls still require the purchase of a meal plan to sign up for them.
Brian Browning, business manager for finance and administration, and Jeff Maples, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, said halls that have the meal plan requirement are still needed to keep up dining service revenue and keep it financially viable for the university and its contractor, ARAMARK.
Stoner said money from “room and board,” including housing and dining fees, was used to pay off the costs of the Presidential Court residential complex and Morrill Hall in the late ’60s and early ’70s.