Last modified: Friday, February 27, 2004
Trustees to conduct session to discuss tuition and fees
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University trustees will conduct a public forum to discuss tuition and fees before setting rates for the 2004-05 academic year, IU President Adam W. Herbert announced today (Feb. 27) during the board's regular monthly meeting.
The special session will be conducted March 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. on the IUPUI campus. Video and teleconferencing capabilities will be available at all IU campuses to allow public participation from throughout the state. Trustees are expected to act on 2004-05 tuition rates at their April 2 meeting.
"The board and I are committed to facilitating broader public discussion on matters related to tuition and fees. We want to develop a more transparent process, particularly on issues of such importance to students and parents," said Herbert. "This forum will include a budget discussion on topics such as how our costs affect tuition rates."
More specific information on the public forum will be made available early next month.
Trustees also took action to approve room and board costs for IU Bloomington for the 2004-05 year. Room and board costs will increase an average of 2.2 percent for residence halls and apartments.
For the fourth straight year, there will be no increase in the cost of meal plans. Housing increases range from 4 percent at residence halls such as Briscoe, McNutt and Teter, 2 percent at the Willkie Residence Center, Forest Co-op and Mason Apartments, and 1 percent at on-campus apartments. The combination of those rates and no increase in meal plan costs provides the average increase of 2.2. percent.
For example, the cost of a double room in Briscoe for the academic year will increase from $3,056 to $3,178. At Willkie, the rate for a single room will increase from $4,824 to $4,921. The monthly rate at University Apartments for a one-bedroom, unfurnished apartment will increase from $593 to $599. Those rates apply to first-, second- and third-year residents. Fourth-year residents, who are covered under a previous rate plan, pay a lower rate. This is the last year that any student's housing fee will be covered by such a plan.
Among Big Ten Conference universities, IU's room and board rate is eighth. Six years ago, IU was third in the Big Ten.
"We've been able to keep increases in housing rates and food costs down because of solid management and fiscal responsibility," said Pat Connor, executive director of Residential Programs and Services.
Bruce Jacobs, vice chancellor for auxiliary services and programs, told trustees that according to recent national survey results, IU students are more satisfied with housing and dining services on campus.
"When we compare to last year's results, we have improved in all 14 areas that are used to measure student satisfaction, with nine of those areas improving significantly," said Jacobs. "The biggest single increase since the start of the study in 2001 has been satisfaction with dining service."
