2008 Woodie Awards
Wireless Internet drives student fee increases
Ben Slivnick
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: News
Despite Gov. Martin O'Malley's promise to freeze tuition, student fee increases proposed to the RHA last night by department leaders could send students digging deeper into their pocketbooks when they go to pay their bills next fall.
Representatives from the departments of Resident Life, Resident Facilities and Dining Services approached the group with a proposal to raise room and board by $292 next year to a total cost of $8,714.
The 3.47 percent increase largely reflects standard cost increases these departments face every year: higher energy costs, higher cost of health insurance benefits for employees, even the increased cost of the furniture that stocks dorm rooms.
But a $36,720 plan to upgrade all dorm data jacks to provide wireless Internet in all campus housing was one major factor driving the fee increase beyond year-to-year expectations, Director of Resident Life Deb Grandner said. Once finished, the upgrade will allow the Office of Information Technology to begin converting dorms for wireless capabilities, a process officials hope will begin later this semester and continue for the next 14 months.
"The use of computers, wireless really is the future," Grandner said at the meeting. "Our resident halls should be using state-of-the-art technology within the next 14 months."
Associate Director for Dining Services Joe Mullineaux also added that a state-mandated raise for all university employees to the living wage - an adjusted minimum wage based on an area's standard of living that would raise employees pay from $8.59 an hour to $9.67 - was one of the biggest factors driving up the student fees this year. The raise will cost Dining Services and Resident Life $374,787 combined.
Still, most of these unforeseen costs were offset by Resident Life's decision to reduce the number of active phone jacks in dorm rooms from two to one, saving the department more than $500,000.
The proposed fee increase of $292 this year was in line with typical increases students have faced in past years. Last year, room and board fees went up $347, and the year before, the costs increased by $284. Room and board fees have increased every year for the past 20 years.
Representatives from the departments of Resident Life, Resident Facilities and Dining Services approached the group with a proposal to raise room and board by $292 next year to a total cost of $8,714.
The 3.47 percent increase largely reflects standard cost increases these departments face every year: higher energy costs, higher cost of health insurance benefits for employees, even the increased cost of the furniture that stocks dorm rooms.
But a $36,720 plan to upgrade all dorm data jacks to provide wireless Internet in all campus housing was one major factor driving the fee increase beyond year-to-year expectations, Director of Resident Life Deb Grandner said. Once finished, the upgrade will allow the Office of Information Technology to begin converting dorms for wireless capabilities, a process officials hope will begin later this semester and continue for the next 14 months.
"The use of computers, wireless really is the future," Grandner said at the meeting. "Our resident halls should be using state-of-the-art technology within the next 14 months."
Associate Director for Dining Services Joe Mullineaux also added that a state-mandated raise for all university employees to the living wage - an adjusted minimum wage based on an area's standard of living that would raise employees pay from $8.59 an hour to $9.67 - was one of the biggest factors driving up the student fees this year. The raise will cost Dining Services and Resident Life $374,787 combined.
Still, most of these unforeseen costs were offset by Resident Life's decision to reduce the number of active phone jacks in dorm rooms from two to one, saving the department more than $500,000.
The proposed fee increase of $292 this year was in line with typical increases students have faced in past years. Last year, room and board fees went up $347, and the year before, the costs increased by $284. Room and board fees have increased every year for the past 20 years.
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