MSU Board of Trustees sets housing rates for 2002-03
Contact: Kristan Tetens, University Relations, (517) 355-2281, tetenskr@msu.edu
Apr 12, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University's housing rates will remain among the most competitive in the nation under budget guidelines approved today by the university's Board of Trustees.
The budget calls for a 5.4 percent ($254) increase in room and board rates for the 2002-03 year. Effective fall semester 2002, it will cost $4,932 annually for a student to live in an on-campus residence hall (double room, 15 meals per week).
Even with the increase, MSU's on-campus room-and-board expenses are the lowest in the Big Ten and the lowest among Michigan public universities. (See comparative data attached.)
"The room and board rates recommended for next year emphasize our continued commitment to containing costs and will help us retain our position as one of the most affordable university housing systems in the nation," said Charles Gagliano, assistant vice president for housing and food services. "We are continuing to provide a customer-responsive system that supports students' academic goals while providing quality and value for dollar paid."
Gagliano expects about 14,500 students to live in university residence halls next year, including almost all first-year students. In addition, more than 65 percent of those students currently living in the residence halls have made room reservations for the 2002-03 academic year.
About 3,000 students are expected to live in university apartments, where monthly rents will be between $470 and $560 depending on apartment size and type.
A number of new initiatives have made on-campus housing a popular option for undergraduate and graduate students:
- University Housing recently completed a six-year project to install high-speed Internet access in all residence hall rooms.
- Shaw Hall will reopen this fall following renovations.
- A number of residential programs are designed to help students excel academically by combining the living and learning environments. These include the Residential Option for Science and Engineering Students, the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, the Residential Option in Arts and Letters, the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, Class Connections, Honors College, James Madison College and Lyman Briggs School. A new Spanish language residential option is available in McDonel Hall.
- University Housing encourages on-campus residents to read daily newspapers through its participation in the MSU Readership Program, which provides copies of The New York Times and eight other daily newspapers in all residence halls.
- The "Hungry for Knowledge" meal program provides an opportunity for faculty and students to share a meal and conversation in the relaxed atmosphere of the residence halls.
- A year-end move-out recycling program enables students to donate items to charitable agencies such as MSU Safe Place and the Council Against Domestic Assault. In addition, University Housing donates leftover perishable food to the local Food Movers organization at the end of each semester.
- A comprehensive remodeling project is nearing completion for apartments in Cherry Lane, University Village and Spartan Village.
[MEDIA NOTE: Complete housing rates and comparative data are below. For more information, call Charles Gagliano, assistant vice president for housing and food services, at (517) 355-7457.]
Big Ten Universities Room and Board Rate Comparisons
| 2001-02 Rate |
2002-03 Projected |
$ Increase |
% Increase |
|
| Michigan State University | $4,678 | $4,932 | $254 | 5.4% |
| University of Wisconsin | 4,798 | 4,985 | 187 | 3.9 |
| University of Iowa | 4,671 | 5,255 | 584 | 12.5 |
| Penn State University | 5,300 | 5,660 | 360 | 6.8 |
| Purdue University | 5,480 | 5,699 | 219 | 4.0 |
| University of Minnesota | 5,218 | 5,792 | 574 | 11.0 |
| University of Illinois | 5,650 | 5,904 | 254 | 4.5 |
| Indiana University | 5,712 | 5,940 | 228 | 4.0 |
| Ohio State University | 5,721 | 6,018 | 297 | 5.2 |
| University of Michigan | 6,011 | 6,309 | 298 | 4.95 |
| Northwestern University | 7,422 | 7,801 | 379 | 5.1 |
Michigan Universities Room and Board Rate Comparisons
| 2001-02 Rate |
2002-03 Projected |
$ Increase |
% Increase |
|
| Michigan State University | $4,678 | $4,932 | $254 | 5.4% |
| Oakland University | 4,978 | 5,177 | 199 | 4.0 |
| Michigan Technological University | 5,181 | 5,412 | 231 | 4.46 |
| Northern Michigan University | 5,275 | 5,458 | 183 | 3.5 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 5,268 | 5,479 | 211 | 4.0 |
| Central Michigan University | 5,219 | 5,480 | 261 | 5.0 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | 5,200 | 5,485 | 285 | 5.5 |
| Grand Valley State University | 5,380 | 5,656 | 276 | 5.1 |
| Western Michigan University | 5,517 | 6,013 | 496 | 9.0 |
| University of Michigan* | 6,049 | 6,366 | 317 | 4.95 |
*13 Meal Plan is base plan as opposed to 18-20 meal plans for other universities.
