KU Student Housing proposes small hike; rates remain below national average

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas will propose a small rate increase for next fall that will keep its student housing among the most affordable in the nation, KU Student Housing Director Kenneth Stoner announced today.

According to a recent College Board national report, KU's residence hall students currently pay 20 percent, or $1,120, less a year than at other public universities, and 33 percent, or $2,322, less a year than their counterparts at private colleges and universities.

"We're happy to offer our residents such a good value for the dollar," said Stoner. "Holding the line on cost increases is always our goal."

If approved by the Kansas Board of Regents, KU's housing rates would remain significantly below the national average and among the lowest of the Big 12 institutions.

"KU student housing is proud to be part of one of the best higher education values in the United States," Stoner said. "The increases we are proposing continue a decade-long trend of successful cost management while we are modernizing facilities in response to our residents' needs."

For the 2004-05 academic year, the university is submitting the following proposed rates for the several on-campus housing options at KU:

 • Students in double-occupancy residence hall rooms would pay $78, or 3.1 percent, more a year. The rate would be $2,576 compared with $2,498 for 2003-04.

 • Rates at the Jayhawker Towers (four students in a two-bedroom apartment) would increase by $64, or 2.9 percent, from $2,204 to $2,268 a year.

 • Room and board for eight of the 10 KU scholarship halls (small cooperative living communities) would increase $190, or less than 6 percent a year, to a range of $2,034 to $2,204. For the 100 residents of Miller and Watkins scholarship halls, which have a trust fund that subsidizes room and board costs for residents, depending on investment earnings, room and board would increase $300 to $1,218.

 • Residents in Stouffer Place (student family apartments) would pay $7 or 2.7 percent more a month for one-bedroom apartments, and $9 or 3 percent for two-bedroom apartments. Monthly rates would be $268 for one-bedroom units and $312 for two-bedroom units.

 • To accommodate various lifestyles and class schedules, next fall the university will offer a greater range of meal plan options, ranging from $1,852 for 220 meals per year (approximately seven meals and $24 in a la carte food purchases a week) to $3,050 a year for 500 meals per year (approximately 15 meals and $6 in a la carte food purchases a week). The new plan will allow students to eat at any university dining facility, not just facilities inside the residence halls.

All of KU's student housing facilities will operate in 2004-05. This fall KU reopened Ellsworth residence hall following extensive renovation. Templin and Lewis residence halls were similarly renovated in 1997 and 1999, respectively.

Hashinger residence hall is next on the list to be completely renovated, during the 2005-06 academic year.

Construction on the new Rieger Scholarship Hall will begin this spring and open in fall 2005. The newest scholarship hall, Margaret Amini Hall, opened in 2000.