By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The cost to eat and sleep at Bowling Green State University is going up in fall.
The university trustees approved an increase that averages 2.4 percent for room costs at their meeting Friday.
The 11 options, organized in three tiers, have varying costs, and varying rates of increase.
This schedule, said Sheri Stoll, chief financial officer, is being compressed from four tiers. Previously Greek housing had its own tier, but with the opening in August of the new Greek Village, now under construction, the administration moved Greek housing to the top tier.
Even that, Stoll said, does not cover the cost of the new housing. In order to avoid having other resident students subsidize Greek housing, a new “parlor” fee will be assessed to members of sororities and fraternities whether they live in the chapter house or not. Chapters will determine how they are assessed.
The trustees also approved an average 2.5-percent increase in meal plans. That would raise the cost of the recommended Bronze plan by $2.44 a week.
Stoll was asked about a ranking that showed BGSU’s room and board costs are less than at most other Ohio schools. She noted it has been three years since board fees have increased.
She also noted that rents for off-campus housing are among the lowest in the nation. That puts additional pressure on what the university can charge.
