Purdue News
Purdue News
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December 20, 2003 Purdue trustees approve housing fees for 2004-05 school yearWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue students will pay an average of 5 percent more to live in university residences in the 2004-05 academic year under a new rate schedule approved today (Saturday, 12/20) by the board of trustees. The new rates will provide students with a wider variety of meal options. The average cost of a double room and 15 meals a week will be $6,324, an increase of $300 over this year. "Two percent of the overall rate increase will go toward the funding of major projects, such as the Cary Quadrangle renovation that began in 2000 and the 10-year plan for the installation of sprinklers in all residence halls by 2010," said Kenneth P. Burns, Purdue executive vice president and treasurer. Purdue's housing and food service fees currently rank sixth among Big Ten universities, and Burns said he expects the ranking will not change with the rate increase. Purdue residence hall room-and-board rates include: furnished living space, utilities, cable television with 39 channels, phone with voice mail and call waiting, flexible meal plans, dining services 18 hours a day, high-speed Internet and campus network connections, wireless access, staff support and building access monitored for security. Purdue also offers on-campus apartment living, with Purdue Village and Hilltop Apartments. A one-bedroom apartment at Purdue Village costs $492 per month. One feature offered for the first time this semester to students who live off campus, as well as faculty and staff, is an open dining plan that includes 25 meals for $165 at any University Residences dining location. University Residences sold more than 200 of the Open Dining Plans this year, with sales likely to increase when the Stadium Avenue Dining Court opens in the fall 2004, said John Sautter, vice president of housing and food services. The 800-seat stadium dining court will feature a wood-fired pizza oven. The open dining card, valid at any University Residences dining location, can be purchased for individuals or groups, and more than one meal can be charged at a time. "We also are adding two new meal plans for upperclassmen living in student housing," Sautter said. "This is a response to student requests to have the ability to use their meal swipe cards to cover the cost of meals for guests." The university's existing 10-, 15- and 20-meal plans will continue for first and second semester freshman next year. Two additional plans will be offered to upperclassmen with academic classification of semester three or higher. The Black Plan, priced the same as the 10-meal plan, will provide 210 meals per year, plus $350 in dining dollars that can be spent at campus mini-marts. The Gold Plan, priced the same as the 15-meal plan, will provide 300 meals per year, plus $350 in dining dollars. "Under these two plans, students may use their meals for themselves or their guests, addressing the No. 1 request from students on their meal plans," Sautter said. Unused meals and dining dollars will carry over from fall to spring semesters but will expire at the end of spring semester. If students use up all available meals during a semester, they may purchase an open dining meal plan (25 meals) and/or they may utilize their dining dollars or BoilerExpress to purchase additional meals. "Students have reacted very favorably to this new offering," Sautter said. This academic year, 11,384 graduate and undergraduate students live in campus housing. Purdue has the largest residence hall system in the country that promotes student choice by not requiring residency in university facilities. Writer: Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133, rwinter@purdue.edu Sources: Kenneth Burns, (765) 494-9705, kpburns@purdue.edu John Sautter, (765) 494-1022, jasautter@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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