Housing rates rise again for 2008-2009

by Nicole Goddeyne

Vanguard Copy Editor

January 15, 2008 —

SVSU housing costs will rise again for the 2008-09 academic year, as the University Board of Control approved rental rates increasing at an average of 2.5 percent. Freshmen will see roughly a three percent increase in cost while upperclassmen will pay between 1.15 and 2.27 percent more based on the housing unit in which they live.

"We are always sensitive to the cost of attendance and living on campus," Director of Auxiliary Operations Ron Portwine said. "Housing is a self-funded operation. When our costs to deliver services increase we have no choice but to pass a portion of that increase along to the customer."

According to Portwine, students currently living in University Village and Pine Grove pay $3,470 to $5,300 depending on the unit in which they reside. Next fall these numbers will increase to $3,510 to $5,400. Freshmen currently pay between $6,330 and $6,630 depending on their meal plan.

The 2007 fall semester had 2,202 students living on campus. The winter semester currently has around 2,140 residing on campus, with 115 new students joining SVSU's residence and 175 not returning. Almost 47 percent of residents were first-time-in-college freshmen.

"In general terms, two of every three freshmen are choosing to live on campus," Portwine said.

The fall 2008 semester will have 2,330 beds for students to occupy and the University plans to fill each bed to capacity, with more housing construction on the way.

Although there is no official cap on how many students the University will allow to live on campus, Portwine mentioned the University is careful to not spend too much money on more housing.

"Determining our ultimate housing capacity is a balancing act," he said. "We have been building consistently over the past ten years and therefore our cap has increased almost every year. However, we assume more debt with each housing project, so we need to be careful in determining how large we ultimately grow campus housing."

Portwine also said that if the University continues to build more housing and if there is any sudden decrease in the number of students living on campus, the University could face financial issues.

"If we continue to build and occupancy suddenly declines, we could face some significant financial challenges," he said. "However, as we recruit an increasing number of students from outside of our core service area and abroad, we realize that these students have a need for housing."

Fall ‘07 & Winter ‘08 Rates

University Village & Pine Grove 4-person single bedroom units: $4,630
UV 2-person single bedroom units: $4,930
UV single efficiencies: $5,300
Pine Grove two bedroom - 4-person units: $3,470
Freshmen: $6,330 - 6,630 depending on meal plan

Fall ‘08 & Winter ‘09

UV & Pine Grove 4-person single bedroom units: $4,720 (1.94% increase)
UV 2-person single bedroom units: $5,020 (1.83% increase)
UV single efficiencies: $5,400 (1.89% increase)
Pine Grove two bedroom - 4-person units: $3,510 (1.15% increase)
Living Center 4/5 bedroom apartments: $4,500 (2.27% increase)

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