ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan Board of Regents, at its
The basic rate for a double room with a standard 13-meal-per-week board plan will be $6,068, an increase of $288 from this year’s charge. A single room in a traditional hall with a board plan will cost $7,222. A double in halls without board plans will range from $3,478 to $4,838.

New rates for unfurnished family housing apartments and townhouses, effective
Projected higher utility costs represent the largest single factor other than general inflation affecting the size of the rate increases. Of the 5 percent of the residence hall increase, 1.22 percent—a nearly 18 percent increase in the utilities expenditures for FY 2002—represents rising utility costs, particularly for steam from the Central Power Plant.

The rate of increase in utility costs is even more pronounced in family housing where 3.6 percent of the increase is to cover anticipated higher costs for natural gas. These utility increases include only the impact on University Housing facilities, not on the campus as a whole. Room rates for residence halls and family housing apartments and townhouses include all utilities, except long distance telephone service.

Although U-M’s room and board rates remain the second highest in the Big Ten after Northwestern, its cumulative percentage increases for the years 1997-2000 were the lowest of the 11 schools. This lowest rate of increase was achieved despite inflation rates for southeastern Michigan that have been above the national average during the same time frame. During this period, University Housing sustained or enhanced its services and programs by a combination of budget restructuring and cost-cutting initiatives. Enhancements included the addition of new living-learning programs, elimination of permanent overflow triples after three decades, and the major renovation of the South Quadrangle fire alarm and electric systems. The proposed FY 2002 rate increase for residence halls also will support the financing of a new state-of-the-art fire alarm and electrical system for East Quadrangle.

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Board of Regents