CONWAY — Room and board rates at the University of Central Arkansas will increase this fall, the board of trustees decided Friday.
The Student Government Association supported the 3.2 percent increase in meal rates and 2.96 percent increase in room rates.
“We didn’t go up on the meal plans last year at all,” UCA President Tom Courtway reminded trustees and others.
The current room-and-board rate is $2,685 per semester based on a double-occupancy room and a total-access meal plan with a $50 declining cash balance, according to UCA.
By comparison, the board’s agenda packet said, the new room-and-board rate for the 2013-14 academic year will be$2,765 per semester for an overall increase of $80, or 2.98 percent.
University officials said the meal-rate increase was necessary to cover a proposed 2.75 percent increase in its contract with food-vendor Aramark and to supplement food-service revenue.
“The estimated net food service revenue generated from this increase is approximately $780,000 per year,” the agenda said.
Room rates needed to increase primarily because of “the continuing effort to maintain and upgrade housing facilities,” according to the agenda.
“Recommended repairs to the residence halls and university-owned apartments exceed $18.1 million,” the agenda noted.
No one spoke against theproposal increases.
Diane Newton, vice president for finance and administration, released a chart showing that the university’s proposed room-and-board rates combined rank seventh in the state when compared with Arkansas’ other four-year public universities’ current rates.
Trustee Bobby Reynolds of Searcy said he hopes UCA’s ranking would make it more competitive in recruiting students. The board traditionally considers tuition rates in May, spokesman Fredricka Sharkey said. During that same meeting, trustees also consider the budget, she added.
The board did not take action on a proposed 10-year vendor contract with Coca-Cola. Courtway said there are still some details to be worked out on the proposed pact.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 16 on 02/23/2013