The Board of Trustees voted to freeze graduate tuition and increase the cost of room and board for the 2015-2016 academic year.
This action means that tuition for graduate students will stay at current rates while room will be raised by 2 percent or $100 and board will be raised by 1.5 percent or about $65.
“This recommendation is based on bigger institutions and what they’re doing now.” Jim Rutherford, chair of the finance committee, said at the meeting.
Last year, the Board voted to raise room by 7 percent and board by 2 percent. The board said it would offset the additional cost by identifying resident students in need.
The Board formally approved university governance changes which will split Senate into separate assemblies including one for student senators. The changes will take effect on July 1.
The board also approved a plan put forth by the Facilities Committee to further study renovations to campus. David Fisher, chair of the Facilities Committee, said these plans would include renovations for Davis hall Annex, 60 Collegeview, the Campus Center and the renovation of the green space walkway. The sum of the plans was said by Fisher to amount to $32 million.
The finance committee also reported a change in the budget shortfall from $850,000 last meeting to $150,000. The reduction in the shortfall was attributed to lower energy costs as a result of less energy-intensive facilities and the lack of action to replace faculty who have left.
Chairman of the Board Mark Thresher said the executive meeting, which is not open to the public, would likely last for more than 30 minutes.
Nikki Sherbahn and Madeleine Holmes, who currently occupy the two student trustee seats, will be vacating their positions after their graduation this academic year. Interested students may apply by completing an application available on O-zone and turning in the packet by Feb. 27. Interviews will take place on April 12.
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