DeKALB | Next year, NIU students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours will pay about $55 more in student fees.

The increase was approved by the Board of Trustees on Thursday morning.

Undergraduate, graduate and professional students will all see the increase. Fees that will increase are activity, athletics, bond revenue, bus, health service, health insurance and grants-in-aid.

For students taking less than 12 credit hours, fees will be assessed at a per-hour rate at an increase averaging 2.73 percent for students who pay for health insurance and 3.97 percent for students who opt out of health insurance.

Fees are increasing for various reasons, according the Board of Trustees March 24 agenda booklet. Most increases are due to rising operating costs, salary increments and contractual obligations.

Fee changes are recommended to the president by subcommittees made up of students and staff, said NIU President John Peters.

Student trustee Robert Sorsby expressed his support for the fee increases during discussion at the board meeting.

There was no other discussion.

The board also approved room rate increases for the 2011-2012 school year.

Students who live in NIU residence halls will pay an average of $252.10 more per semester but rates vary by room size and residence hall.

Meal plan, or board, rates will not increase.

Room rates increased because of increased cost of goods, salary increases, contractual services, operating cost increases and contributions to reserve funds, according to the agenda booklet.

Peters said room and board rates are also recommended by a committee process.

Trustee Manuel Sanchez said the BOT takes room and board rate increases very seriously.

“We wouldn’t [raise rates] if we didn’t have to,” he said. “And I know we did [approve] the smallest percentages allowed.”