Note: These are only possible changes, they haven’t gone through or been officially proposed yet.

The Room and Board Advisory Committee is looking to increase rates for students living in residence halls next year.

The proposed rates may go up between 3.6 and 4.3 percent.

Michael Coakley, executive director of Student Housing and Dining Services, presented the proposed changes to the Residence Hall Association at its meeting Monday night. Coakley said the proposed increases for next year would only maintain the status quo. No new programs or services currently are being planned.

He also explained the budget for Student Housing and Dining Services for the current and upcoming fiscal years. He warned RHA of larger rate increases for students when Grant Towers is renovated in the future.

“I have a dream … that Grant Towers someday will be remodeled,” said Willard Draper, director of residential life, in reference to Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

RHA members shared their thoughts on the possible changes.

“I think the proposed changes are very appropriate,” said Amanda Bowling, president of Stevenson South and a senior sociology major.

Alex Underwood, president of RHA and a senior management major, also expressed approval.

“This is a great plan, a very conservative one,” Underwood said. “Housing has done a good job of cutting back on things like office supplies, but it’s not really realistic to think rates won’t go up. Whenever rates go up, however, people have a negative reaction.”

Student Housing and Dining Services uses a zero-based budget approach, which means that each department must justify its expenses.

The Room and Board Advisory Committee will decide on the rate proposal at their meeting Tuesday and will send it to the vice provost for Student Affairs, Gary Gresholdt. The 13-member committee is comprised of four representatives from Student Housing and Dining Services, four from Finance and Facilities, two from Student Affairs, two from RHA and one from the Student Association.

The vice provost will package the proposal with other fee changes and submit the package to NIU President John Peters, who will present it to the Board of Trustees, which votes on the matter.

Coakley anticipates the room and board rate changes to go through as they are now or with a slight decrease.

The RHA also discussed programming plans for the residence halls, budget totals from last semester and the re-opening of the New Orleans Room in Stevenson Hall.