The average room rate at Bowling Green State University will decline for 2011-2012 but student dining
costs will rise 2.5 percent.
Trustees adopted those changes Friday but won’t take any action on tuition until the Ohio legislature
adopts the state’s biennium budget by the end of June. Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposal retains an
annual 3.5 percent cap on tuition increases.
While the average room rate is lower, the cost of standard double room, which the Ohio Board of Regents
uses to compare housing costs at state universities, will rise $55 to $2,335 or 2.41 percent. A standard
single room price will decline $210 to $2,840 or 6.89 percent.
The room rates reflect a change to a four-tier system with classifications of basic, moderate, deluxe and
premium and levels of occupancy within the classifications. Harshman, Kohl, Kreischer and McDonald are
classified basic, with the sorority and fraternity units and Conklin North as moderate, Offenhauer and
Founders as deluxe and the newest residence halls, Centennial and Falcon Heights as premium.
A premium double room will cost $2,800, while a premium single room will cost $3,300. The premium single
rooms have less floor space than a double.
The newest residence halls both have long waiting lists based on early housing deposits, BGSU officials
reported.
The university will also open two new dining halls next academic year and that is presenting some
challenges, Sheri Stoll, BGSU’s chief financial officer said. "We are now certain how these dining
hall will resonate with the students but if you look at other campuses it has been a good
experience," she said.
The Bronze dining plan, which is the one OBR uses in its comparison charts will cost $1,512, an increase
of $37.
Trustees also approved names for the new dining halls, choosing "The Oaks," which replaces
McDonald, and "Carillon Place" which replaces Commons. "The Oaks" comes from the
large number of oak trees on campus that were certified last year to be predate the university.
"Carillon Place" was chosen because the building will offer a view of Carillon Tower.
Trustees also approved a long list of expenditures to cover property acquisition and repair projects:
¥ Purchase of the Haven House property at 1509 and 1515 East Wooster Street just west of the new Stroh
Center. The cost is $1.9 million and will be covered by general university reserves. Stoll said the plan
is to continue to operate the apartments (through an undetermined third party) for approximately 10
years to allow the university to recoup its investment. Three appraisals have valued the property at
$2.1 to $2.4 million. Stoll said the university knew the property was available and wanted to have
control of future uses.
¥ Demolition of 200 feet of the east wing of McDonald Residence Hall. The is part of the residence hall
master plan. The estimated cost is $1.5 million. A portion of the west wing was demolished last summer
to make way for "The Oaks." The hall will have 700 beds next fall, compared to 1,200 beds two
years ago. An additional $1,085,675 will be spent to renovate the remain portion of the hall with
windows and elevator replacements. Additional work will be studied because the plan calls for continued
operation of McDonald.
¥ Improvements to 11 parking lots at a cost of $1.8 million. Among the lots on the list are those at the
Ice Arena, field House, north of Falcons Heights residence hall and McDonald.
¥ Roof replacements for the south and west wings of Moore Musical Arts Center and masonry work in
University, Hanna and Moseley halls and the Eppler Complex at a cost of $1.2 million.