Ohio University's Budget Planning Council recommended increases in both room and board next year on top of the already slated 3.5 percent tuition hike - increases both undergraduate student members of the council voted against.
If approved by President Roderick McDavis and the Board of Trustees, room rates will increase 5 percent - an almost $200-a-year hike for the cheapest dorms on campus - and board will increase 3 percent - about $100-a-year for a 10-meal plan, the cheapest option.
University officials estimate the increases to room and board will cost each student living on-campus in a standard double with air conditioning and a 20-meal plan an extra $384 next year ($128 a quarter).
The 16-member council does not make university budget decisions, instead offering proposals to McDavis. Pam Benoit, the executive vice president and provost; and Mike Angelini, the interim senior vice president for Finance and Administration, lead the influential group.
The media and the public are barred from council meetings, and members are discouraged from discussing what is said at the closed meetings.
In making its recommendation today the Budget Planning Council tried to strike a balance between maintaining affordability for students and the need to make essential improvements in our residence and dining halls
Benoit and Angelini said in a joint statement. A majority of committee members believe that even with a $128 increase in room and board fees per quarter the university will maintain its current level of affordability in comparison to other public institutions in the state.
Student Senate President Robert Leary said he and Student Trustee Chauncey Jackson were the only two council members to vote against the increases.
Last July, OU's Board of Trustees - at the recommendation of the council and McDavis - increased tuition 3.5 percent beginning this quarter. Then-Student Senate President Michael Adeyanju was the only council member to vote against the increase.
The increase was a quick fix to remedy the budget hole left when OU received $2 million less in state funding than expected.
In December, the council recommended OU increase tuition again next fall, asking students to absorb another 3.5 percent tuition increase.
The recommended increases in tuition, room and board come as OU works to shave $13.75 million from it's $684 million budget next year.
Although the council is led by his top two administrators, McDavis has occasionally gone against its recommendations. Last winter, Faculty Senate successfully lobbied to squash a council-proposed increase in faculty health care premiums.
Last February, the council recommended a health care plan aimed to save OU $3 million that included an increase in employee premiums. Two weeks later, Faculty Senate passed a resolution unanimously rejecting the proposal.
McDavis compromised - going through with the council recommendations to increase co-pays and co-insurance limits and requiring employees to buy generic brand prescriptions, but leaving premium rates untouched.
(The council) is a recommending body that the president when making his final budget recommendation to the Board of Trustees takes into account along with all other input that he receives from the university community
said Becky Watts, McDavis' chief of staff.
Students can share their feedback through Student Senate and communication with the president in open office hours
letters or emails. Watts said. Students are very creative in ways they can make their concerns known.
McDavis has said previously that he plans to announce his budget recommendations prior to the April meeting of the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is the final arbiter
Watts said. They will approve specifically what is approved and what is not approved.
-Dave Hendricks contributed to this article
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Wesley Lowery
