Residence hall rates rise
Increase of 12 percent set for fall 2001 housing

By Chrissy Braden
Staff Reporter

Residence hall rate increases of about 12 percent for next semester were approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees two weeks ago, said Carol Campbell, vice chancellor for finance and business.

Roger Fisher, director of residential services, said the increase was necessary to pay for residence hall renovations and high utility costs.

“Utility costs are sky high,” Fisher said. “No one plans on something like that going nuts, and we have to cover the costs.”

Fisher said part of the additional residence hall fees will also help pay the $65 million bill the university has from building or remodeling facilities, such as Tom Brown-Pete Wright Residential Community, Foster Hall, Waits Hall, Wiggins Hall, Brachman Hall and fraternity and sorority residence halls.

Leslie Wooldridge, a freshman psychology and social work major, said she wished housing prices had stayed the same.

“I didn’t realize it was such a big increase this year,” she said. “It makes me think a little bit differently about on-campus housing.”

This year residence hall rooms in Worth Hills cost $1,680 but will cost $1,890 next semester. Jarvis Hall, Milton Daniel Hall and Clark Hall cost $1,495 this year but will cost $1,685 next semester.

According to a Feb. 1 issue of the Skiff, housing fees increased an average of 7 percent last year.

Fisher said this year’s increase was much higher than past increases, because the university waited as long as it could to pass increased costs to students.

“We’ve kept rates as low as possible, so students could still afford to come to TCU,” he said. “We waited until we got the majority done, so students could understand what they were paying for. We’ve got some of the nicest residence halls there are right now.”

Chrissy Braden
l.c.braden@student.tcu.edu