GVSU increases room and board 1.56 pct

ALLENDALE, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Valley State University has increased room and board rates 1.56% beginning with the fall 2012 semester.

The Board of Trustees voted at its Feb. 10 meeting to make this increase following a freeze on housing rates for the current academic year.

This means the cost per semester in a traditional living center at Grand Valley will be $2,700 -- an increase of $28.

Students have choices in meal plans. The cost of the 14-meal plan will go up $45 to $1,260.

This year's increase at GVSU is significantly below the five-year state average increase of 3.6% at Michigan's public universities.

The fall 2011 occupancy rate at Grand Valley was at an all-time high with 5,828 students living on campus. Campus meal plans were also at an all-time high with 7,164 students purchasing a plan.

"That shows that students who don't even live on campus are choosing to buy Grand Valley meal plans," Andy Beachnau, director of Housing, said in a news release. "We work to make sure that our dining options are attractive to students. We know they contribute to connecting and retaining students while supporting their academic and personal goals."

Beachnau said the number of freshmen and returning students who are already signed up for fall 2012 housing shows an increase, and the trend is positive.