The Kansas Board of Regents met on Nov. 7 to discuss several potential changes to Kansas State and among these changes was a proposal of an increase in the K-State Housing and Dining Services dining costs.
The board will meet again in December to make their final decision and if approved, the change will go into effect in the fiscal year of 2020.
In the 2019-2020 school year, the Any-14 meal plan could potentially have a 4.2 percent in cost, raising the cost to an extra $170 per semester.
The All-Access meal plan would have a 1.3 percent increase in cost, totaling to an extra $60 per semester.
The proposed rates are suggested to cover increased operational costs of expenditures for salaries and benefits, facility maintenance, and Housing and Dining renovation and repairs.
While there is discussion about increased costs to Housing and Dining pricing some students out of on-campus housing, the Board of Regents said this potential change will have no impact on the housing program occupancy.
The Housing and Dining Services staff took the opinions of student leaders from the Association of Residence Halls into consideration when determining these proposed rates. ARH is a governing body compiled of students who currently live in the residence halls.
“Housing and Dining Services works hard to keep campus housing and meal options affordable,” Cindy Bontrager, vice president for administration and finance, said. “K-State’s room and board rates continue to remain below the national average and rank in the lower-half of the Big 12 Conference.”
