Students living in university housing next year will be paying, on average, an extra $125 a semester now that Eastern’s Board of Trustees approved room and board rate increase along with a $5 per semester concert fee on Monday.

Those living in residence halls, Greek Court, University Court and University Apartments will all pay extra next year because of the board’s approval.

Interim President Lou Hencken said he expects the increase to generate approximately $800,000 if the same number of students live in university housing next year. The increase could bring in an additional $500,000 on top of that amount if Eastern is able to increase occupancy in the housing.

Funding increases also depend on which meal plan students choose to buy. Each meal plan gives students a specified amount of dining dollars and dining center meals per week and has a different cost.

Students living in University Apartments will now pay an extra $10 per month, and students living in University Court will pay an increase of $66 to $90 per semester depending on the apartment.

Students living in either residence halls or Greek Court will pay increase from $117 to $132 per semester, depending upon the meal plan chosen. A student with the 5-Plus meal plan could pay $2,265 per semester, and a student with a 15-Plus meal plan could pay $2,552 per semester.

Hencken said the extra revenue would go towards repairing campus housing and compensating for a 3.5 percent increase in the cost of operating expenses such as housing insurance and trash pickup, as well as a 4 percent increase in the cost of food for those in university housing.

In an attempt to provide Eastern students with extra opportunities for a pleasurable weekend, the board approved a $5 concert fee which 1,702 out of 1,926 students voted in favor to approve.

Both the Student Senate and its Tuition and Fees Review Committee supported the $5 fee.

Hencken told the board students were looking for ways to have fun on the weekends, and providing affordable concerts, which are continually becoming more expensive to bring to campus, is a positive way to do this.

The best way to get a fee increase, he said, is to bring it straight from the students.

“Since this item came directly from the students, I feel we should approve it,” BOT Vice Chair Betsy Mitchell said.

The board also approved several purchase items.

n Eastern will add 200 parking spaces to parking lot S east of Andrews Hall. The request was made to offset the loss of 144 parking spaces because of the construction of a new Doudna Fine Arts Center and a new Human Services Center.

The plan, which will cost $372,224, is funded through a portion of parking pass fees and parking fines.

Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, said Eastern currently has $350,000 set aside for the project.

n Courses using technology as their dominant or exclusive form of delivery, or online courses, will now be charged at in-state tuition rates.

Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs, said the change would allow more students to take online courses who may not have been able to afford the out-of-state rates.

n Eastern will gave back $1.71 million to Central Management Services, Eastern’s insurance provider, to compensate for the shortfall in the state’s budget.

Gov. George Ryan has asked higher education to give back $45 million worth of insurance funding because of a shortfall in the state group insurance program.

Eastern’s prorated share was determined by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

n The following faculty were approved for tenure; Patricia Belleville, assistant art professor; Joyce Bishop, assistant math professor; Caridad Brito, assistant psychology professor; Lynne Curry, assistant history professor; Peggy Holmes-Layman, assistant recreation administration professor; Shane Miller, assistant speech professor; Robin Murray, assistant English professor; Jyoti Panjwani, assistant English professor; Richard Roberts, associate counseling and student development professor; Annette Samuels, assistant journalism professor; Paul Switzer, assistant biology professor; Gordon Tucker, associate botany professor; Wafeek Wahby, associate technology professor; John Willems, associate computer and operations management professor; and Brenda Wilson, office systems assistant III and intercollegiate athletics operator.

n Eastern football coach Bob Spoo was given a 3-year contract extension.

Spoo has had a 17-4 record in three years of coaching the Panthers. He was runner-up nationally in 2000 for Coach of the Year. This past season, he was named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

n The board named Nate Anderson as its chair for the 2002-2003 term. Anderson served as chair this year.

Bob Manion replaces Betsy Mitchell as vice chair of the board for the 2002-2003 term, and Roger Dettro will be secretary for the term.

n The Board set its calendar for 2003 meeting dates. The Board will meet on Jan. 27, June 23, April 14 and Oct. 23.