New furniture, fresh paint and a cleaner living space for residents are a few of the upgrades Eastern has provided with its 10-year, $70 million housing plan.

“The master plan for Housing and Dining Services is a very comprehensive, systematic initiative designed to improve our facilities and enhance the quality of life issues of our on-campus students,” said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.

Mark Hudson, director of Eastern’s University Housing and Dining Services, said there is so much going into this project that “it’s kind of hard to get your arms around it.”

The housing renovations from the 10-year plan have been taking place for a few years now as residence halls are being upgraded and filled with new furniture, Hudson explained.

These cover all on-campus living spaces, such as residence hall housing and food services, in addition to Greek court, on-campus apartment-style housing in University Court and University Apartments.

“The master plan is based on years of survey results provided by past and current residents,” Nadler said. “The plan begins to address areas of weaknesses and leverages strengths to maximize student growth and development, retention and satisfaction.”

Students have reacted with positive feedback about the improved living spaces.

Tyler King, a sophomore elementary education major and resident at Ford Hall, said, “I like the stackable furniture because it lets you do pretty much anything in the room.”

By having a nice place to live students will continue to occupy housing and their room and board fees make it possible to have renovations.

“We have a self-funded auxiliary, meaning the money doesn’t come from the state, but the students that live with us,” Hudson said. “We’re not borrowing money.”

“In addition to the master plan, we are also operating under an unfunded state mandate to install fire suppression sprinkler systems in all residence halls by 2013,” Nadler said. “We are pleased to be offering these enhanced safety and security features, but the costs of installation are significant.”

“All the money we raise goes directly to the project and making sure the halls are kept up well,” Hudson said.

When a person hears $70 million, it seems like a lot, and it is a substantial number, but Eastern continues to have lower living rates than most schools throughout the state, Hudson said.

“At EIU we work hard to keep costs to a minimum,” Nadler said. “We are very sensitive to the cost of attendance as well as the direct cost of housing and meal expenses.”

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, who gets money from loans, has a master plan costing $200 million and “they’re having a hard time coming up with the money,” Hudson said.

“I believe EIU does a great job of achieving the delicate balance between improvements and housing rates,” Nadler said.

John Biernbaum, assistant vice president for student services at Western Illinois Univeristy, said their campus is undergoing changes as they study marketing and planning strategies while renovating. One big project they have invested in recently was a residence hall built three years ago.

Western has revenue bond so the money they utilize to build and renovate comes from student room and board fees and through bonds, Biernbaum said.

Eastern has recently spent $1.5 million just to make renovations to Thomas Hall, and in the future, the sprinkler systems alone are going to cost $12 million.

“It adds up in a hurry,” Hudson said.

While cosmetic changes are appreciated by residents, several renovations need to take place that often go unnoticed. Nadler’s examples include: improvements to electrical, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning systems and plumbing.

“The housing master plan reaches a sense of balance with regard to the necessary and desired improvements,” he said. “We do our very best to be proactive whenever possible, attempting to avoid breakdowns and inoperable systems.”

People involved in master planning have a lot of responsibility as they need to be sharp thinkers and ready for obstacles says Biernbaum.

“It’s always evolving.” Biernbaum said. “Little things creep up that you don’t plan for.”

While unexpected problems have occurred, Biernbaum said he thinks Western’s housing executives have a good structure for the next five to 10 years.

Colleges and universities, including Eastern, make changes based on student focus groups, surveys, and Residence Hall Association input to find out what occupants want.

Hudson and Nadler agreed Eastern’s housing should provide a place where students will want to live and their feedback is important.

Biernbaum, who is also an Eastern alumnus, said Hudson also has a good structure.

“He has a well thought out plan for the next five years,” Biernbaum said.

“We are experiencing an increase in student satisfaction levels, evidenced by an increasing number of students wanting to reside on campus beyond the freshman year,” Nadler said.

“It’s up in the air, but I wouldn’t mind living there again next year,” King said.

Biernbaum has been impressed with the changes Eastern has gone through such as interior improvements and landscaping around residence halls. He said Eastern students are lucky to have the housing staff and Hudson who is a highly-respected housing director and has provided so much.

While many colleges and universities have master plans for various improvements, “Eastern Illinois University has, in my opinion, one of the finest housing master plans in the country,” Nadler said.

“They’re doing a lot of good things,” Biernbaum said. “The plan they have will be beneficial for generations to come.”