President Bill Perry addressed the student senate at Wednesday’s meeting regarding a proposal to increase the campus improvement fee.

The proposal is a way to build up funding to renovate the Physical Science and Biological Science buildings, which were built in the early and mid-1990s.

A meeting will take place in April and if approved, an increase will begin in the fall semester.

There is currently a $12 student fee for campus improvement that has gone toward the new textbook rental facility and newly relocated steam plant.

Perry said that renovations are imperative when it comes to the image of the school and the appeal to potential new students.

“Buildings do make a difference when people come to look at the school,” Perry said.

In the fall, the fee would be increased to $37.50 per student and gradually increase over 10 years to $300.

In the first four years of the increase, $7.5 million would be raised, and the ultimate goal over 20 years would be $30 million.

Funds are also expected from philanthropy donations and federal funding.

Perry is working closely with the student advisory board to make plans for the upcoming renovations.

Designs for the remodeling will potentially be made into models, which will then be showcased around Eastern’s campus.

Keeping up with the “green” image, Perry said he plans to use materials for the renovation that have been recycled.

After renovation costs are met, there is no set plan as to how the increased fee will be dealt with.

Perry mentioned that it might be kept, but decreased slightly to maintain funding of the up-keep of university buildings.

There is currently no date set to begin the construction; however, the renovations will be planned so there is not much disruption of that current school term.

Along with Perry’s presentation, the Conference on Student Government Association delegates addressed the senate with ideas they brought back from the conference.

Not only were ways to improve the student senate as a whole discussed, but delegates also discussed programs to introduce to the university as a whole to better the campus.

There are more presentations planned in the future, including a presentation by Mark Olendzki, vice-president of student affairs, and Rachel Fisher, student community service interim director, regarding Panther Service Day.

Two new resolutions were introduced to the student senate. One was a request for reimbursement for those who attended COSGA. The other was a request of funding for transportation and housing for two student representatives to attend the upcoming IlliProxy-Connection: keep-alive

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is Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee meeting.

Funds in the amount of $260 were approved for the spring student government inauguration ceremony.

Jenna Mitchell can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected]