The Board of Trustees voted in favor of raising the housing rates by 1.5 percent for the upcoming school year at its meeting on Friday.
This increase is paired with a 1.5 percent increase in grants-in-aid fees.
A regulation passed in 1982 by the former Board of Governors makes it necessary to increase grant in aid fees whenever the housing rates are increased.
Lynette Drake, the interim vice president for student affairs, said this increase is needed because Housing and Dining services are completely self-sufficient.
“It’s important to note that the appropriated resources are not used in any way for our housing and dining operations, and that the money we use for those operations comes directly and strictly from the housing room and board rates,” Drake said.
She said the last time housing rates were raised was last year, when they were increased by 2 percent.
The board also approved an increase in the athletic department’s budget, from 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent of Eastern’ s budget.
Board members said this increase is because of a decrease in the university’s overall expenses and not because of any increases in the athletic budget.
Also approved at the meeting was a master’s degree in athletic training, a program which was originally proposed because of a change in the license accreditation guidelines in the field.

Brooke Schwartz can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].