The Board of Trustees approved an increase in room and board costs Friday.

The 6.5 percent increase applies to residence halls, Greek Court and University Court apartments.

The increase was one of the smallest in recent years, said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. At the Jan. 19, 2007 meeting, the BOT approved a 6.95 percent increase in room and board rates for Fall 2007.

A student who purchases a 15-meal plan currently pays $3,562. In Fall 2008, the student will pay $3,794 – an increase of $232.

Board Chairman Robert Webb told the BOT the increase was not just for operating costs.

“It also goes towards capital projects,” he said.

The increase also takes into account rising utility costs, trash removal and minimum wage increases, Nadler said.

In addition to the housing rate increase, Kathy Waggoner, the assistant director of the Office of Disability Services, told the board the amount of students registered with disabilities has risen over the past seven years.

In 2007, 322 students with disabilities were registered. In 2000, only 103 students with disabilities were registered at the university.

These students include students with Attention Deficit Disorder, psychological disorders and learning disabilities.

Students are identified as having a disability only if they contact the Office of Disability Services.

“We cannot ask on the application if they have a disability,” said Karla Sanders, director of the Office of Disability Services. “Information is made available during open houses and orientation.”

Sanders said the increase in students registered with disabilities at Eastern could be attributed to public school systems that are better able to identify students with disabilities.

“Students are more likely to be identified in the public school system then they were five or 10 years ago,” Sanders said.

Eastern President William Perry told the board that Cynthia Nichols, the director of the Office of Civil Rights, was examining the enrollment figures of students with disabilities in order to predict future trends in enrollment.

“We are anticipating some growth,” he said.

The Office of Disability Services works with the university to provide accommodations for students with various disabilities, Waggoner said.

These accommodations can include specific desks and tables for students with wheelchair as well as helping students with registration issues.

The office has had a blind student, who may have to teach for a class, request a teaching assistant and has had a student with a psychological disability request a therapy animal, Waggoner said.

“I’m involved when a student requests a core substitution or a late withdrawal from the course,” Waggoner said.

Waggoner said she plans on offering faculty in-services on disability topics and secure resources to ensure that Disability Services is a “first choice” program.

Also at the meeting, the board approved an honorary degree for Jerry Griffith. Griffith graduated from Eastern in 1954 and returned to Eastern as a faculty member in 1966. Griffith established Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology and managed the hospital’s Department of Social Services.

Griffith now serves as a principal of the consulting service, Miner and Associates, Inc.

“He is a stellar representation of Eastern Illinois University and its ideals,” said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations. Griffith will be awarded his degree at the May commencement.

Fact Box:

The housing increase was recommended to the BOT by the Revenue Bond Committee, a committee of student representatives. The committee members are appointed by the Residence Hall Association, as well as Student Government.

Nora Maberry can be reached at 581-7942 or at nemaberry@eiu.edu.

President William Perry explains to the Board of Trustees how the university can contribute to saving the environment. (John Bailey/The Daily Eastern News)

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