If the new rates are adopted, the residence hall double room rate for undergraduate students will increase $160 per year and the silver unlimited meal plan will increase $224. This would bring the standard double room and board plan to about $8,154 — up from $7,770 this academic year.

For university apartments, the rates will remain unchanged for one bedroom and two bedroom units in Spartan Village. The monthly rate for apartments in University Village will increase by $7 per person.

MSU’s housing and dining rates are in the middle of all Michigan universities — something the university aims to maintain, Gore said.

If approved, the majority of the rate increase would go to fund increases in utilities and food cost — both of which have been on the rise, Gore said.

About 1 percent of the increase would pay debt service costs for recent renovations in cafeterias and residence halls across campus, he said.

The residence halls on campus range between 48 and 72 years old, and renovations are necessary to keep them up to date, he said.

MSU Trustee Mitch Lyons said renovations, including those in Brody Neighborhood, are necessary for attracting students.

“The bottom line is the dorms were pretty ancient in terms of facilities,” he said. “I think it’s something we have to do.”

The style of cafeterias also has changed since the buildings originally were established — when the cafeterias were open for meals for two hours at a time, Gore said. Many cafeterias today are open 7 a.m. to midnight, he said.

“Now students’ lifestyles have changed … and students want food that’s fresh,” Gore said.

The Brody Square cafeteria was renovated last year and renovations at the cafeteria in Case Hall will begin this May, he said. The next cafeterias to be renovated include those in Shaw Hall, West Circle Neighborhood and minor renovations in the East Neighborhood, Gore added.

Social work junior Jessica Greenfield said she feels the rate increases are justified since her apartment in Akers Hall will be renovated this summer — although this year she wished she didn’t have to pay the same cost as students already living in renovated residence halls.

“Housing is already expensive,” Greenfield said.

Greenfield said she also feels the cost for a meal plan should be lowered and does not like that there are no options less than unlimited meal plans for students living on campus. This year, she chose not to buy a meal plan because it was too expensive.

“I can buy a loaf of bread and lunch meat way cheaper,” Greenfield said.

“The convenience of a meal plan is great, but the cost is too high.”