Trustees approve changes on campus

The IU Board of Trustees approved a budget increase of $2.6 billion, six new construction projects on the Bloomington campus and an increase in residence hall room and board rates on Friday, according to IU press releases. \nThe budget increase includes a 7.2 percent spending increase that will go toward IU President Michael McRobbie’s initiatives, according to an IU press release.\nThe University will receive $115 million in general fund revenues, $45 million of which will go toward faculty and staff salaries, $15 million toward financial aid for students and $25 million toward “increased benefit costs,” according to the press release. The remaining $30 million will go toward a number of purposes, including research, academic facilities and health care for graduate students.\nOn the Bloomington campus, 19 percent of faculty will benefit from a salary increase of 6 percent or higher, according to the press release. Student tuition revenue will increase by $85 million, an estimate that is based on 2008-09 tuition rates, which were set last May.\nThe new construction projects will include an International Studies building on Jordan Avenue and an office and classroom building on Seventh Street, according to an IU press release. The projects will have a combined value of $340 million, and will increase the number of campus construction projects to 13, according to the press release.\nAs for residence hall room and board rates, they should increase by 6.92 percent due to increased operating costs, according to an IU press release. The change will affect the rates of Meal Plan C and two-bed air-conditioned room rates, which are the most “prevalent” room-and-board conditions, according to the press release. For those accommodations, the fee should increase from $6,676 to $7,138 in the fall, according to the press release.