In the 2018-19 academic year, prices for living in the Buena Vista University (BVU) residence halls will go up.

The current residence living price per semester is $2,387. The price for living in the suites will raise to $125 per semester, a medium single up $250 per semester, a super single up $425, and a super single in the suites up $600, according to an email sent out to students at the beginning of March this year.

While the premium housing options did go up in price, the actual cost of living in a standard double room in a traditional residence hall will not change. Vice President of Student Affairs Dale Scully, says BVU wanted to give students a break.

“We, as an institution did not want to raise the overall room rate. We wanted to give our students a break this year, and we wanted to let them know that there was no need to do it, so we decided not to do it,” said Scully.

Scully made clear that increases only happen when BVU is trying to reach its budget, and this increase won’t actually affect most students who live in traditional housing.

“The typical student is not going to be impacted by any of this. It’s that 10% that wants more premium-type housing options that’s going to be impacted by that,” said Scully.

With BVU projecting a larger incoming class next year adding 20-30 more students than the 2017 incoming class, they need to accommodate for all of those students. BVU Housing is encouraging people to live in double rooms when possible. Of course, BVU will work with those who need a single for medical or other reasons, but otherwise, Scully says students should be open to the idea of having a roommate.

“We think there is just a lot of learning that takes place in roommate relationships,” Scully said. “Plus, we really want to make sure people understand the value of community, and don’t just opt into single housing because they think it’s going to be easier or more convenient.”

Scully says that from the research they’ve done, most students tend to have better overall satisfaction with residence life when they have a roommate versus when they don’t. Nevertheless, BVU wants to provide for all students’ wishes and needs to the best of their ability.

There is a cap for how many singles are given out at room draw each year, and there will be a waiting list for those who cannot manage to get a single room right away. Then, after the two-resident dorms are filled up, they will offer the rest of the open rooms to students on the waiting list, says Scully.

“If we have the space, we’re going to allow people to get a single room. It’s when we don’t have the space, that we’ve got to make sure we didn’t expand too much and allow all of these single rooms,” said Scully.

Scully acknowledges that raising prices is not exactly what everyone wants to hear. He encourages that if anyone has any questions or concerns about what the institution is doing, to reach out and talk to him.

“I’m hoping students feel comfortable to come in and say, ‘I’m concerned about this. I don’t understand this. Can we have a discussion about it?’ I would rather have students come talk to me,” said Scully.

Room draw will take place on April 29, 2018 in Dows Conference Center at 6pm.