Residence Life, Dining Services Rates for 2011-12 Approved

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved Residence Life and Dining Services rates for Fiscal Year 2012.

The board approved a proposal in which standard rates for seven different room types each will increase by 3 percent for 2011-12. Also rising by 3 percent will be the nonstandard rates for single efficiency, December graduate and Ford ASSET/Honda PACT students.

Dining Services' board plan rates for 2011-12 will increase by a flat 2.5 percent across the board. The block plan and declining balance plans remain unchanged.

The combined rate increase for Penn College's most common room type (two-bedroom/four-person) and most common meal plan (10-meal board plan) will be 2.9 percent in 2011-12.

Summer conference rates will remain the same for Fiscal Year 2012. The residence life activity fee will increase from $18 per semester to $20 per semester.

In other business, the board authorized Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour to enter into an agreement with the Penn College Education Association for a contract extension covering the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, provided the PCEA membership votes to approve the parameters of the extension on Dec. 15. The current agreement is in effect through 2011-12.

The board heard a report on the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30 from Suzanne T. Stopper, vice president for finance/chief financial officer. The college received an unqualified clean audit opinion from its auditing firm, Larson Kellett & Associates, P.C.

The board heard a report on the activities of The College Store from its director, Matt P. Branca.

Branca said the store offers a number of benefits to students including a below-industry-average pricing structure for textbooks, a large supply of used textbooks, lower-priced custom editions, early availability of textbooks, year-round textbook buyback and multiple locations during final exams.

For Fiscal Year 2010, the store had sales totaling $5,006,869, providing $642,500 in support to the general fund and $12,968 in scholarship support. From 2000-10, the store had sales totaling $45.2 million, with more than $6 million in support to the general fund; $69,904 for scholarships; and $45,250 for student organizations, schools and departments.

In 2009-10, The College Store offered $1.76 million worth of savings to students through used textbooks, new textbooks, textbook buyback and program tools, Branca said. The five-year total savings to students is $8.5 million.

Board of Directors Chairman Robert E. Dunham noted it was the last meeting for Robert M. Fisher, who is retiring as vice president for business operations.

"We wish you well and thank you for all of the years you have given us," Dunham said.