Trustees approve five‑year plan to raise housing rates 5% annually; trustees asked about RA compensation

The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees approved a multi-year plan to increase student housing rates by 5% annually compounded over the next five years.

Trustee Stites moved the disclosure and motion with the committee’s recommendation that a 5% annual increase be adopted for non‑mandatory housing fees; the motion passed on roll call.

During discussion Trustee Myers asked whether RA compensation would change alongside increased room and board charges. University representatives explained that RA taxable benefit calculations are based on the lowest housing rate across residence halls for tax-reporting purposes and that the RA housing benefit will change by the same percentage as the lowest rate — not by the highest rate in a particular hall. Trustees pressed on assignment-driven placements in more expensive halls; staff explained the tax-value calculation remains based on the lowest rate regardless of specific assignment and that other compensation rules (promotions, assignment differentials) are handled separately.

Trustees were also briefed that housing rates historically have not kept pace with inflation and capital needs, and that more aggressive rate increases were proposed to address deferred maintenance and future residence-hall projects. The motion passed on a roll call with affirmative votes recorded.