Comments on: UM Regents: Housing Rates Up, Tuition Next

By: TruthSeeker

TruthSeeker — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:09:01 +0000

Can anyone explain to me why it needs to cost $56 Million to rehab Alice Lloyd Hall? Why not just tear the building down and build a new one? The cost per bed is $100,000 for the 560 spots in the dorm. For comparison, The Courtyards is worth about $47 Million-the property has 896 individually leased bedrooms – each with its own bathroom! The cost per bed works out to about $53,000; about half what UofM is spending rehabbing Alice Lloyd Hall. I stayed in Alice Lloyd as a Freshman, nothing to get too excited about; but $56 Million to rehab this facility? Sounds like a major rip-off to me!

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:05:44 +0000

What is really lame? I haven’t “missed” anything–I’m just pointing out that comparing dorm costs from 30 years ago to dorm costs now isn’t a strict apples-to-apples comparison, whereas with the coops it probably is (roughly). I’m not saying it accounts for all the disparity, nor am I saying it’s justified–just suggesting something to think about.

I can tell you, as an intructor of freshmen at UM, that my students make quite heavy use of the labs in the dorms.

By: Matt Hampel

Matt Hampel — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:36:32 +0000

The computer lab are great. Not everyone can afford the thousands of dollars of specialized software, constant maintenance, and high-volume printers for their own machines. That said, U-M housing is expensive, has a lot of problems, and deserves a solid re-imagining.

By: ChuckL

ChuckL — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:53:53 +0000

Rod,

That is really lame. Who needs a computer lab when everyone now days has Wifi. Fitness centers? The U had fitness centers in the early 1980′s. You’ve missed the obvious; the U views dorms as a cash cow and is milking them for all that they can. Did you notice the comment above noting that EMU was not on the list of peer institutions used in the cost compares?

By: alumnus

alumnus — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:32:42 +0000

The story with regard to Linda Martinson has a significant error. Linda was issued a trespass warning before she was expelled. The warning effectively expelled her because she could not attend class. The Dept of Public Saftey’s own policy says that a trespass warning may not be given to a current student unless they present an immediate danger to others. Documents in the case show that both the DPS and the administration determined that there was no evidence of immediate threats. DPS routinely violates its own policy with regard to trespass warnings.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Mon, 31 May 2010 13:47:57 +0000

I don’t have a definitive answer to that, but one trend that’s been widely noted is that dorms nationwide have been evolving rapidly away from just providing sleep space and food toward a whole range of other services (computer labs, media facilities, fitness facilities, etc.), and even the food has become more diversified and food court-like. The ICC coops, in contrast, provide feed and a place to sleep, and a lot of the labor is done by residents. It’s no surprise ICC costs have remained fairly static–so have their practices.

By: ChuckL

ChuckL — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:18:41 +0000

Mary,

I’d like to see a story comparing the cost of student housing run by the ICC over the last 30 years versus the cost of dorm living over the same period. I’ve looked at the numbers and the ICC’s cost to students has gone up at a rate consistent with inflation while dorm rates have been close to double the rate of inflation. Why the difference? Any interest?

By: Tom Brandt

Tom Brandt — Sun, 30 May 2010 04:10:36 +0000

According to this A2 Chronicle report, the April meeting was held in "an [sic] historic hotel in downtown Grand Rapids." The report noted that U-M runs several programs in the Grand Rapids area, and that a reception for regents, execs and staff was hosted by the alumni association. Again, it appears there is no equivalence between the regents meeting in Grand Rapids and the WCC board retreat in Detroit.

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Sun, 30 May 2010 00:35:41 +0000

I was referring to the “April meeting in Grand Rapids,” not the May meeting in Dearborn. I am not aware of any U of M facility in Grand Rapids, but I could be wrong.

By: Anon-U-Are

Anon-U-Are — Sat, 29 May 2010 14:17:22 +0000

It’s not off site if they’re meeting at the UM Dearborn Campus. I think UM can afford any free lunch the regents get.