(Radio Iowa) The Board of Regents heard the first presentation this week of proposed room and board rate increases at the three state schools. University of Iowa vice president for student life, Von Stange (Stang-EE), says increasing staff is part of the reason they are requesting a four-point-nine-percent increase.

Stange says labor costs, material costs and supply chain issues have increased their construction costs for keeping housing and dining facilities up to date.

He says seven of the 11 residence halls are between 55 and 70 years old, and two more are more than 85 years old, and the dining operations were renovated 20 to 25 years ago. Stange says increased demand for housing has led to the decision to operate they Mayflower dorm for another year. Michael Harwood from the Iowa State University Department of Residence says they are seeking a room and board increase of five-point-eight percent as they face increased costs for labor and supplies.

Harwood says student leaders approved a resolution saying they would support the increase.

Harwood says they began this year at 98 percent of capacity for the year with more than 94 percent of the first year class living on campus, and an increasing number of students wanting to return to live in the halls. The University of Northern Iowa’s Nick Raffaello says they are seeking a three-point-five percent increase as they face an increase is students wanting to live in the dorms.

He says it doesn’t look like the demand will let up.

The Board of Regents will not take any action on the proposed rates until their April meeting.