The Governors approved an average room rate increase of 2.80% and a new rate structure for meal plans. Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success, noted the University anticipates the most popular meal plan chosen by students will result in no change to the average room and board rate paid by students. Further, the majority of students will pay less for their meal plan in the coming year. 

Room Rates 

The room rates approved for 2022-2023 and the corresponding occupancy plan will continue to help meet student demand for private residence hall rooms. For an increasing number of students, a private room is the desired living environment. As this demand has grown, rooms in Towers South, Towers East, and Greek/Group Housing were converted to single rooms. Students also have the option to contract for a private room in other residence halls, as space allows. 

Board Rates 

In fall 2022, the Southeast dining services program will transition from weekly to semester meal plans. The new plans eliminate the loss of unused weekly meals, which are currently reset every Sunday, and are thus no value to students.

Below said, “With this new plan, more than 80% of students will likely pay less for their plan and realize increased value, as the meals are available to the students for the entire semester.” 

The new semester meal plans provide students with a block of meals for the semester that can be used at resident dining facilities and options for a significantly larger flex dollar account to redeem in either residential or retail venues. Students will have five options with varying levels of meals and flex dollars. Flex dollars can be used at any campus dining location and unused flex from the fall semester will carry over to the spring semester.

Additionally, in collaboration with Southeast’s dining services partner, Chartwells Education Dining Services, several enhancements to the University’s eight dining venues are planned for summer 2022, Below said. These changes will align venue operations with the new meal plan structure to meet growing student demand for grab-and-go dining.

The University is still accepting applications for admission and student housing for the fall 2022 semester. In addition to a generous academic scholarship program, Southeast provides a Residence Life Leadership Scholarship to qualifying students to assist with the expense of room and board. This $1,000 annual scholarship is renewable for three additional years and the value increases to $2,000 annually in years three and four. 

For more information regarding on-campus living at Southeast, visit https://semo.edu/life-at-semo/living-on-campus or call (573) 651-2274. 

The full FY23 room and board rate schedule is available at https://semo.edu/life-at-semo/dining/meal-plans.