The University of Wisconsin System is facing a massive cut in the 2015-2017 biennium budget.
As the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is paying off continued debt, residence hall fees will go up and renovations are moving forward as planned on Dobson, Melcher and Doudna halls.
Doug Stephens, UW-Platteville campus planner, said that for students residing in Dobson Hall and Melcher Hall fees will go up but the renovation of Doudna Hall will not impact student segregated fees at all.
The Board of Regents and State building department approved renovation for both Dobson and Melcher Hall in October 2014. The project cost just over $18 million with a 20-year bond and debt service loan.
“Our primary focus is Dobson,” Stephens said. “We will be knocking down walls to construct computer labs, meeting spaces, and larger restrooms.”
In addition, both halls will be retrofitted with safety sprinklers, new wiring and plumbing.
“I’d like to see all residence halls with sprinkles,” Stephens said, “Although on older infrastructures it is not mandated by the state, it is on newer buildings, and safety is important.”
Dobson Hall renovations will begin this summer and Melcher renovations will begin summer 2016. Residence life will be assisting in financing the construction of Dobson and Melcher, adding furniture in the common areas and water fountains as well.
Students who reside in the residence halls will pay a different fee for the amenities of each residence hall. The amenities in each hall vary: for instance Southwest Hall residents have their own bedroom area with a common bathroom and kitchen, whereas traditional hall students will share a room with another student and there is a communal kitchen.
With the approval of construction on Dobson and Melcher, “the resident fees will go up a bit,” said Stephens.
According to Residence Life documents posted on the residence life community options page the proposed rates show a slight increase of fees for all halls.  The UW System Board of Regents will approve these rates in July of this year.
There are about 3,700 students residing in residence halls said Linda Mulroy-Bowden, director of Residence Life.
The funds residence life receives from students residing in them are the funds that pay for the halls on campus.  Segregated fees are not used to help finance the halls. “There are set funds,” Linda Mulroy-Bowden said.  “We pay [the] bills out of that pool of money.”
In addition, in August of 2014, renovation for Doudna Hall, room 103 was approved and cost just over $1 million, but construction will not begin until spring of 2017.