Students moving into a residence hall this fall can expect to leave with their wallets a little lighter than last year.

The University's Board of Regents approved an average increase of 5.9 percent in the 2006-07 residence hall rates last month.

A standard double room and a weekly 13-meal plan will now cost $7,808 - an increase of $434 from last year.

According to E. Royster Harper, vice president for student affairs, the main reason for the rate hike lies in heating and utility costs rising beyond expenses originally allowed for in the budget.

Although Harper said the majority of the rate increase is in direct response to high heat and electric costs, the 1.7 percent raise for utility costs is not the largest fraction of the increase - 2.2 percent is a general increase which contributes to benefits and salaries for employees.

University President Mary Sue Coleman's Residential Life Initiative project, which includes renovations in Oxford Housing, Mosher-Jordan and Bursley halls and construction of the Hill Dining Center, also accounts for two percent of the increase.

Rate increases are lower for the University's apartment style living options because utilities make up a large portion of overall cost than at the residence halls.

Harper said the increase for Northwood Community Apartment residents - roughly 3.5 percent - is almost exclusively utility costs.

Engineering senior Miesha Williamson, a Northwood resident, said she was frustrated by the University's high heating costs.