HERSHEY -- A small increase in room-and-board rates for 1994-95 was approved by the University Board of Trustees Saturday.

A small double room and meal plan three -- the most common room-and-board package -- will increase by 3.4 percent, a $25 increase for the room and $35 increase for the meal plan, said Tom Gibson, assistant vice president for the Office of Housing and Food Service Operations. This is a result of an expected 2 percent, or $200,865, increase in wholesale food prices, Gibson said.

Standard room and board rate will increase by about $65 per semester, and the family apartments will increase $10 to $15 a month, depending on the type of apartment. The standard package increased $70 last year.

But some students aren't sure if this change will impact their decision on where to live.

Keith Garbera (junior-business management) said he chose to live in an apartment because it is "much cheaper" than the dorms. There is nothing the University can do to make him move back into the dorms, he said, adding that he discussed the decision with his parents and friends and likes where he lives because of the space.

Penn State room-and-board rates are still lower than at some other Big Ten schools and the University fills more dorm spaces.

Michigan State University uses 84.8 percent of its housing capacity and Rutgers University uses 94 percent of its housing capacity. At Penn State about 97 percent of dorm spaces are filled each year.

The empty rooms are due to a shortage of women, Gibson said, adding that some men still live in temporary housing. The University may have to rework how dorm rooms are distributed, he said, adding that more quality services need to be offered in the dorms to attract people to stay on campus.

Katie Eiseman (freshman-liberal arts) lives in Brumbaugh Hall and because she is in a sorority, will live on campus at least one more year.

"I'm not thinking about moving at the moment," she said. "But as a junior, I may look for an apartment because it may be cheaper."

But if the University offers incentives to stay in the dorms, Eiseman said she would consider it regardless of the money.

"I don't really mind living in the dorms because they are close to my classes," she said.