BOG Notebook: Housing rates remain flat; campus upgrades move forward for Law School, soccer field

DETROIT - At its meeting on Friday, April 24, the Wayne State University Board of Governors announced 2026-27 housing rates would remain unchanged, marking the fourth consecutive year without increases in residence hall rates and the third consecutive year without increases in apartment rates. The board also approved a 3% increase in meal plan rates.

Campus upgrades

During the meeting, the board approved up to $46 million in additional construction expenses for a new Law School Classroom Building, building on $2 million previously authorized in 2024 for schematic design and design development work.

The existing law classroom building, constructed in 1966, has served generations of students, and the planned upgrades are an opportunity to better meet the needs of modern legal education, growing enrollment and innovative teaching methods.

WSU officials said the project will be funded through a combination of state appropriations, university bond proceeds and philanthropic support. In total, the project budget will cover design fees, demolition, construction, project management, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and contingency costs.

Speaking before the board, Robert Davenport, associate vice president of Facilities Planning and Management, said the project addresses long-standing facility challenges while positioning the Law School for future growth.

"We're really excited about this project," Davenport said. "It solves a lot of infrastructure issues and deferred maintenance issues that have plagued that building in particular."

The board also approved up to $900,000 in additional funding for work to convert the intramural field into a soccer field; add team shelters, a scoreboard and press box; renovate the women's locker room; and construct a new storage facility. The cost increase is driven by rising construction costs and the need for new utility poles and a new transformer to adequately meet electrical needs. The project was authorized in October 2025 in preparation for the women's varsity soccer team's inaugural season this fall.

Academic updates and recognition

The board upheld its annual tradition of honoring faculty excellence by presenting its annual Faculty Recognition Awards to five full-time faculty members.

New programs were also approved in the James and Patrician College of Engineering, including a master of science in AI-driven construction management and a Ph.D. in engineering leadership and management science.

Also approved was a 3.5% increase in tuition and fee rates for resident students and a 2.6% increase for non-resident students in the School of Medicine's M.D. program. The school recently celebrated a 99% match rate for the second consecutive year - well above the national average - and received a record of nearly 13,000 applications for its incoming class.

Other business

Leaders from across campus shared presentations, including updates from the Office of Student Financial Aid about the expanded Wayne State Guarantee and a personal testimonial from junior Alexander Gilstorf.

Finance and Business Affairs shared the 2025 Financial Report, in addition to annual updates from the past fiscal year, and the Division of Digital Strategy and Operational Excellence shared an overview of its ongoing work to make processes simpler, faster and more connected across campus.

The Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development shared updates about TechTown Detroit's impact on urban retail and its ongoing Comerica Hatch Detroit contest, and invited Mamba Hmissi, owner of New Center's Baobab Fare, to share his experience as an alumnus of that program. The presentation came ahead of the May 13 Hatch Off event, where four finalists will make one last pitch in front of a panel of judges before one winner will be awarded $100,000 to open their brick-and-mortar retail business.

President Bierschbach also shared a University Report that highlighted recent successes, including a record-breaking Giving Day and ongoing alumni engagement, gains in the U.S. News & World Report rankings among graduate programs, recognition for national leadership in patenting technologies and School of Medicine's National Institutes of Health grant funding, student-athlete successes, the Year of Focus marquee event, the Mike Ilitch School of Business' Startup Technology Pitch Competition, and more. President Bierschbach's full report is available online.

The Board of Governors will meet again June 25, 2026.