The Keuka College Board of Trustees recently approved the student fee structure for 2008-09.

The overall cost for tuition, room and board is $29,990, 5.3 percent higher than the current academic year. Tuition will rise 5.9 percent; room and board, 3.8 percent.

“Increases are needed to offset increases in energy costs, employee health benefits, and inflation,” said College President Joseph G. Burke. “However, it is important to note that Keuka is below the national average for four-year private colleges in terms of tuition, room and board, and total cost increases.”

According to the College Board, tuition and fees rose 6.3 percent, room and board increased 5 percent, and total charges went up 5.9 percent nationally in 2007-08, the last year these statistics were published.

“Keuka has an excellent track record of keeping increases at or below the national average and that can be attributed to sound fiscal management and out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to dealing with challenges,” said the president. “For example, the College, like all homeowners and business owners, has been forced to deal with escalating energy costs. Working with Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems, we came up with an innovative solution to address this problem and as a result, we save approximately $160,000 a year.”

The College is also looking to pursue even more energy savings and implement a water conservation program “that will not only be good for the environment but will also save on our water/sewer bills,” said Burke.