In Centre County on Friday, Penn State's Board of Trustees approved an increase in room and board for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The 2.5 percent increase is on the heels of a pending tuition increase due to state appropriation funds not being released to Penn State and three other state-funded institutions.

The increase is to offset high maintenance and operations costs, which can only be funded by money paid by students and guests for food and lodging.