The WSU Board of Regents reported an increase in freshman applicants and approved moving forward with design and pre-construction of a new science building at their meeting Friday according to Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Interim President Dan Bernardo said there was a 20 percent increase in freshman applications comparing this year to last according to Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News said the board approved a 3 percent increase in housing and dining rates for students in the next school year.

The new Plant Sciences Building will be $6.6 million, according to the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, and will be part of a number of facilities that help promote scientists in different departments working together.

University officials told Moscow-Pullman Daily News the building would be used by scientists from the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Science, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences.

The building would also provide lab space for researchers in plant science fields like horticulture and crop and soil sciences.

WSU has received the needed $6.6 million for design and preconstruction and will get construction funding for 2017 through 2019, according to Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Reporting by Dennis Farrell