Changes in meal plans offer more options, flexibility

In response to students' desire for greater flexibility in dining options, the University has comprehensively redesigned the meal plans for College students living in residence halls. The new program offers the opportunity for students to eat some meals at dining places on campus other than residence hall cafeterias.

"I'm very enthusiastic about the new program," said Sherry Gutman, Director of the University House System. "It should provide a much more flexible and satisfying meal plan for students in the house system."

Five different meal plans at different prices are offered, each providing a specific number of meals per quarter as well as a set amount in "flex dollars." Flex dollars have a dollar-for-dollar value and may be used to purchase additional meals in the residential dining halls or to purchase food in the C-Shop and Hutchinson Commons in Reynolds Club or in the Tiffin Room at International House.

At the beginning of each academic year, students are assigned a "House Table" in one of the three College dining halls (Burton-Judson Courts, Pierce Hall and Woodward Court) and are requested to eat at their assigned dining halls for the first four weeks. After that, students may eat meals in any of the three College dining halls or in the Four Corners dining hall at International House. Students are free to use flex dollars in the C-Shop and Hutchinson Commons in Reynolds Club and in the Tiffin Room at International House from the start of the quarter.

"Flex dollars are an important complement to the regular meal plans," said Steve Klass, Director of Auxiliary Services. "When students are not able to eat at their designated dorms, flex dollars will allow them to grab a quick bite at other places on campus."

First-year students are required to purchase the "Freshman" plan, which provides 165 meals per quarter plus $300 in flex dollars for the academic year. Second-, third- and fourth-year students living in Burton-Judson Courts, Pierce Hall, Woodward Court and International House will be required to purchase, at minimum, the new "Moderate" plan, which provides 88 meals per quarter plus $350 in flex dollars. Students living in buildings without a dining hall have the option of purchasing the "Minimum" plan, which provides up to 22 meals per quarter plus $100 in flex dollars. Additional meal options include the "Buy Up" plan, which allows students to add meals to their current plans later in the academic year, and the "Premium" plan, which provides 198 meals per quarter plus $200 in flex dollars.

All flex-dollar amounts are for the entire academic year, and students can add flex dollars throughout the year. Although students will not be able to carry over unused meal credits from one quarter to the next, flex dollars will transfer from quarter to quarter until the end of the year. Flex dollars are not transferable from year to year.

The changes in meal plans for College students are part of a more comprehensive change in the food-service plan for the entire University. Central to this change is the opportunity for students living outside of the housing system to purchase flex dollars for use in the residential dining halls, in the C-Shop and Hutchinson Commons in Reynolds Club and in the Tiffin Room at International House.

For more information, call Student Housing at 702-7366.