Controversy avoided.
After less than a week of operation under new dining policies, Dining Services has reversed their latest one-swipe policy.
“We didn’t do it to create a problem for the students,” said Bill McGeorge, general manager for Sodexho-Marriott Dining Services.
Under the one-swipe policy, students with meal plans were only allowed to use one meal from their meal plan per visit to the cafeteria. In the past, students were allowed to use as many as they chose to buy dinner for friends who lacked meal plans or were out of meals. Now that the policy has been rescinded, students will once again be allowed to use meals for friends and family.
“Meal plans are supposed to be for the students who purchase them,” said McGeorge. He explained that the one-swipe policy was intended to control the number of meals used, which in turn would allow Dining Services to provide other dining options. One such option that has been put on hold due to the change in policy is the availability of take-out containers for students on the go.
McGeorge said that he would go to the students to determine if they would like a better take-out option. One fear he expressed with a take-out option under the current policies would be students taking a large quantity of take-out meals all at once.
According to McGeorge, Dining Services expects students not to use their allotted number of meals each week and base meal plan pricing on this expectation.
This is not the first time Dining Services has attempted to create a one-swipe policy. At the beginning of last year, a similar attempt was made but was reversed due to feedback received.
“We realize now that maybe the beginning of the semester isn’t the best time to change policies,” McGeorge said.
McGeorge expects the new Block Meal Plan, which includes 110 meals that can be used throughout the semester and $250 Flex-points, to become more popular once students become aware of it. In that plan, students can use as many meals as they choose anytime they would like without meals’ expiring at the end of the week.
“The Block Meal Plan gives more flexibility to the students,” McGeorge said.
Another new plan was also added-14 Flex Plan, which includes 14 meals a week and $250 Flex. This plan replaces the 19 Meal Plan, which did not include any Flex and was the least popular meal plan.
Several other changes are also in the works for the cafeterias. Reinert Hall, which recently underwent renovations, will now start a more complete breakfast service at 9 a.m. as opposed to an earlier continental breakfast. On Sunday evenings, Reinert will be serving dinner starting Sept. 9 in order to alleviate the crowding in Griesedieck Hall. All three cafeterias menus will once again contain the same food items, as per student suggestions.
Many of these changes have come as a result of the Food Committee of Residence Hall Association, which was founded last year. The committee of students works with Dining Services to improve the dining experience throughout campus.
McGeorge encourages students who have comments, suggestions or questions to e-mail Dining Services at [email protected].
