Meal Plan Changes

By Dan Gagnon; For The Clock

On March 30, 2017

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Meal Plan Changes

Dan Gannon

For The Clock

drgannon@plymouth.edu

Plymouth State has decided to make changes to two of the lower meal plans in order to accommodate students spending FlexCash at different off-campus sites.

“Our dining database tracks meal swipes and FlexCash spending. We are able to run reports to identify trends and usage statistics,” said Tom Weeks, director of financial operations at PSU.

The database showed that students were primarily using FlexCash at offsite locations and at the campus bookstore, which showed a decrease in money coming into the dining hall.

The two lower meal plans will be the ones most affected. This year, these two plans have no FlexCash and 50 meal swipes, or 100 meal swipes and $200 FlexCash.

Next year, both meal plans will be combined, and the new plan will offer the number of swipes that best fits student usage.

Additionally, the meal plan offering $300 FlexCash was reduced to $100 FlexCash.

There was a public forum held before spring break between the dining committee and a subcommittee of student senate to talk about concerns with the changes.

One of the concerns was with the $300 FlexCash option. The reason for the change: many students scramble a the end of the semester to spend all their money, because any money left on a student’s balance does not carry over to the next semester.

In the upcoming year, students can expect to see a $.21 to $.40 increase per meal swipe due to operating expenses as well as an increase in the dining budget. However, students may receive additional FlexCash through other means.

Shannon Spaulding, secretary of student senate, said that students can request to transfer financial aid from their bill to their FlexCash. FlexCash that does not come from a dining plan will roll over into the next semester.

Students who graduate and still have FlexCash left on their account may have that money reimbursed to them.

“Any unused FlexCash on a student’s account at the time they leave the institution will be credited back to their student account at Student Account Services,” said Tom Weeks. “Any refunds are handled through that office.”