FlexCash Future Changes Coming Soon

The wait is finally over. Starting this fall, students will be able to use their IDs for payment at several downtown food and beverage locations. This change comes after PSU’s innovative plan to expand the University in order to catch up to the nation’s other leading universities, several of which have used a similar system for some time. 

“We met with a number of merchants late last spring to kind of let them know what we were thinking,” said Dave Carpentiere, Director of Technology for Residential Life and the project manager for the new system. “We wanted this rolled out a long time ago, but there’s multiple contracts involved in these agreements,” said Carpentiere regarding the delay in implementation.

Currently students can use their IDs to purchase food strictly from campus food services such as the Union Grille, Woods Café, and Commons Café. This change would allow outside vendors to compete with Plymouth for extra business. Carpentiere’s hope is that the rise in competition will be healthy for business and the quality of service provided.

Vendors who have signed up to be on board with the new plan include Burrito Me, Chase Street Market, Subway, and Biederman’s, with a number of other locations still pending. Students with FlexCash or BoardCash will be able to use their cards to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages, despite rumors that alcohol may be an option as well. 

“We have to keep it in line with our dining program, and as a college campus we have to support non-alcoholic beverages,” said Carpentiere. Having said that, Carpentiere admits that he respects the right of a student over the age of 21 to purchase alcohol, however, “that would open up a lot of sticky things,” he said. “Having the money come from a higher education institution going out to buy alcohol for students, I think there are big issues. I think if anyone looks at liability or other issues that wouldn’t be ideal.” Though not in the immediate future, Carpentiere said he is not ruling out the possibility of a decision further down the line.

 Other items not listed as purchasable through FlexCash include firearms, tobacco, and personal items such as bedding and toiletries. “We may have to look at that at some point, but the goal of the program is to provide convenient access to other food service operations around campus,” said Carpentiere.

As for pricing, items at the vendors will be the same whether using cash or FlexCash. With this new installment the traditional 11 percent discount will not apply to purchases, however, students will also not be charged extra for using their FlexCash. PSU will also not be aiming to profit off of purchases made with FlexCash outside of the University, as 4 percent of the total cost will only be used to cover basic expenses. This is done so that the FlexCash option is strictly a convenience created for the students.

The plan to rollout the new system is scheduled to take place this fall provided all of the necessary procedures are completed. Further questions may be directed to Dave Carpentiere at davec@plymouth.edu or by phone at 603-535-2260.