New meal plans to start fall 2013

UW Oshkosh students will begin using new meal plans that will offer more flexibility to dining options on campus beginning at the start of the 2013 fall semester.

“Most of the current meal plans have been in place for over 10 years,” Marty Strand, assistant director for Dining Services said. “There has been much discussion about how to offer additional flexibility to students and we felt it was time to take action.”

According to Strand, these plans will cost more, but the rise in price is not necessarily because of the change.

“Costs have risen and prices of meal plans would be going up anyway,” Strand said. “It is important for our campus to offer new and up-to-date plans and programs and properly manage increasing costs while keeping dining options fresh.”

With the changes, some of the plans will offer different amounts of meals, according to Strand.

“The 150 block meal plan will now be equivalent to the 75 block plan plus Dining Dollars,” Strand said.

According to Charity Chandler, marketing manager for SODEXO on campus, with the addition of Dining Dollars to the plans, students will have more options when it comes to purchasing things on campus.

“If a student wishes to go to Mi Taza and get a mocha and they do not want a bakery item, they can save their meal and just pay Dining Dollars for their mocha,” Chandler said.

Students can also increase their purchasing power by using Dining Dollars because Dining Dollars offers a 5 percent discount, Chandler said.

With the addition of Dining Dollars, the new meal plans will provide an incredible amount of flexibility as to where students can use their meals, according to Chandler.

“The new meal plans can be used anywhere on campus, including Sage Café,” Chandler said. “Now students can get an entrée at one venue and a side from another.”

The modification of the meal plans will also allow SODEXO to contribute more to campus, Chandler said.

“SODEXO donates thousands of scholarship dollars every year to the University, as well as money for athletics, dragon boat races and other campus activities,” Chandler said. “This also allows us to make a major financial contribution to the new Alumni Welcome and Conference Center.”

According to Chandler, she is hoping to see the number of meal plans purchased increase since the new plans provide a greater value than meal plans have in the past.

Freshman Ashley Maron said she didn’t know there was going to be a change in meal plans but would enjoy having more flexibility in where she can use her meal plan on campus.

“I don’t use all my meals now and would appreciate less meals in a plan,” Maron said.

Strand said he feels the value for most students will be equal or better than what the old plans could offer.

“My hope is that students will enjoy and appreciate the change in spite of having to deal with a change,” Strand said. “We know that changing things is not easy for those who have learned to use their plans in a particular manner.”

If anyone has any thoughts, comments or questions regarding the new meal plans or dining on campus, they can email Chandler at chandler@uwosh.edu or the campus Food Committee at food@uwosh.edu, or visit dining.uwosh.edu.