CDS changes point system

Convenience is the goal in changing a meal from seven to 10 points.

By Krissy Tripp

Published March 16, 2009

Beginning this summer, Campus Dining Services will be updating the point system from seven to 10 points per meal. The finalized information will be given to students at Summer Welcome.

CDS spokesman Andrew Lough said only about 6 percent of students use the point system. Students who used the points plan usually changed back for one of two reasons. Either they didn't want to deal with telling the cashier they were on the point system or it was harder to keep track of than meals.

Lough said students commonly complained it was hard to keep track of their meals and points because seven is such an odd number. Lough said changing the plan from multiples of seven to 10 would be easier.

"For example, if you get down to 89 points, you can just move the decimal point over to eight meals and nine points," Lough said.

Some students didn't choose to use the point system because they didn't know it was available to them at the beginning of the year.

"I'm an international student, so seven meals a week sounded good. I didn't know that you could choose," freshman Sarah Almahmoud said.

Freshman Rachel Mueller said her parents picked her plan, and though she agrees the point system might be more convenient, she hasn't cared enough to have it changed.

In addition to simpler math, CDS is making the change from seven- to 10-point meals to help economical issues as well. The flexibility in the points could make the prices more equitable.

"They'll have more flexibility in what they can purchase," Lough said.

CDS assigns point values to food items based upon the raw food cost, and there are large gaps between each point. As a result, CDS must either round up resulting in higher costs to students or take a loss on certain food items, which they do in a few cases, Lough said.

"You have to look at percentage of money you're taking and what you can apply to raw costs," Lough said. "We're not here to get rich. We're here to help students out."

CDS Director Julaine Kiehn said CDS is a non-profit organization. She listed the recent and upcoming projects CDS plans to fund.

Last year CDS updated the Pavilion at Dobbs dining hall, and renovated Baja Grill and part of Bingham Commons. This year's and part of next year's profits will be spent on the new student center.

Next year they plan to renovate Rollins dining hall and Rollins Commons to add a new entry to the dining hall and public restrooms. In 2010-2011, CDS plans to update and expand Mark Twain Market.

"Any revenues beyond expenses are spent on campus," Kiehn said.

The new point system will affect students who frequent take-out options, such as Emporium, but Lough said meal plan students will not see a huge difference.

"If any difference at all, they will get a little more for their money when they use takeout," he said.