CDS reveals details of new block meal plan

Meals will be reset at the end of the semester under the new option.

By Jared Grafman

Published April 30, 2010

Campus Dining Services will be offering a block plan option, starting next semester, for any student purchasing a dining plan.

CDS spokesman Andrew Lough said the plan, which would reset a student's meal count at the end of the semester instead of at the end of the week, will be offered for every dining plan available.

"The reason it is an alternative option is because contracts have already been sent out, and it's not up to us to determine student opinion," Lough said. "This is a new option for them that we think will be popular when it catches on."

Lough said there are some differences between a rollover-style plan and a block plan.

"Currently, meals are allocated once a week and are valid for a week," Lough said. "The block plan will allocate at the beginning of the semester and reset at the end of it. With a rollover-style system there is no reset period."

Sophomore Angie Brandt said the appeal of the block plan would depend on the student.

"Personally, I don't think that would be a good idea, because some people may not keep track of how much they are using and then end up short at the end of the semester," Brandt said.

Lough said one of the disadvantages to the block plan would be the additional responsibility of the student to be aware of the amount of meals they have left. But students will be able to see their account balance each time they use the plan, a feature that is already offered to students.

"We also will post information on our website that shows a chart of about how many meals should be left or spent at certain periods of the semester," he said.

The block plan might result in changes for dining hall traffic.

"Lines in the Emporium will potentially be shorter on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday nights," Lough said. "The flip side is that the last week or two of the semester, it might be completely packed with students using extra meals."

Lough said CDS is working on a set process to remind students to routinely check their meal plans.

"We might put information in monthly residential life or weekly MU Info announcement e-mails," Lough said. "We'll work with RHA and students to make sure we have the best input."

Freshman Maggie Prude said the block plan would be helpful for students wasting meals.

"I think it will be better than having our meals go to waste at the end of the week because if we pay for them, we should be able to use them," she said.

Lough said CDS does not expect an increase in revenue but the block plan potentially could increase its expenses because students might use more meals with the new plan than they do now.

"Should a student go from the block plan back to a weekly plan, we will calculate the credit for the remaining meals on the block and then calculate the cost for the newly selected plan, which would be a prorated amount," Lough said. "We will credit or bill the difference to the student account."