DU will offer four new meal plans next fall, including one that is more affordable and only available to juniors and seniors who live off campus, as well as commuters.
Formerly the bronze meal plan, the 50-Block commuter meal plan will be offered to upperclassmen students and be $250 cheaper for the academic year, falling from $1,749 annually to $1,500, according to Ira Simon, Sodexo’s resident district manager of Dining Services.
“We are really trying to promote the commuter meal plan to [these] students because it will make it convenient for students to eat on campus, budget their money and enjoy flexibility,” said Simon.
The bronze meal plan costs $583 per quarter, and the new commuter meal plan will cost $500 a quarter.
According to Simon, they increased the meal plan from 40 meals to 50 and went from a $175 to a $150 meal plan cash. The meal swipes can be used at Nelson, Nagel, Centennial Halls and the Late-Night Dining at Sidelines Pub.
The decision was proposed to the Campus Food Service Committee, which plans the dining services around campus. The Housing and Residential Education and the Dining Services Student Advisory Board also reviewed the plans in the fall of 2011. It was finalized in November.
“The university was very supportive of the new commuter meal plan because it provides an excellent value and an opportunity to help students continue to dine on campus in a very flexible and convenient manner if they move off campus,” said Simon.
Along with the new commuter meal plan, all meal plans will be changed in the fall. According to Christy Cerrone, associate director of Residential Education, the meal plans have not been changed during her past nine years on campus.
There will also be a new unlimited plan this fall, which is based off the prior gold plan.
It will cost $171 more a year, increasing from $4,029 annually to $4,200. The plan includes unlimited access to cafeterias, $150 meal plan cash and 10 guest passes.
The new 100-block plan is based off the crimson plan and will cost $178 more a year, increasing from $3,822 annually to $4,000.
It includes 100 meals with $150 meal plan cash and unlimited guest passes.
The new 75-block plan has 75 meals, $150 meal plan cash and unlimited guest passes, and is $22 cheaper than the former crimson plan, decreasing from $3,822 annually to $3,800.
Simon said after the change in the meals and their cost were based on practicality and flexibility.
“After looking at the statistics from this year we felt like it would be more relevant to have the names align to the purpose of the plans,” said Simon.
