SRU improves process for updating student meal plans

Slippery Rock University is making it easier for students to carry over their meal plan from the fall semester to the spring semester.

Nov. 21, 2018

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University is making it easier for students to continue to enjoy their preferred food service meal plan when the spring semester begins. Students will no longer have to opt out of the default plan, which is 15 meals per week and $255 in "flex" dollars that can be used for dollar-for-dollar exchange at campus dining facilities.

"We're just going to carry over whatever their selection was in the fall semester," said Christopher Cole, director of auxiliary operations and academic and student affairs resources. "We just reached a point where so many people were changing and this is the easiest solution. We'll still give everyone the option to change, but now we're going to assume students liked what they had in the fall semester."

Students have from Nov. 26, 2018 to Feb. 3, 2019, to change their plan online through the MyDining portal.

SRU offers 13 meal plan options through AVI Fresh, its contract food vendor. These include "meal swipes" for dining halls like Boozel and Weisenfluh and "flex dollars" for on-campus retails partners like Quaker Steak and Lube and Starbucks. Residential students must choose from 11 meal plan options as part of their room-and-board contract. Meal plans are optional for non-residential students, including students living at Rock Apartments. SRU also offers two meal plans that cater to commuter students.

"There are a lot of choices for students based on how they eat," Cole said. "We have a lot of students who will opt into something at the same price but with fewer meal swipes and more flex dollars because they typically grab something on the go. We try to provide something for everybody and we're always looking for ways to improve the program."

Students who have the Flex Only Meal Plan in the fall semester will have their balances carry over to the spring 2019 semester with no additional fees. However, unused flex funds at the end of the spring semester will be forfeited.

All new residential students will continue to be placed on the default plan and students who opt into the Flex Only Meal Plan for the first time will still need to pay the setup fee.

For more information or questions regarding meal plans, contact Debra Mathieson, management technician in student services, at: 724.738.4930 or debra.mathieson@sru.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu