Starting in fall 2012, Longwood students will have up to three new meal plans to select from Longwood Dining. The new plans come from feedback on dining surveys and student input during the monthly Dine with the Director events hosted by Longwood Dining.
Assistant Director for Operational Excellence for Longwood Dining Brenda Ferguson said students have asked for more flexibility in their meal plans for some time now. "This is something students have been asking for. So we've answered their requests and we are offering these new plans."
Students living on campus will be able to choose a Block 160 Plan with $200 in Bonus Dollars to be used at any ARAMARK location. Students living in the Longwood Village, Longwood Landings, Lancer Park and off campus will be able to select a Block 80 Plan with either $250 or $150 Bonus Dollars in addition to the Block 160 Plan with $200 Bonus Dollars. Any of the current plans available to students now will still be available in the fall semester as well.
The Block 160 Plan is equivalent to getting 10 meals per week while the Block 80 is equal to five meals per week. Block plans do not allow students to use guest swipes, which come with the other options. However, the block plans do allow students to come and go to Dorrill Dining Hall as often as they wish during any meal period.
Director of Longwood Dining Grant Avent and Ferguson said the block plans allow for much more flexibility when compared to the other plans offered.
"A student can choose to eat three meals one week and ten or twelve meals the next week," said Ferguson. "They can use those meals any way they wish."
Avent added that while flexibility is an added feature, it is still important for a student to keep an eye on the number of meals they have left if on a block plan. "Just remember, when they're [the meals] gone, they're gone."
"You're in control. You're not losing any of your meals," said Ferguson. "The students were saying they wanted to manage their own meals. And with the block plan, they get that."
Avent said block plans have been around, but have been the lowest selling. He said Longwood Dining is trying to promote the block option more.
Currently, there are no plans to change any of the existing plans. "As we move forward, we're going to look at what they want more of," said Ferguson. Bonus Dollars is one of the most talked about items when it comes to what students have expressed more interest in. As of now, students cannot add meals or bonus dollars, only Lancer CA$H. Ferguson said they hope to be able to do that one day.
One idea that has been tossed around in the past is a seven-meal plan with more Bonus Dollars to make up for fewer meals. Avent said it is not available yet but may be something to look for in the future.
The three new block options are not the only additions to Longwood Dining based on student input. The fourth meal period, late lunch, came from a student who asked Avent about the possibility of changing the meal times. Avent said if it was not for that student being persistent, the late lunch period might not exist. He said, "This is just another example to show that we really are listening to what the students want."
The pricing for the three new plans will be determined based on Longwood's Board of Visitors approval of tuition and fees.
