On-campus dining is increasing this year with the downturn of the economy according to Sam Kweik, lead supervisor for Real Food On Campus at SMU.
“I’ve really noticed students are eating lunch here more often. They used to go across the street,” to local restaurants and fast-food joints, he said.
Students who live in on-campus housing are required to purchase meal plans each semester. Several plans are available, but the student’s status may determine which plan he or she must purchase. First year students must purchase one of the plans that range in price from $2110 to $2450 per semester. Other plans are available for second, third and fourth year students.
Some of the meal plans offer unlimited dining. A student who lives on campus from January 13 to May 31 and purchases the $2110 plan will pay about $16 per day to eat on campus.
The same sixteen bucks wouldn’t go very far off campus. A typical day of dining out for a student at SMU might include the following; a Starbucks venti mocha and blueberry muffin for $6.06, a Jimmy John’s “Big John” sandwich, large drink and chips for $7.73 and dinner at Bandito’s Tex-Mex in Snider Plaza where the student might have an enchilada dinner and soft drink for $14.16 after adding a 20 percent gratuity. The total for the day comes to $27.95.
A full day of meals on campus saves the student approximately $11.95 or 42.8 percent. That’s a savings of $1565.45 per semester.
” My family has three full-time college students and my dad’s company is not giving bonuses this year, ” said Allie Thompson, an SMU psychology student.
“I’m eating more meals on campus this semester since I have a meal plan,” she said. ” Plus, my parents have asked us to be more conscious of our spending.”
The meal plans that include unlimited entries are also helpful to students who like to snack between meals. They can go by the cafeteria anytime and pick up a drink, grab some fruit or whatever else is available.
RFoC has hired extra staff this year to help keep up with the increased demands in the cafeteria according to Kweik. “We are trying to add more food that the students want, like our spa menu,” he said. With more students eating on campus and the cost of food and production going up, “We are trying to control portions as much as we can, like serving 2 ounce tilapia instead of 4 ounce.; if they want more they can come back for another serving,” said Kweik.
“My parents keep telling me I need to cut back since I don’t have a job,” said Bridget Le, a biology student at SMU. “So, I’ve decided to eat on campus more often.”
For more information go to: smudining.com.
