As the beginning of the spring semester arrives, concerns are rising among NKU dormitory residents regarding structural issues with the meal plan system. The Northerner spoke with students at the end of the fall 2024 semester regarding the use of their meal plan.

Many students living on campus are facing a situation in which they have insufficient FLEX dollars, while their meal swipes remain unused. Calls for a revision of the meal plan structure are growing louder in response to these concerns.

NKU offers three types of meal plans for dormitory residents. The first provides 225 meal swipes and $200 in FLEX dollars per semester. The second offers five meal swipes per week and $700 in FLEX dollars. The third provides unlimited meal swipes and $100 in FLEX dollars. Students living on campus must select one of these plans at the beginning of the semester, and some students who chose the 225 meal swipe plan say they are now facing imbalances. 

“I have about 100 meal swipes left, but there’s no way I can use them all in the last three to four weeks of the semester,” said Kylie Richardson, a first-year communications major. 

The imbalance in meal plan structures can restrict students’ flexibility in choosing their dining options. Another student, Joee Morlock, also selected the 225 plan. The limitation of choices forces students to rely on the cheapest meal options for their meals.

“I’ve already used up all my FLEX dollars, so now I can only buy food costing $7.25 or less,” Morlock said at the end of the fall semester.

Meal swipes can be used at the Student Union and Einstein Bros. Bagels. At the other dining locations, one meal swipe is worth $7.25, and any excess amount must be paid using FLEX dollars.

“I can only use my meal swipes once or twice a day, but my FLEX dollars run out quickly,” Richardson noted. This creates a frustrating situation for many students, who feel they are not getting the full value of their chosen meal plans.

The current system limits the use of meal swipes while accelerating the depletion of FLEX dollars, according to some students.

“Most students either eat three meals a day or choose food that costs more than $7.25, which means they can’t use a second meal swipe,” Morlock added.

There is growing criticism that the current meal plan does not sufficiently reflect students’ daily eating habits. 

“Norse Commons closes by 8 p.m., so when I have work, I often miss dinner and end up wasting meal swipes,” Richardson said. 

Morlock, a cheerleader at NKU, also struggles to use her meal swipes during dinner hours for the same reason. For students balancing academics and extracurricular activities, adhering to meal plan schedules while considering dining hall hours poses a challenge.

“After practice, most of the dining facilities are closed, so I can’t use a second meal swipe. I end up using a meal swipe for lunch most days,” Morlock said.

Unused meal swipes accumulate during periods of the semester when students are not on campus. 

“Many students go home on weekends, so it’s impossible to eat three meals a day for all 120 days of the semester,” Morlock said. 

There has been criticism that the university failed to consider that meal plans cannot be used during holiday periods when the facilities are not in operation. 

“Students who go home for Thanksgiving or fall break can’t use up their remaining meal swipes during those periods,” Morlock added.

Unused meal swipes are neither refunded nor carried over to the next semester, which means that students face the prospect of losing their remaining swipes at the end of the semester. 

Richardson expressed disappointment, saying, “I wish unused meal swipes could be refunded or carried over. I could have used that money for something else.” 

Calls for specific improvements to the system are also gaining momentum.

“It would be great if unused meal swipes could roll over to the next semester, or if there were a system to convert them into FLEX dollars,” Morlock suggested, emphasizing the need to balance the ratio of meal swipes to FLEX dollars in the 225 plan.

In October, Derek Roorda, the district resident manager for Chartwells—which oversees all dining services at NKU—announced efforts to reduce the usage of FLEX balances. He also hinted at the introduction of a more flexible meal plan adjustment, stating, “Chartwells wants to ensure that students see value and adjust accordingly.”

“I don’t plan on purchasing the 225 plan again next semester,” Richardson said.

Morlock offered his assessment of the current meal plan structure.

“The 225 plan is advertised as the best value, but in reality, there’s so much I can’t use, which makes it less cost-effective.”