To What Extent Should Students Be Obligated To Buy A Meal Plan

Should students be obligated to buy a meal plan? Old Dominion University requires all students living on campus to purchase one. The university offers ten meal plans. Some of the plans are blocks which are a set number of meals per semester. Other meal plans are weekly. The cheapest meal plan is about three hundred fifteen dollars, and the most expensive is one thousand seven hundred eighty dollars per semester. Where you live determines what meal plan you are required to get. Students should not be obligated to purchase a meal plan because it is an extra expense for most. Assuring that every student has a meal plan sounds ideal. The problem is that not every student needs or wants one. Along with the meal plan come flex points which are like cash. This “cash” only works at old dominion dining facilities. Flex points certainly go by fast since they can be used at Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Subway, and Chick-fil-a at the food court. Most students get bored of eating at the café with in the first three weeks of school. Café 1201 which is one of the three cafes is the most convenient location wise. The café offers the same food every week. Students prefer to use their flex points instead of eating at the café. Furthermore students aren’t given half as many flex points as
Some students depend fully on financial aid to go to school therefore can’t afford to buy food outside. As well as the fact that there may be inconveniences and a student may not be able to cook or buy food. If that were ever to happen students always have somewhere to get food from if they have a meal plan. That’s great but it should be an option for students not a requirement. If their financial aid covers their meal plan that’s excellent. The problem is for those who have to pay out of pocket for that meal plan. Students should be responsible for if they choose to have meal plan or