Suggestions to Improve the Dining Plan

Since very few Drexel students are satisfied with the current Dinning Plan, some substantial changes need to be made, in order for the plan to better apply to the students’ needs.

First, Drexel needs to lower the prices of the articles sold at the places where the Dinning Dollars are used. This issue is the primary cause of concern for most students. Those articles are expected to come at a better deal, since they are related to the meal plans. Instead, they are excessively overpriced, when compared to nearby vendors.

Second, the Dinning Dollars need to be transferred from one term to the other.  It is logical that they should not expire after the quarter, because they are the students’ own money. Drexel card has a function similar to that of a credit card, so it seems irrelevant that you lose money out of your card at the end of a certain period.

Furthermore, there should be a better deal related to the Dinning Dollars.  According to the current policy you only obtain a 6% discount by using Dinning Dollars instead of other money. Considering the restrictions of the places where they can be used, there does not seem to be a good rationale why students would choose to be part of such a plan. The reason why mostly freshman have it, is because they are required to.

Adding more food-contractor options would be another significant initiative. The current choices are very limited, and students feel the need for more options. However, food trucks in campus, which are not included in the contractors of the university, seem to be popular among students. Expanding the list of the places that accept Dinning Dollars, or even at least Dragon Dollars, to include them, would help.

The problem addressed is one of major concern especially among freshmen, since they do not have a choice whether on not to be part of such a plan. However, solving it, will not only make students more satisfied with the current conditions, but can even be advantageous for the university itself. The reason is that if the meal plan were improved and the mentioned issues were solved, more upperclassmen would be interested in obtaining one. Therefore, this matter should be brought to the university’s administration attention, for the benefit of all.