Unused dining money students are forced to pay for

November 21, 2019

University Relations

What happens with the unused money that students have leftover on their meal plan at the end of the academic year? I realize it rolls over between fall to spring, but at the end of spring, students do not get leftover money back. Does Dining Services simply keep that money? Or do they at least donate it to the food bank or something? This seems like theft of students; to force them to buy a meal plan (especially if they don't use it) and simply keep the leftover money. This is especially troublesome because the meal plan is basically just forcing students to buy a 'pre-paid' card to purchase food at the same price they'd pay with cash.

If you are going to force students to buy a meal plan, why not at least allow them to get some sort of refund at the end of May if they don't use the entire cash balance? Dining Services should not simply be able to keep the surplus amount.

If UAF wonders why occupancy in the residence halls has decreased, the required meal plans (even in Cutler!) are a good place to look.