Unused Meal Plan Swipes to be Put to Better Use

On average, about 15 percent of meal plans go unused here at KSU each semester.  Compared to the national average of 23-25 percent, that is a pretty decent number.

KSU has such a low number simply because there are more opportunities to use the meal plan here.

“At KSU, we provide many more opportunities for our students to utilize their meal plans than at comparable institutions across the country,” said Manager of Culinary and Hospitality Service Robert J. Nolen.

Some of the better opportunities include continuous dining (not closing The Commons between meal periods) seven days a week, utilization of meal plan swipes at The Hoot, and allowing for take-out at On the Fly.

“These services are above and beyond what many universities provide and, for this reason, our percentage of unused meals is much lower,” Nolen said.

Although it is clear that KSU has a much better percentage of unused meal plans, 15 percent is still a relatively large number when it is put into perspective.  “In the past, Culinary & Hospitality Services has partnered with the student organizers of Homelessness Awareness Week to facilitate a “meal drive” to support organizations that feed the needy,” said Nolen.

In the past, the drive only occurred during spring semester, but they have expanded their efforts and conducted their own drive during the fall semester as well.

Students can make donations to  the program if they choose to,

and then meals are prepared based on how many swipes are donated, and they are delivered to different organizations from there.

“Based on recent suggestions from students, faculty and staff Culinary & Hospitality Services has begun to explore the possibility of working with the Feed the Future program,” Nolen said.

They are hoping to work with Feed the Future soon, but there is a lot of research to be done to ensure any involvement is implemented properly, said Nolen. “In the meantime, we plan to continue our existing efforts and allow students to donate meals through an organized meal drive if they wish to do so.”