<p>I've been trying, without success, to find out what the hours are in the dining halls (the ones that are covered by the meal plan). I'm guessing they are not 24x7...</p>
<p>Also, since the meal plan for freshman is "unlimited" does this mean students can also eat as many times per day as they want? My son tends to eat many small meals/snacks rather than three larger meals, and I am wondering if that will be accommodated.</p>
<p>The dining services changed its meal plans for fall. So the unimited plan is brand new and no one has any experience with how it will work.</p>
<p>In the past, students were allowed X number of club meals (entree plus 2 sides) per semester. A student could eat as many clubs a day he wished until his club meals ran out.</p>
<p>Here are a couple of Campus Times articles about the proposed changes:</p>
<p>[Changes</a> coming soon to UR Dining | Campus Times](<a href=“http://www.campustimes.org/2011/02/24/changes-coming-soon-to-ur-dining/]Changes”>http://www.campustimes.org/2011/02/24/changes-coming-soon-to-ur-dining/)</p>
<p>[Dining</a> Services Proposes Many Changes | CT Now](<a href=“http://www.campustimes.org/now/2011/02/14/dining-services-proposes-many-change/]Dining”>http://www.campustimes.org/now/2011/02/14/dining-services-proposes-many-change/)</p>
<p>If these articles are accurate, students will be allowed an unlimited number of “swipes” (entries into Danforth and Douglass).</p>
<p>Danforth and Douglass are not 24/7 and never have been, but it appears the POD Market in Sue B will be 24/7. The POD Market will be declining only.</p>
<p>I was told it meant swipe in as you want because they don’t do club counts. </p>
<p>Here’s my take: costs drove UR to push more kids into bigger meal plans. What is now the old system generated lots of excess, unclaimed meals and became somewhat of a joke as kids tried to use up allotted meals, offered them up to upper clansmen, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if the plan setup changes again in a few years. They will evaluate costs and revenues and student responses and try to figure it out. </p>
<p>As for snacking, the declining dollars - common at schools now - can be used to buy stuff to store in your room, eat on the go, etc. The issue is generally over-eating not under-eating.</p>
<p>RE: snacking One word: Wegman’s The shuttle runs to Wegman’s multiple times every Saturday and Sunday. Have your son buy his nosh at Wegman’s and keep it in his room fridge.</p>
<p>D2 uses her declining to buy yogurt, fruit and such at the Campus Market (or saved from her club meal) and fixes her own breakfast/snacks in her room. She also bums rides to Wegman’s from suitemates and sorority sisters.</p>
<p>The one big change in how the meal plans operate under the new unlimited plans will be that students won’t be allowed to ‘carry out’ food from the dining halls. With club meals, you clubbed your allowed items, then could eat them there or carry them back to your room for later. It’s my understanding that this will no longer be allowed. Once swiped in, you have to eat your meal there to make sure you’re not feeding all your floor using your meal plan.</p>
<p>LOL - for my son, declining = Starbucks!</p>
<p>^^While D2 likes her some coffee, she finally decided Starbucks was getting too expensive (and using up all her declining). She has a insulated travel cup with leakproof lid, a hot water kettle and drip cone to make her own coffee. She misses her expresso shots and frothed milk, but at least now her declining lasts past mid terms!</p>
<p>At the end of the year, we used up mucho declining at Starbucks, buying tea, etc.</p>
<p>When my d went into a Starbucks the first time post-graduation and ordered her normal drink, she nearly fainted at the register. With declining, it never mattered; she always had enough declining. But with her own money – YIKES!</p>
<p>Welcome to the real world, dear.</p>