Beginning fall 2011, sophomores living in residence halls will be required to purchase meal plans.
The new requirement is an initiative to increase retention rates in students returning to the University for their third year, according to Stephen Barr, assistant director of University Auxiliary Services.
The 2008 retention rate for freshmen returning for their second year is 83.6 percent, and the rate for sophomores returning for their third year is 74.2 percent, according to the Office of Budget and Planning.
Barr believes the difference between these two rates stems from the lack of programs for sophomores in comparison to the abundance provided by First Year Experience.
Barr believes the meal plan requirement is a key component to the differences in second- and third-year retention rates.
“A meal plan is not the single answer, but we know it is part of the formula,” Barr said.
Barr hopes students with meal plans will take advantage of the available nutrition. Students without meal plans are not offered the same amount of nutritional values, he said.
“It’s a two-pronged approach,” Barr said. “Half the battle is putting the food out there, and the other half is teaching [students] what a balanced meal is.”
Jay High, Residential Life communications manager, said 365 sophomores lived in residence halls during the fall 2010 semester.
ResLife usually expects 300 to 400 sophomores to live in residence halls, High said.
Fall 2011 will be the first time sophomores have ever been required to have a meal plan. Barr said all dining hall renovations are complete, and most on-campus food venues will be open by next fall.
University students have mixed feelings about the new requirement.
Kathryn Dupree, biology freshman, thinks the meal plan requirement is a good idea.
“Having a meal plan is convenient and cheaper than not having one,” Dupree said. “I don’t have a meal plan, and I spend about $100 per week eating on campus.”
Jordan Barton, English literature and French junior, said meal plans are expensive and should not be required.
“When I was a freshman, TOPS covered my tuition, but I had to take out a loan to cover my meal plan,” Barton said.
Emily Wesley, communication studies senior, proposed a plan for “rolling over” leftover meals. She said if a meal plan is required, students should be able to utilize their unused meals.
Sophomores will be able to select one of the five primary meal plans that first year students have to choose from.
 
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Contact Emily Herrington at [email protected]