This semester, changes have been made to the dining services on campus. Some of these have to do with what students can purchase with a meal swipe and what is now offered. Students have had various opinions on some of these changes.
“The introduction of an expanded meal exchange program reflects a commitment to student feedback and a desire to enhance the dining experience,” Lisa Rodgers, general manager at Aramark, said.
“I liked some of the changes and disliked some of the changes,” one SRU sophomore stated. According to Rock Dining, the exchange rate of a swipe is now $6.40.
Students can now use only five meal swipes a day instead of six. After using one swipe, students must wait five minutes before using another. Before classes began, the new rule was going to be 10 minutes in between swipes.
“[It] is a strategic move to streamline the dining process, allowing for better management of the flow and ensuring all students can enjoy their meals without undue wait times,” Rodgers said.
“You would see people in line at Rocky’s, mostly, that would just spend…like five meal swipes worth of candy and take-home foods, just piles of it…it was taking forever to go through the register and everyone’s backed up in the line,” one senior student said. “I was like, you know, one transaction really does make sense. These poor people in our food service here are already overworked. I bet this is going to make getting through way easier, I just wish you could use two a transaction.”
If students want to use their meal swipes, they now have the option to choose between three different meals that qualify for the swipe at each dining location on campus. Depending on the location, certain meal swipes now come with a choice of fruit and a dessert.
“One thing that I really liked was they swapped around the meal exchanges, where, now, it feels like the meal swipe has more…use as an actual meal,” the senior said, “whereas previously, in Rocky’s specifically, your meal will get you one thing and that’s pretty much all…if it wasn’t something you liked, then the meal swipe was worthless except for its cash equivalency.”
“I also am a big fan of the fact that now most meal swipes come with chips, a dessert or a fruit. This creates a much more balanced meal,” an SRU sophomore said.
The food options are marked with either a red X or green check mark so students know what a meal swipe can and cannot be used on.
“I also wish that we could use meal swipes on any item in Rocky’s again. It has deterred me from buying any items like chips or ice cream as much because I would usually use a leftover meal swipe to buy them if I had it,” the sophomore student said.
“By increasing the variety at each location, students now have access to a wider range of culinary delights that cater to diverse tastes and appetites,” Rodgers said.
Another new feature for this year is ordering ahead with the Grubhub app. There is no extra fee for students when using the app if the individual is logged in with their SRU email and account. Students can place the order and not have to wait in line. However, this makes the wait longer for individuals who did not order ahead.
“With the previous mobile ordering system no longer available, Grubhub has stepped in to fill the void, offering a reliable and user-friendly platform that has already attracted a significant portion of the student population,” Rodgers said.
“I really do love using the Grubhub app. It’s a lifesaver, especially when I have meetings at noon and I don’t have enough time to stand in line and get food beforehand,” the sophomore student said.
“[T]he fall changes at Rock Dining are a comprehensive effort to elevate the student dining experience, demonstrating a proactive approach to student well-being and satisfaction,” Rodgers said.
