Starting this term, students will never again be mailed dining option cards from Dartmouth Dining Services, and everyone will automatically be billed the default plan of a non-refundable $700 Declining Balance Account.
But at the beginning of each term, students can change their dining plans by visiting the DASH offices in Thayer Dining Hall, and once they change their dining plans, they will be billed for their chosen plan for all future terms, according to Associate Treasurer Win Johnson.
Besides the $700 DBA with no option cost, students can purchase a $475 DBA with a $50 service fee or a $900 DBA for only $835.
Students living off-campus can also choose a $300 DBA with an option cost of $100.
All of the meal plans are non-refundable.
Director of Dining Services Pete Napolitano said the changes in billing are reflective of the referendum conducted by the Student Assembly last term.
Following student protest after an announcement by DDS of a mandatory $800 non-refundable DBA for all students, the Assembly held an on-line vote to gauge student opinion regarding DDS. DDS has been steadily losing money over the past few years, and a loss of $600,000 was expected for this year.
The poll showed an overwhelming support of cuts to DDS services instead of mandatory high DBA requirements.
Johnson said students have 10 days at the beginning of each term to make changes to their dining options, and once they have a card on file, they will be billed for their chosen option for following terms.
"Unless an option card is on file, [students] get billed $700," Johnson said.
He said he thinks students will choose dining options with lower DBAs than they will actually use. If students use all their DBA, their accounts go negative and they are billed any additional amounts they spend.
