These changes were proposed by a committee of students and administrators formed after dissatisfied members of the Student Life Committee approached DDS with their concerns. One of the biggest changes to student dining plans will be the rollover of unused dining dollars from one term to the next with the exception of the spring term, when all unused money must be forfeited.
While the disappearance of DBA at the end of each term has frustrated many students, some still believe the new rollover policy does not serve much of a purpose.
"The policy doesn't make sense to me. Why would you suddenly eat that much more the next trimester?" Tara McNerney '09 said.
A more controversial change to student meal plans is the introduction of a $100 spending limit on items bought at Topside convenience store. Any extra charges over the limit will now go on the college bill sent to parents at the end of every term. If a student chooses not to spend their $100 Topside allotment, the money can be used at any location that accepts DBA but Topside balances will not rollover to the following term.
Over 59 percent of students spend more than $100 at Topside each term and some said the plan was unacceptable.
"This is outrageous. I spend most of my money at Topside. I like having food in my room so I don't have to go out in the morning or when I am in the middle of studying," Gianna Chavannes '07 said. "I also buy things like shampoo, toothpaste and Advil, which are expensive and would cause me to quickly go over my $100 limit. I am on financial aid and cannot afford to have anything extra go on my college bill."
There is no doubt that this new restriction will reduce spending at Topside, which is exactly the point, according to DDS Director Tucker Rossiter.
"The goal is to shift spending toward the more profitable areas of Dining Services," Rossiter said. "Every dollar spent at Topside DDS makes a 35-cent profit, while at other DDS locations they receive a 65-cent profit for each dollar spent."
Student committee members, while not initially in favor of a Topside limit, said it was part of the compromise between DDS and students.
"I believe the new plan addresses many of the concerns that initiated the formation of the committee," committee member Kyle Jazwa '08 said. "In order to make the plan economically feasible, certain actions had to be taken, such as restricting Topside purchases."
The revamped DBA system will also include changes to the type of plans students may purchase. The Mini Green plan will be replaced with a plan, available only to students in off-campus housing, that carries a $600 balance. The regular plan, known as the Green Plan, will carry a $950 balance. The Extra Green Plan will have a $1200 balance, and the Discounted Green Plan will carry a $1500 balance.
There will be no extra DBA dollars or surcharges attached to any of the plans, but students selecting the Discounted Green Plan will receive a 10 percent discount on all food purchases made at DDS establishments, excluding Topside.
Freshmen will now be required to purchase the $1200 plan during their first term and may switch plans after Fall term. The plan, which does not include the extra DBA dollars incentive, is $135 more expensive than the current $1140 freshman fall plan.
The committee's main challenge was to balance student interests such as the rollover of DBA with DDS's need to meet its financial obligations, Rossiter said.
"DDS has a budgetary obligation to break even. It is not intended to make money or to lose money," Rossiter said.
These changes came after significant negotiation between DDS and student representatives and several student committee members expressed satisfaction with DDS's willingness to listen to student input.
"DDS made it very clear that they're interested in the quality of student life as much as they are in meeting their budget," student committee member Miriam Glaser '06 said.
There are also significant changes to the interim dining policies. DBA balances and rollover balances will be available for use at any DDS dining facility remaining open between terms. In addition, students who choose to visit campus on their off-terms can now use any DBA left in their accounts from previous terms.
Other changes involve the time period within which students can select a different dining plan. While current DDS policy allows changes within five business days of a term, the new plan will require students who have the Discounted Green Plan to switch dining plans before the academic term starts and discounting begins. Students wishing to upgrade to the Discounted Green Plan may do so at any time, but will not receive the discount on previously purchased food.
Rossiter said overall students have been relatively satisfied with DDS in the past, noting Dartmouth's current 11th place ranking in the Princeton Review's list of top college dining services.
"It sounds like DDS is trying to make improvements and save students and their parents money. Given the huge costs of college, every little bit helps," Kathleen Moriarty '09 said.
