At Augustana College, similar to many other college institutions, residence hall meal plans are mandatory for First-Years, sophomores and students residing in first-year dorms.

While this policy is intended to ease the transition into college life, there are students in First-Year dorms who do not benefit and should not have to abide by this requirement. 

This year marks the first year all students living in first-and-second-year residence halls are required to have a meal plan, regardless of why they are in these halls or their class year, as outlined to Community Advisors (CAs) last spring. 

As students advance beyond their first year, the rationale for a mandatory meal plan becomes less compelling. 

Upperclassmen, including CAs and others living in First-Year dorms, should have the option to forgo a meal plan. 

The primary argument for requiring meal plans for all students in First-Year residence halls rests on convenience and dietary considerations. 

For First-Year students, this policy provides a structured and predictable dining option that can significantly ease the adjustment to college life. 

However, as students progress through their college careers, their needs and circumstances change. 

Upperclassmen are generally more used to the college environment and are thus more adept at managing their time and finances. 

They also may have access to cooking facilities, such as the kitchen in Westerlin, a First-Year hall, or Erickson, a hall mainly intended for second-years, and have a greater ability to accommodate their dietary preferences and needs. 

Requiring upperclassmen to maintain a meal plan is unnecessary, restrictive and may cause financial concerns. 

If implemented, the flexibility to opt out of a meal plan for upperclassmen offers several advantages. 

Firstly, it allows students to have greater control over their own dining choices. 

Many students, particularly those who live in halls with cooking facilities, prefer to purchase and cook their meals. 

By removing the mandatory meal plan requirement, Augustana College could better support student’s diverse needs.

Moreover, being able to opt out of a meal plan can lead to significant financial savings for students. 

Meal plans come with a hefty price tag, an unjustifiable expense for upperclassmen capable of managing their meals. 

Letting students choose whether to purchase a meal plan would allow them to allocate their finances more effectively.

However, it is important to address the logistical and financial challenges for dining services if the option for students to “opt out” were implemented. 

Augustana’s dining services rely on a certain level of guaranteed revenue, and it may be difficult for staff to accommodate only a small number of students living in these halls instead of broadly applying a meal plan to all. 

Implementing a system where students can opt-out would still leave dining services with a sensible budget, as there are very few upperclassmen students residing in first-year or second-year residence halls. 

Similarly, encouraging more flexible meal plan options could address potential revenue shortfalls without compromising the quality of dining services. 

While mandatory meal plans serve a valuable purpose for first-year students, extending this requirement to upperclassmen seems less justified. 

Giving upperclassmen the option to forgo a meal plan would acknowledge their increased independence, respect their ability to manage their dining needs and offer financial relief for students.