2008 Woodie Awards
Hungry? Why wait?
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 8/17/07 Section: News
As its name suggests, the format of the University Restaurant is much like a restaurant. At University Restaurant, tables are serviced by the MUC wait staff, a menu and an all-you-can-eat buffet. While some frequent customers of the University Restaurant choose to leave a tip, it is not required.
"If they want to tip, that's fine," McDermott said.
The 60 percent discount applies for meal plans at the University Restaurant, like most all of the dining venues on campus. However, there is one location where the discount is not valid: Union Station in the MUC.
The draw of Union Station may be strong to many students - energy drinks, candy bars and other snack items are readily available. But, this can come at a price, as it is not discounted on the 60/40 meal plan. This means that whatever the sticker says on the food item, the customer is actually paying 60 percent more when using the 60/40 food plan. This can easily drain a meal plan, but an easy solution is to pay with cash or charge card instead.
If a student happens to get dangerously low on money on his or her meal plan, they can visit University Housing in Rendleman Hall, and add to the plan in $100 increments.
Making the most out of the SIUE meal plan can also be as simple as using it in the first place. Students who live in Prairie, Bluff or Woodland Halls are required to pick up a meal plan, but meal plan coverage does not end with residence halls. Meal plans available to students living in residence halls are also available to students living in Cougar Village and Evergreen Hall.
The advantage of getting the meal plan when living in Cougar Village or Evergreen comes down to dollars and cents; every meal plan purchase is tax-free.
In Edwardsville, where sales tax is 6.6 percent, one year on the $1,290 a semester meal plan will save a student $170. On the $1,780 a semester plan, the savings jump to $235.
Over four years, that's up to $940 saved.
"I think it's important to realize that it's tax free," McDermott. "Don't miss out on getting the tax exemption."
"If they want to tip, that's fine," McDermott said.
The 60 percent discount applies for meal plans at the University Restaurant, like most all of the dining venues on campus. However, there is one location where the discount is not valid: Union Station in the MUC.
The draw of Union Station may be strong to many students - energy drinks, candy bars and other snack items are readily available. But, this can come at a price, as it is not discounted on the 60/40 meal plan. This means that whatever the sticker says on the food item, the customer is actually paying 60 percent more when using the 60/40 food plan. This can easily drain a meal plan, but an easy solution is to pay with cash or charge card instead.
If a student happens to get dangerously low on money on his or her meal plan, they can visit University Housing in Rendleman Hall, and add to the plan in $100 increments.
Making the most out of the SIUE meal plan can also be as simple as using it in the first place. Students who live in Prairie, Bluff or Woodland Halls are required to pick up a meal plan, but meal plan coverage does not end with residence halls. Meal plans available to students living in residence halls are also available to students living in Cougar Village and Evergreen Hall.
The advantage of getting the meal plan when living in Cougar Village or Evergreen comes down to dollars and cents; every meal plan purchase is tax-free.
In Edwardsville, where sales tax is 6.6 percent, one year on the $1,290 a semester meal plan will save a student $170. On the $1,780 a semester plan, the savings jump to $235.
Over four years, that's up to $940 saved.
"I think it's important to realize that it's tax free," McDermott. "Don't miss out on getting the tax exemption."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Elise
posted 8/20/07 @ 3:26 AM CST
It would be a great idea to expand the meal plan benefit to off campus residents (commuters) as other universities have done...we would like to take advantage of the tax exemptions and convenience of a meal plan as well. (Continued…)
BenC
No B.S. Student
posted 8/21/07 @ 12:27 AM CST
Meal plans are a rip off.
$1,290 a semester? That's $287 per MONTH (assume semester = 4.5 months). Unless you're very overweight, I don't see how any one can consume that much food, assuming that it doesn't include alcohol consumption. (Continued…)
Post a Comment