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How to decide on the best meal plan for your appetite

By Contributing Writer Nicole O’Connell

Wherever your classes are located on campus, you probably run into one of the many dining locations at one point or another throughout the day. UMass Dartmouth’s Dining Services boasts The Marketplace, 2. Mato, Mondo Subs, Wendy’s, Plate by Plate, Corsair Café, Library Café, Birch Grill, Law School Café, and the Academic Carts located in LARTS, SENG, and CVPA. 

With all these options, you may just visit the most convenient and possibly pay with cash. However, you may have also considered a meal plan. 

Dining Services offers a variety of meal plans whether you are a resident or commuter student, and whether you plan to eat on campus a lot or only a little. 

If you are a freshman living on campus, you know it is mandatory to get the Platinum Membership: 

  • Unlimited Meal Swipes at the Marketplace 
  • $175 Corsair Cash per semester  
  • 5 Guest Swipes per semester 

For those of you who are not aware, Corsair Cash is accepted on all dining locations around campus. It is also tax exempt, allowing you to save money. Take note that Corsair Cash left over from the fall semester will transfer over into the spring semester, but Corsair Cash remaining in the spring semester will not transfer to the fall semester. 

Other students, both residents and commuters have the options of: 

Gold: 

  • 180 meal swipes at The Marketplace, 2.Mato, Mondo Subs, Academic Carts, or Birch Grill 
  • Options of $225, $275, and $325 Corsair Cash per semester 
  • 5 Guest Swipes per semester 

Silver: 

  • 150 meal swipes at The Marketplace, 2.Mato, Mondo Subs, Academic Carts, or Birch Grill 
  • Options of $400, $450, and $500 Corsair Cash per semester 
  • 5 Guest Swipes per semester 

Bronze: 

  • 75 Meal Swipes at The Marketplace, 2.Mato, Mondo Subs, Academic Carts, or Birch Grill 
  • Options of $400, $450, and $500 Corsair Cash per semester 

It should be noted that if you are a resident living in Oak Glen or Pine Dale, you must be on either the Platinum, Gold, or Silver membership. 

While a meal plan is convenient for resident students, it is also convenient for commuters; instead of driving off campus to find a bite to eat, you could stay on campus and easily make your way to the one of the on-campus dining locations without having to move your car. 

Still, some commuters may not wish to have their meals on campus. If you are a commuter who does not think you will spend too much time dining on campus to purchase one of the above memberships, but may still wish to indulge in a coffee or snack every now and then, there are commuter plans just for you: 

Commuter 1: 

  • 7 Meal Swipes 
  • $80 Corsair Cash 

Commuter 2: 

  • 10 Meal Swipes 
  • $125 Corsair Cash 

Commuter 3: 

  • 15 Meal Swipes 
  • $150 Corsair Cash 

Kirby Roberts, Director of Marketing for Dining Services at UMass Dartmouth, says that dining on campus is a great way to enrich oneself in the campus community. Sitting down with a classmate for lunch is an easy way to make a new friend. 

While it is too late for students to change their meal plan for the fall semester, it is not too late to sign up for one.  

If you are unsure about which meal plan is right for you, the UMass Dartmouth Dining Services website has a survey which can help you determine which meal plan is right for you. You may also contact Dining Services for further assistance. 

 

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