U students can expect to leave the Union cafeteria a little more filled this semester.
Due to a combination of complaints and survey results, Chartwells has raised the allowance of money students can spend on transfer meals to purchase food in the Union.
Students will now be able to spend $5.50 on transfer meals instead of $5.25. Students with meal plans can use their transfer meals to purchase food in the Union.
Both the food in the Union food court and the Heritage Center dining room will remain the same price. By contract, Chartwells is only allowed to change food prices once every school year, usually near the beginning.
Mike Paulus, Chartwells district manager, said he has received many complaints from students about the former transfer meal price.
“Students felt that $5.25 was not enough,” he said. “So we looked more closely and realized that we had not adjusted (the price) for the inflation as of January 1st.”
The survey, which was taken by 193 students, showed that 97 percent are currently on a meal plan. Compiled by Compass Group Loyalty, the survey also showed that 26 percent of people who eat–both in the Heritage Center and the Union cafeteria–spend $5.01 and $6.
“I hated paying the difference when I go over my transfer meals,” said Kate Mecham, sophomore in political science.
The Heritage Center is also in the process of remodeling the C-Store, a mini-grocery store in the building, after student complaints, Paulus said.
The $200,000 project, which started Dec. 16, will add a smoothie program and espresso/cappuccino machine, a deli and a grill to the small facility.
“The C-Store was getting a little outdated and it was time to do something,” Paulus said. “We’re also revamping the store to give students more variety on the weekends.”
The Heritage Center’s dining room opens only eight hours a day on Saturday and Sunday–four-and-a-half hours less than weekdays, forcing students to buy meals in the C-Store.
The C-Store will be expanding its hours from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. everyday–several hours more than its usual operation times. It will open Feb. 6.
Editors note: This is the final story of the three part series on Chartwells