Editorial: Where Does Your Meal Plan Money Go? The Push for Student Protections
By Eleanor Anderson
As each semester comes to a close, students at St. Kate’s (and schools throughout Minnesota) usually face one of two realities. Having spent down their whole meal plan, some are forced to scrounge through finals and rely on friends to foot their dining hall bill. Most students, however, frantically buy as many non-perishable items from the Marketplace as possible to spend down their balance before it’s wasted.
The irony of this situation is not lost on many of us: we are required to have a meal plan, and yet we are at the total will of the institution for where that money can be used and within what timeframe. Each year, the University of Minnesota makes somewhere to the tune of $15 million off of students' unused meal points (or Gopher Bucks as they call it), according to congressional testimony from the North Star Prosperity project. Recently, Minnesota legislators have decided to change this.
Following the lead of previous initiatives from the US Department of Education, bipartisan support in Minnesota has backed the Minnesota Student Protection Act: Ensuring Fair and Transparent Higher Education Practices. Included in this bill is a requirement that colleges and universities in Minnesota return the money that goes unused on student meal plans at the end of each academic term rather than pocketing the money. Other requirements include transparency in textbook fees and elimination of junk fees on required course materials, as well as stronger regulation for fees, minimums and premiums on college-accessible credit cards. Considering that the cost of higher education continues increasing, it seems only fair that the institutions are required to cut students a break when possible.
Michael Hara, Senior Director of Purchasing, Contracts and University Services here at St Kate’s, shared more information about the meal plans through Sodexo. He explained that “only a small percentage of meal plan points go unused [at St Kate’s] at the end of each semester,” suggesting a contrast to the U of M’s situation. He also suggested that the resources available through KatieLink - such as the budgeting plan, balance tracker, and Food Insecurity Program - are intended to help students make the most of their meal plans on campus. He assured me that while the system in place is designed to meet the needs of students, the University will follow the upcoming law if the requirements change.
While this bill has a ways to go before being passed into law, now is the time to convince Minnesota lawmakers that these student protections are worthwhile. If you have a story relevant to lost money from unused meal plans, being taken advantage of through unfair banking practices because of your student status, or even deceitful textbook costs, consider sharing it with your legislators. Contact Eleanor Anderson at eganderson600@stkate.edu to learn more about cultivating your testimony and taking action during this Congressional session.
For some, expiring meal plans aren’t a substantial problem. After all, filling the last few weeks of the semester with additional stops at the Dew Drop Starbucks or stocking up on Redbull, Celsius and Bubbl’r isn’t all that bad. For some, however, that money could make a huge difference. That extra hundred dollars could mean more groceries, gas and childcare. That’s why we deserve the choice of where our money goes. The Minnesota Student Protection Act could open doors and alleviate some financial burden for those who need it most, and now is the time to make it happen. Consider sharing your story today.
