Moving into the 2025-26 academic year, Bucknell Dining has updated their dining plan offerings. The goal of the change is to decrease food insecurity, “increase access and enhance flexibility for students,” as outlined by Dana Mims, Assistant Vice President of Business Services for Bucknell.
Generally, the plans’ major differences from the current in their more disseminated inclusion of plus dollars, a currency similar to campus dollars that can be used at local vendors as well as all on-campus food locations, and increased swipes for use at Bostwick Social House (a dining hall colloquially known as “the Caf”).
The changes made to available dining plans were crafted in response to student feedback, as well as “research and evolving campus needs” that indicated a need for this “increase[d] flexibility, value and choice.” As part of Bucknell’s process of selecting a new dining partner last year, surveys concerning meal plan usage and associated key reports were conducted, and “students’ participat[ion] in listening sessions and targeted surveys focused specifically on meal plans” brought the “Meal Plan Advisory Committee [to] identify those three core priorities for improvement,” says Mims.
“While the new meal plan changes mark an initial step, the Committee acknowledges the need for ongoing efforts,” Mims recognizes. “In the coming year, we’ll focus on developing a comprehensive University food philosophy to serve as a foundation for future enhancements to dining programs, facilities and services.”
Student feedback so far, Mims says, has been “very positive,” with particular highlighting of the “two additional meal swipes” for one of the new plans that bumps weekly Caf access from 10 to 12 swipes, as well as the “flexibility of having plus dollars” that can be applied outside of Bucknell’s campus. An information session will be held at noon in the ELC Forum on Monday, May 5, which students are welcome to attend to hear more about the Committee’s decision-making process for these new plans, as well as a rundown of the specific changes. There will be an opportunity for Q&A.
Key changes to the plans include two “anytime access” plans, with plus dollar inclusion options. Sophomores, juniors and seniors living on campus who do not self-select a different plan will be automatically assigned the Bison Flex 12 option, which has 12 swipes a week at the Caf and 150 dining dollars; plans can be changed through August 21.
Five of the nine dining plan options now include plus dollars. These plans are distinguished by a “plus” moniker, which differentiates them from their un-suffixed counterparts, with the exception of the Bison Blue unlimited option, which also includes plus dollars. Every plan includes a minimum of 150 dining dollars.
The minimum plan cost has increased from this academic year’s $775, which are exclusively dining dollars, to $1,100, which will include 900 dining dollars and 200 plus dollars.
Like dining dollars, plus dollars are not refundable or transferable, and any remaining balance in a student’s account will expire at the end of a given academic year. Campus dollars, which are not automatically included in any dining plan, remain refundable and carry over between both semesters and academic years.
Every student living on campus is required to purchase a meal plan or University dining option each semester.
For more information on these dining plans, contact Business Services at busserv@bucknell.edu.
