Hunter
04/14/25
The University of Iowa is revamping their meal plan system.
The Daily Iowan reports the U of I has been using a flex-swipe system that allows students to use their cards at university markets, cafes, and food trucks to pick up a meal combo. Both the gold and black meal plans allow for 75 such swipes per academic period.
Effective this fall, the flex-swipe system will be jettisoned in favor of a “dining dollars” program.
Donald Stanwick, director of Dining Services, said the change is being effected due to student surveys showing preference for using their meal plans everywhere. That will include dining halls, and future unnamed national franchises that will be arriving on campus in the future.
Two plans will be available this fall; the unlimited plan with unlimited meal swipe and an additional $150 dining dollars; and a Block 160 meal plan, with 160 meal swipes and $450 dining dollars.
Stanwick says they hope to be able to announce at least one national franchise before the end of the current school year, and added that he encourages students to provide feedback on the new plans once they’re implemented.