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The shift to Huskie Bucks also allows students to bill Huskie Bucks to their financial aid through the Bursar’s office.
“It makes students’ OneCards more powerful, and parents know it can only be used for food or school-related activities,” Coakley said.
New students would pick a dining option at their orientation because contracts have already been sent out, Coakley said. The next edition of the newsletter Huskie Living will detail the plan for current students, who then will sign up for a plan when signing new housing contracts at the end of March.
The next step
The proposal will pass through a multitude of hands before appearing before the trustees. Interim Provost Lynne Waldeland, President John Peters, select Student Association leadership and the board’s Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee all will look over the plan before its presentation.
Until that time, though, both RHA leaders and Coakley anticipate having to explain the plan to students wary of the changes.
“I think it’s a really good plan because it’s what people want,” Underwood said. “This meal plan will be another transitional period, but it should be the best for students. Once you live on it for one or two weeks, then people really will catch on and like it.”
Then, it is hoped, major changes to the dining system can wait a few years. But that doesn’t mean everything will stay the same.
“There’s always room for change, and that’s what we’re always working on,” Brown said.