Dining membership plans for students residing on campus often require a higher level of meal plan which may accommodate college student nutrition at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Board plans offer students 19, 14 or 10 meals per week. Most colleges offer a $150 flex addition which allows students the freedom to choose a non-traditional lunch choice. One meal is deducted from the total number upon entrance to an all-you-can-eat, all-inclusive buffet service.
Students living in off-campus housing have the ability to purchase the same dining plans available to residential students or a lesser meal plan. Students choose a plan upon semester enrollment and may be able to increase the meal plan option as the semester goes on, but may not decrease the plan after a one-week time period in many schools. Commuter options often allow a plan for a total number of meals per semester, called block plans, as opposed to the resident meal plans designating weekly meals.
Dining points can be a part of meal plans and allow for students to purchase snacks, drinks and limited grocery items from the on-campus dining centers. Points are deducted each time the student makes a purchase and many colleges offer points that can be redeemed at vending machines during off-peak hours. Points may be added during the semester as needed and in some universities, a percent discount applies when using dining points.
Flex plans are also known as declining balance accounts, and allow students to purchase food items or all-you-can-eat entrances into the dining hall. These meal plan options are able to be used for other people when guest meals are not a part of the resident or commuter dining plans. Flex dollars are commonly spent during non-traditional meal times for snacks and beverages and are often paired with an existing dining plan.