More catering choices on the table for College students

December 03, 2007

Students at UNE's Duval College and Drummond and Smith College will have more food options next year under a new "Flexi Choice" catering arrangement.

The traditional 21 meals per week previously included in each student's fee will be "unbundled", allowing students to choose when and where they wish to eat each day.

"Many students don't take 21 meals a week," said the Principal of Duval and Drummond and Smith Colleges, Edwina Ridgway. "Often they go home, go on prac, or have jobs or private functions to attend, but they've already paid for those meals because they've been included in their fees."

Under the new "user pays" system, students will be allocated "Smart Cards" which they can credit and then swipe for the meals they choose to take. Students will be able to track their meal usage on computer.

"We are the first Australian university college to give our students so much choice," said Mrs Ridgway. "There will be a wider range of food choices on the menu, and the newly renovated servery will be open for longer hours on a continuous basis. Meal service will remain at traditional times but students will also have a variety of offerings around the clock."

Mrs Ridgway said the new arrangement would give students the chance to spend their money in the way they think is best. "Our students will be able to eat in either of the two dining halls or at the Deli Café within the academic area of the University," she said. "The new system will also make it easy for students to have guests dine in College with them or just drop in for a coffee and cake or toasted focaccia at any time during the day."

She said that traditional favourites such as the Sunday brunch "cook-your-own" would continue, while celebratory events including Commencement, Guest Speaker, Awards and Valedictory Dinners would be covered in the students' fees. "The residents will also have a small retail/café site available, running from 7 am to 9 pm each day, which will help with those late evening hunger pangs," she added.

"As always, the dining hall facilities will remain within a 'collegiate' environment and with a strong emphasis on pastoral care and academic assistance provided to all residents," Mrs Ridgway said.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at December 3, 2007 12:18 PM