The 2024-25 academic year brought new institutional changes like the Panther Promise, allowing qualified in-state students to earn free tuition, athletic news in the transition to D-II Conference Carolinas, and in dining services.
The college had previously been working with Aladdin Food Services to provide meals to students in the cafeteria.
This year, the college began working with Metz Dining.
Students’ college I.D. cards are used for more than just identifying who they are.
A student I.D. is used as a student’s meal card or debit card, depending on where it is used.
When a student arrives on campus, they are given an option to two different meal plans.
Meal Plan A includes 19 meals per week in the dining hall, $200 in dining dollars to be used at the dining hall and retail venues, and three guest meals per week.
Meal Plan B is considered the default meal plan. This consists of 15 meals per week in the dining hall, $200 in dining dollars to be used in the dining hall and retail venues, and three guest meals per semester.
There are three retail venues on campus where students can use their dining dollars outside of the dining hall.
The first is the Panther Pizzeria open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., and weekends from 3-9 p.m.
Board’s Head Deli is another option for a sub or salad open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., and weekends 3-9 p.m.
The final venue is the Panther Grounds, serving coffee, some pre-packaged food, bagel, danishes, and is also the campus store.
The Panther Grounds is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on weekends.
Since the transition to Metz, there has been a difference in how students can use meal swipes and when.
Previously, students were given $250 in dining dollars, but not allowed to use meal swipes at any of the venue locations outside of the dining hall.
This school year, the dining dollar number was dropped to $200, but students can now use meal swipes outside of the cafeteria at the different retail venues around campus.
The only time students can use these meal swipes is during dining hall hours.
Weekdays, the dining hall is open for breakfast from 7-10:15 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., and dinner from 4:30–8:30 p.m.
Weekends, brunch is served from 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and dinner from 4:30-6 p.m.
The question that arises is why can’t students use their meal swipes at any time throughout the week at venues outside the dining hall?
The other question is why can students be given 1 swipe per dining period, and not have the freedom to use their meal swipes as they wish?
Levi Briggs said there has been discussion about possibly adjusting how meal swipes can be used in the future.
We believe allowing flexibility of meal swipes can benefit the students.
Depending on a students schedule, if they have a conflict during dining hall hours, they would have to use dining dollars at a retail venue to eat.
It would make sense in the future for students to be able to use meal swipes at their convenience outside of the dining hall.
