What are my options for meal plans?
There are several meal plans available to students living on-campus. All meal plans include punch and Dining Dollar combinations for use around campus. All freshmen are signed up for the Resident 14+ meal plan but you can change your plan to better suit your needs. Click the Meal Plans link to read more about the 3 Resident Plans.
What is a punch?
A punch can be used in several ways. The first is to gain entrance into an "all-you-care-to-eat" location. A punch can also be used at certain locations for a meal that is labeled a "Duke Deal" or as $4 towards a purchase. You also can use it three times each semester for $8.50 equivalence at Madison Grill.
What happens if I go over a punch?
That's okay! Each meal plan also includes something called Dining Dollars. Using Dining Dollars is like using a debit card to pay for any food that costs more than a punch. Let’s say you are buying a meal that costs $4.75. Since a punch is worth $4.00, you can use your Dining Dollars to pay the remaining $0.75. Just tell the cashier you’d like to use a punch and Dining Dollars.
Dining Dollars can also be used to purchase food from the many vending machines around campus, C-Stores and concessions.
Is there a refund if I don't use all my punches?
No. Meal plans are set up with the understanding that you will most likely miss a meal at some time or another. This "missed meal factor" is evaluated each year when pricing is determined. Simply put, the more meals you use the lower your cost per meal but even if you miss a meal every now and then you are still getting a good deal. Anyone who finds they are regularly missing meals may want to consider a weekly plan which allows more flexibility.
What if I run out of Dining Dollars?
Don't worry…you can start a Dining Dollars GOLD account. Dining Dollars GOLD can be used in the same way as Dining Dollars. It is beneficial to use Dining Dollars over cash because you save 11% on taxes. In addition, you get a 5% discount on top of that!
** Dining Dollars DO carry over from Fall to Spring semester, but DO NOT carry over from one school year to another. There are lots of great ways to use Dining Dollars so don’t save them for the last minute. Dining Dollars GOLD WILL carry over from year to year. **
Why aren't students allowed to double punch on weekends?
Double punching has been a part of JMU Dining Services for many years. It is unique to JMU, and was instituted to offer students the opportunity to use a meal that they would have missed due to a class conflict.
How does no double punches benefit ARAMARK? The students? JMU Dining Services.
Double punching was a part of the meal plan many years before ARAMARK. There is no real advantage to ARAMARK by not permitting double punches on the weekend. Meal plan pricing is based on the average number of meals that are consumed. By not permitting double punching on the weekend, the cost of the student's meal plan is reduced. If double punching was allowed on the weekends the number of meals that were consumed would increase, resulting in a higher meal plan cost to the student.
What happens with the extra money not used for double punches?
As stated earlier meal plans are priced on the average number of meals that are consumed, so in reality there is no additional money for not allowing double punches. If double punching was allowed on weekends the average number of meals consumed would increase resulting in a higher meal plan cost to the student. JMU's food services operation is a self-funding entity that receives no money from the state. The amount of profit allowed to ARAMARK is limited by the University's contract agreement with ARAMARK.
Would the price of meal plans increase if double punching was allowed?
The price of the meal plans would increase because the average number of meals per week consumed would increase. Meal plan prices are discounted based on the average number of meals consumed.
Why aren't there more choices available for a punch?
When you do the math you may be surprised at just how many options you have for a punch. But keep in mind, one reason the meal plans are set up to include dining dollars is to cover any extra charges over the equivalence or Duke Deals. You pay for these dining dollars, don't be afraid to use them!
Why can't we use our punches everywhere?
The smaller locations are not set up to accommodate the amount of customers they would get from accepting punches. Another reason the meal plans are set up to include dining dollars is to give you an option to use at the locations that do not accept punches.
Why can Dining Dollars GOLD only be used to buy food and beverages?
By being exclusively for food and beverages, Dining Dollars GOLD meets the government's criteria for meal plans, therefore those purchases are tax exempt.
Why is tax so high when I use FLEX, cash or credit card?
All meals are subject to the 5% state sales tax and a 6% local meals tax. Dining Services has no control over these taxes.
Why can't I choose a commuter meal plan if I live on campus?
Since cooking equipment is not allowed in the residence hall rooms, dining services is committed to providing meals for the time students are on campus. Residential meal plans are set up to provide all of the meals a student may need living on campus, with three choices to cover different lifestyles. Commuter plans are set up with the understanding that these students may spend less time on campus and therefore require fewer meals. The range of plans offered are representative of the varying needs of commuter students.