Meal plan prices will not increase next school year

All meal plan prices will remain unchanged for the 1995-96 school year, Dining Services Director William Canney said yesterday. This represents the first time there has ever been a zero percent increase in Dining Services' prices, he added. In addition, Dining Services will offer an "early sign-up discount" for students who sign meal contracts between April 1 and May 12. Meal plans will be discounted by two to 2.5 percent during this time period. Currently, a 15 meal a week plan costs $2,624, while a 10 meal a week plan is priced at $2,456. Five dinners a week cost students $1,610, while five lunches per week cost $1,046. "We've been working very hard to see how we can contain costs," Canney said, adding that all prices are contingent on Board of Trustees approval. Executive Director of Hospitality Services Don Jacobs cited several reason for the unchanged prices. This year, the direction of Dining Services has been transferred from the Department of Human Resources to the Department of Business Services. Because of this change, Dining Services has run a "tighter office operation," Jacobs said. As an example, Jacobs said Dining Services fired two of its three secretaries and is now using its staff more efficiently. Jacobs also attributed changes in Dining Services' budget to purchasing costs. And he said the success of Chats has also helped Dining Services because creating Chats was a risk that could have lost money. "We weren't really sure if Chats was going to work out," Jacobs added. "We're amazed at how well it's doing and we are going to be able to recover the entire investment we made into Chats." Canney said he is presently looking to relocate his offices from 3401 Walnut Street to a "less costly space."