Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

San Diego State may offer a number of quick and accessible places to grab a bite on campus but some students are concerned that their meal plan isn’t user-friendly.

A freshman student who lives at University Towers said the meal plan has restrictive hours and doesn’t refund unused money. The student asked to remain anonymous.

For example, the 10 Plan Plus allows for two meals a day, Monday through Friday, and had a $7.80 daily allowance for use between 6 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

“All the plans say that the unused money is non-refundable. It’s not really fair the school gets that money because it’s ours not theirs,” said the student. “What if I’m sick or something? Then I miss a meal. We already give them enough money here.”

A staff member at Student Activities and Student Life, who asked not to be named, said the campus should be more accommodating with meal plans.

“We as a university should be doing things in a user-friendly way,” she said.

The staff member and the student want to know where the unused money goes and why it isn’t refunded or given back to them in some way.

Paul Melchior, director of dining services noted that Aztec Shops is a non-profit company. He said that the unused funds help keep the various dining locations running.

“The meal plans are more flexible than ever,” Melchior said. He also said that the meal plans are designed using parent feedback.

R.D. Williams, director of communication and campus relations, said flexibility is costly.

“It’s like tuition,” Williams said. “If you miss a day of class, you don’t get that day’s tuition money back.”

He said that if students are sick or unable to get their own food, they can make accommodations for someone else to pick up their meal.

This year, dining services is offering six meal plans from which students can choose. The newest is the Flex 7 Plan, which allows for students to have a balance of food during the week and on weekends.

Nick Smith, a psychology freshman, said that he has the Flex 7 Plan, and he usually loses about $1 to $2 a day.

“It is all right, but I kind of starve on the weekends. It is $10 on Saturday and Sunday and a meal costs like $7.”

Williams said that SDSU has one of the most diverse meal plans and food options in the nation.

Associate director of dining services Debbie Burchianti said that students have the option to change meal plans three times a year and a few take that option.

“Out of the about 4,000 students that are on meal plans,” Burchianti said, “10 percent choose to change plans.”

Burchianti said that they would like to see students maximize their meal plans.

“That is why we provide different meal plans because if one doesn’t work for you, there are others to accommodate your schedule,” Burchianti said. “If anyone is having problems we will give them advice to suggestions.”

Because some students may find it difficult to manage their daily allowances, Melchior said cashiers at dining locations and resident advisers in the residence halls are all trained to help students make decisions on how to spend their money best.

Visit www.eatatsdsu.com for more information on dining services and meal plans.