Northwestern offers a flex plan for all meal plans, which allows students more flexibility to purchase a la carte items in the main cafeteria and other locations. Flex plans give students more control over how and when they use their meal plan. The cost of each food item purchased is deducted from a student’s dining funds balance.

2011–12 Meal Plan Requirements

Dining Funds – these are the funds students use to purchase food in any of the dining locations on campus. Students receive a 20% discount at the cash register and are not subject to sales tax when paying with dining funds. Any student can add dining funds in $100 increments at any time during the semester, for an additional cost.

Dining Fee – this fee covers utility costs, facility maintenance costs, equipment purchases and repairs, and administrative costs in the dining facilities. In previous years, this amount was included in the cost of meal plans.

A Residential Student is any student living in Northwestern College residence halls.

A Commuter Student is any student living off-campus who is enrolled as a traditional undergraduate student and taking 12 or more credits, including both traditional undergraduate and distance education credits.

Exceptions to Meal Plan Requirements

• Senior commuters who have attended NWC for 8 semesters full-time prior to Fall 2011 are not required to have a meal plan for the 2011–12 school year.
• Any commuter student who is not on campus at least 2 days/week can apply for an exemption.
• Students with serious medical dietary conditions may request an exemption. These are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Questions about meal plan information? Please contact Jane Goedeke at 651-631-5107 or jegeodeke@nwc.edu.