51爆料

Meal Plan Updates for Fall 2026

We heard your voice and made adjustments to bring back The Blue Plan. Thank you for the opportunity to address your concerns. If you've already selected a plan, you can go back into your housing application to make updates to your selection. Updated as of Tues., Jan. 20, 2026.


You Asked! We Listened! 

After talking with students and families and hearing feedback about how you dine on campus, we are excited to share more flexible, carefully curated meal plans and options starting in Fall 2026! 

With increased Declining Balance and value-priced retail options, students can stretch their dining dollars further while staying connected to campus dining.

A chef in sautees noodles and scoops them.

What We Heard

Students told us they wanted a meal plan that worked better for their daily routines and dining habits.

  • Declining Balance was running out earlier than expected
  • Students added additional declining balance to their meal plans throughout the semester
  • Fixed meal swipes and limited meal exchanges felt restrictive
  • Students wanted more control over when, where, and what they could eat

What Changed

Based on that feedback, 51爆料 updated its meal plan structure and features to better support how students actually dine.

  • The 1910 Meal Plan was added to give students more opportunities to dine throughout campus.
  • The Kent and 200 plans were phased out after steady declines in usage over the past few years - the 200, 100, and 50 plans had the highest increases over the past few years, and informed us to create the 1910 plan. 
  • The new plan shifts away from rigid meal exchanges and toward flexible, spend-anywhere dining
  • More late-night dining options beginning Fall 2026. Grill 72 at the Rathskeller is planned to be open until 11 p.m. with additions to late-night only menu options on Meal Exchange. Eastway Market is planning to be open until midnight and is the only destination for a create-your-own sandwich.

  • The Gold Plan

    • Unlimited meal swipes to use at Eastway or DI Dining
    • $500 Declining Balance
    • 15 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange
    • $100 Downtown Dining Dollars

     

    Great for students who: eat three or more meals a day, plan to be on campus the majority of the time, like to snack throughout the day, want to explore different options on and off campus

    The Gold Plan

    • Unlimited meal swipes to use at Eastway or DI Dining
    • $500 Declining Balance
    • 15 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange
    • $100 Downtown Dining Dollars

     

    Great for students who: eat three or more meals a day, plan to be on campus the majority of the time, like to snack throughout the day, want to explore different options on and off campus

    The Gold Plan

    • Unlimited meal swipes to use at Eastway or DI Dining
    • $500 Declining Balance
    • 15 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange
    • $100 Downtown Dining Dollars

     

    Great for students who: eat three or more meals a day, plan to be on campus the majority of the time, like to snack throughout the day, want to explore different options on and off campus

  • The Blue Plan

    • Unlimited meal swipes to use at Eastway and DI Dining
    • $100 Declining Balance
    • 10 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange

     

    Great for students who: Good for students who: Eat 1-2 meals a day, plan to go home often on the weekends, occasionally snack through the day

    The Blue Plan

    • Unlimited meal swipes to use at Eastway and DI Dining
    • $100 Declining Balance
    • 10 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange

     

    Great for students who: Good for students who: Eat 1-2 meals a day, plan to go home often on the weekends, occasionally snack through the day

    The Blue Plan

    • Unlimited meal swipes to use at Eastway and DI Dining
    • $100 Declining Balance
    • 10 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange

     

    Great for students who: Good for students who: Eat 1-2 meals a day, plan to go home often on the weekends, occasionally snack through the day

  • 1910 Plan

    • 175 Meal Swipes
    • $400 Declining Balance
    • 10 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange


    Great for students who: want to explore a variety of cuisines and dining styles across campus, need to stretch their meal plan dollars, and enjoy more freedom, choice and overall value. 

    1910 Plan

    • 175 Meal Swipes
    • $400 Declining Balance
    • 10 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange


    Great for students who: want to explore a variety of cuisines and dining styles across campus, need to stretch their meal plan dollars, and enjoy more freedom, choice and overall value. 

    1910 Plan

    • 175 Meal Swipes
    • $400 Declining Balance
    • 10 Guest Meals
    • Meal Exchange


    Great for students who: want to explore a variety of cuisines and dining styles across campus, need to stretch their meal plan dollars, and enjoy more freedom, choice and overall value. 

Why the 1910 Meal Plan Works

The 1910 Meal Plan puts flexibility first while keeping campus dining accessible and affordable.

  • Dine at any campus dining location with no restrictions
  • Explore a wide variety of cuisines and dining styles across campus
  • Choose meals that fit your schedule, preferences, and budget
  • More Declining Balance allows students to choose meals that fit their preferences and schedules.
  • Value-priced retail options help students stretch their meal plan dollars further.
  • Students gain more freedom, choice, and overall value from their meal plan.

Still Have Questions?

Check out the FAQs below for more information. You can also contact University Culinary Services at 330-672-2541 or culinary@kent.edu.

How does the 1910 Meal Plan compare to traditional meal plans?

Traditional plans often limit students to:

  • Fixed meals

  • Specific locations

  • Set dining times

The 1910 Meal Plan removes those limits, giving students more flexibility and autonomy over their dining experience. 

 

This isn鈥檛 even two meals a day, how will I get enough to eat?

The 1910 Plan allows students more freedom to dine across campus without the limitations of meal swipes and meal exchange. The increase in declining balance ($400/semester) gives students the option of dining hall or retail dining for their meals. The 1910 Plan is comparable to the Blue Plan in terms of meals per day, offering 2-3 meals with the inclusion of grab & go items throughout the day. 

Will the DB roll over like from the previous years?

Yes. Unused declining balance at the end of each semester will rollover as long as a student is registered at 51爆料. 

What will happen if students were on the Kent Plan will they get 鈥済randfathered鈥 in?

The Kent plan will sunset at the conclusion of the Spring 2026 semester. The Blue and Gold plans will remain the same, while the new 1910 plan will be added to provide additional campus dining options. 

Will this eliminate long lines everywhere?

With more flexibility for dining across campus with the 1910 Plan, this may help alleviate the congestion students often feel during peak times at predominantly meal swipe or meal exchange locations. 

How does meal exchange work?

You can redeem up to 16 of your meal swipes per week at participating retail locations. There are no restrictions on when or how quickly you can use them. If your meal plan has a set total of meal swipes, only the amount of Meal Exchange-eligible swipes you use each week counts towards your total.  

PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS:

Meal Exchange menus are available on kiosks at the following locations: Metropolitan Deli at Eastway, Rosie鈥檚 Diner & Market, Hippie Chick鈥檔, Homeslice, Grill 鈥72, and Recharge. Meal Exchange menu at the George T. Simon III Caf茅 can be found at the location. 

Do my Meal Exchange swipes roll over? Meal Exchange swipes do not roll over week to week. Every Sunday, your balance will be reset to 16 swipes.

Can I use more than one meal exchange swipe in a single transaction? No. Meal Exchange swipes are limited to one swipe per transaction. This helps ensure consistent access for all students and allows locations to manage the Meal Exchange offerings fairly and efficiently.

Can Meal Exchange swipes be shared or used for someone else? No. The perk of Meal Exchange is for individual use only and cannot be shared or used for another person. This helps ensure fairness and consistent access for all meal plan holders. 

What do I get with Meal Exchange? Meal Exchange offers an entr茅e, a side, and a drink per swipe.

Are Meal Exchange menu items the same every day, or do they change? Meal Exchange menu items vary by location and can change over time. This allows dining locations to offer variety, take advantage of featured items, and respond to student preferences.

Why are some locations excluded from Meal Exchange? Not all locations can participate due to operational, pricing, or menu constraints. Participating locations are selected to ensure Meal Exchange remains a sustainable and valuable benefit while offering students a consistent experience across campus.

Why can鈥檛 I get anything I want on the menu with a meal exchange swipe? Meal Exchange offerings are thoughtfully designed to help keep meal plans affordable for everyone. If every menu item were included, overall meal plan costs would need to increase. You can think of Meal Exchange like a combo meal; it鈥檚 bundled to give you a satisfying option while keeping things simple and cost-effective.

What if I want something that isn鈥檛 part of the Meal Exchange menu? No problem! You鈥檙e welcome to use your declining balance or a credit card for any items outside of the Meal Exchange offerings. 

Eat where you want. When you want. With the flexibility you need.

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