HDAG releases new dining plan fact sheets
Documents explain pricing plans, breakfast, dining hours, and student involvement
The House Dining Advisory Group (HDAG) has released new fact sheets this past week explaining the pricing, hours, and choices of the new dining plan, which is planned to begin next academic year 2010-2011. HDAG also released a fact sheet on “student engagement and transparency” and the logistics of the Request for Proposal process.
Christina R. Johnson ’11, Simmons president, HDAG member and DormCom president, said, “We had posted the 112 page proposal before, so we wanted to send out a shorter one. We could have done better in publicizing the plan.”
According to the new plan, starting next year, students in Baker, McCormick, Next, Simmons and Maseeh Hall will be required to purchase the new dining plan, which will offer all-you-care-to-eat breakfast and dinner 7 days a week.
Ellen B. McIsaac ’12, Next House president, HDAG and RFP member said, “We stopped communication with students when we released the plan in May. After the plan was released, we no longer solicited feedback. It’s something we should have picked up in September, but we’re planning on doing it now.”
On weekdays, Baker, McCormick, Next and Simmons will offer a “continental-plus” breakfast. Maseeh Hall will offer full breakfast options including a hot buffet, waffle station, fruit, cold cereal, yogurt, bakery items, and beverages.
According to Tom Gearty, director of communications for the Division of Student Life, Maseeh Hall will be the only dining hall to offer lunch on weekdays, ensuring “near continuous dining service throughout the day.” Gearty noted that the “specifics of Maseeh’s dining hall are still being discussed.”
On the weekends all five dorms will offer brunch, with options including an omelet bar, made-to-order pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches.
All halls will offer a packaged “to-go” option for breakfast.
According to the “Service Periods and Hours of Operation” fact sheet released by HDAG, all halls will be open two hours for breakfast and three hours for dinner, but each house may set its own hours. Students participating in the dining plan may choose to eat at any dining hall.
According to Gearty, The Request for Proposal Committee is currently in the process of finalizing the RFP document that will be sent out to prospective contractors. This document discusses “staffing, service hours, service standards, food quality, and other parameters a bidding vendor will need to understand,” according to the “Next Steps” fact sheet.
| Total Yearly Cost | Meals/week | Eligibility | Meals/semester | Average Cost/meal |
| $3,800 | 14 | All | 210 | $9.05 |
| $3,400 | 12 | Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors | 180 | $9.44 |
| $2,900 | 10 | Juniors, Seniors | 150 | $9.67 |
For more information about the newly released HDAG fact sheets, visit http://studentlife.mit.edu/dining-information-central