2008 Woodie Awards
Dining In Style At Downs Hall
Downs Hall dining provides quality service and delicious food!
By Donyel L. Griffin
Issue date: 1/22/07 Section: Campus News
In the Fall of 2005, something happened to Kean University that transformed the eating habits of many students on campus - a buffet style dining hall in opened Downs Hall. Before, the dining hall was built; students could go to the Cafeteria, the Cougar's Den or the Starbucks Coffeehouse in the University Center. Students still go to these locations, but now they have another option. Freshmen and sophomores that live on campus should be familiar with Downs Hall because they are required to have a meal plan that allows them a certain amount of meals per week. Downs Hall is provided to students by Gourmet Dining and Kean University and it serves everything from sandwiches, salads, quesadillas, cheeseburgers, ice cream, pasta salad and much more! Downs Hall also has daily specials which serve a different entrée each day.
The way the meal plan works for freshmen is that they can choose from four options, depending on what best fits their lifestyle. For example, the K-16 option is $1,350 per semester and the student gets 16 meals per week in Downs hall, 175 Cougar Dollars, and 2 guest meals per month ; or there is the K-7, which is the same amount, but gives you 7 meals a week, 500 Cougar Dollars, and 2 guest meals per month. Basically, the more meals you get a week the less Cougar Dollars you have on your plan and vice versa. For those that do not know, Cougar Dollars are included in the meal plan and can be used in the UC cafeteria, CAS Starbucks, ice cream parlor, or Cougar's Den.
Freshmen should also remember that meal plan weeks start from Monday to Sunday and unused meals do not roll over from the previous week or semester. Unfortunately for freshmen, any left over Cougar Dollars on their meal plan will not be reimbursed, so use your Cougar Dollars as much as possible.
Second year students can choose from a plan that is for a lesser amount than ones required for freshmen students. The two plans available for these students are the KB-96 and KB 80 for $945 per semester, which also includes a set number of meals and Cougar Dollars. The difference between the plans for second year students is that unused meals will be converted into Cougar Dollars at the end of the semester. For any unused Cougar Dollars at the end of the spring semester, students will be reimbursed the money back in the form of a check.
Commuters can also benefit from a meal plan. Although commuters live off campus, for those that are on campus often or do not want the hassle of worrying about cash for food, a meal plan is the perfect option. Commuters are welcome to get a Flex Plan(K-Flex) .The K-Flex plan does not grant a number of meals per week in the dining hall, but you can use your card for the amount a meal costs when you visit Downs Hall. The minimum to start your Flex Plan is only 50 dollars and you can add any dollar amount that you want. The Flex Plan can qualify as a mandatory meal plan for freshmen and sophomores. It is easy, convenient and saves on worrying about using cash. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to get a Flex Plan.
If you are minus a meal card, don't worry, you are still welcome to enjoy the buffet at Downs Hall and eat as much as you can, you just have to pay out of pocket. So hurry down to Downs Hall and dine in style.
The way the meal plan works for freshmen is that they can choose from four options, depending on what best fits their lifestyle. For example, the K-16 option is $1,350 per semester and the student gets 16 meals per week in Downs hall, 175 Cougar Dollars, and 2 guest meals per month ; or there is the K-7, which is the same amount, but gives you 7 meals a week, 500 Cougar Dollars, and 2 guest meals per month. Basically, the more meals you get a week the less Cougar Dollars you have on your plan and vice versa. For those that do not know, Cougar Dollars are included in the meal plan and can be used in the UC cafeteria, CAS Starbucks, ice cream parlor, or Cougar's Den.
Freshmen should also remember that meal plan weeks start from Monday to Sunday and unused meals do not roll over from the previous week or semester. Unfortunately for freshmen, any left over Cougar Dollars on their meal plan will not be reimbursed, so use your Cougar Dollars as much as possible.
Second year students can choose from a plan that is for a lesser amount than ones required for freshmen students. The two plans available for these students are the KB-96 and KB 80 for $945 per semester, which also includes a set number of meals and Cougar Dollars. The difference between the plans for second year students is that unused meals will be converted into Cougar Dollars at the end of the semester. For any unused Cougar Dollars at the end of the spring semester, students will be reimbursed the money back in the form of a check.
Commuters can also benefit from a meal plan. Although commuters live off campus, for those that are on campus often or do not want the hassle of worrying about cash for food, a meal plan is the perfect option. Commuters are welcome to get a Flex Plan(K-Flex) .The K-Flex plan does not grant a number of meals per week in the dining hall, but you can use your card for the amount a meal costs when you visit Downs Hall. The minimum to start your Flex Plan is only 50 dollars and you can add any dollar amount that you want. The Flex Plan can qualify as a mandatory meal plan for freshmen and sophomores. It is easy, convenient and saves on worrying about using cash. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to get a Flex Plan.
If you are minus a meal card, don't worry, you are still welcome to enjoy the buffet at Downs Hall and eat as much as you can, you just have to pay out of pocket. So hurry down to Downs Hall and dine in style.