Changes Must Be Made

By: Krista Vinson

What’s the Problem?

Unnecessary Financial Burdens

What’s the Problem?

Unnecessary Financial Burdens

Unused Meals

What’s the Problem?

Unnecessary Financial Burdens

Unused Meals

Limited Options

Unnecessary Financial Burdens

Percentage of 2011 UAB graduates with debt: 47%

(“Alabama”)

Unnecessary Financial Burdens

Percentage of 2011 UAB graduates with debt: 47%

Average debt of 2011 UAB graduates: $21,503

(“Alabama”)

Unnecessary Financial Burdens

First-Year Freshman

In-State – Two Semesters(15 credit hours per semester)

Tuition and Fees* $9,354

Books and Supplies** $1,000

Meal Plan (based off $1,760 per semester)

$3,530

Freshman Housing $5,600

Parking $130

Total $19,614

Fall 2013 First-Year Freshmen Estimated

(“Freshman: College Costs (Alabama Residents)”)

Unused Meals“The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) requires that the

following students purchase a meal plan during fall and spring semesters:› Students residing in freshman housing must choose plan 1 or

2*› All other students residing in on-campus housing must choose

from plans 1 through 7”  Average Meals Per

Week Total Meals Cost

Plan 1 15 233 $1,765Plan 2 12 186 $1,615Plan 3 10 150 $1,037Plan 4 7 108 $770Plan 5 5 78 $584Plan 6 3 47 $360Plan 7 1 16 $146

(“Meal Plans”)

Unused Meals

16 weeks = 112 days

186 meals / 112 days = 1.66 meals per day

(“Academics: Academic Calendar”)

Unused Meals

Thanksgiving = 1 week

14 weekends = 28 days

(“Academics: Academic Calendar”)

Unused Meals

16 weeks = 112 days

186 meals / 112 days = 1.66 meals per day

This number increases…

Unused Meals

“The last day to use Spring Meal Plans is May 10.  Any student with unused meals will see a 50% roll-over added to their selected spring Meal Plan.  At the end of the Spring semester Meal Plans do not rollover”(“Meal Plans”).

Limited Options

Only four locations accept meal plans…

› 1. The Commons on the Green

› 2. The Diner

› 3. WOW Café

› 4. Zebi

(“Locations”)

Limited Options

The Commons on the Green

Limited Options

The Commons on the Green – Health Score

(“Restaurant Inspection Detail”)

Limited Options

Diner Salad

Limited Options

Limited Options

Limited Options

Limited Options

WOW Café Menu

Diner Menu

Both locations serve salads, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and chicken

tenders with a side of fries.

Limited Options

Inconvenient Hours

Out-of-the way location

Zebi Location

Campus Green

Limited Options

Limited Options

Changes Must Be Made

Freshmen pay the biggest price for the corrupt dining policies at UAB.

› Unnecessary Financial Burdens› Unused Meals› Limited Options

Works Cited

"Academics: Academic Calendar."UAB Students.The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

n.d. Web. 12 November 2013.

" Alabama." The Project on Student Debt. College InSight. n.d. Web. 13 November 2013

"Restaurant Inspection Detail." JCDH. Jefferson County Department of Health. n.d. Web. 13

November 2013

"Locations." UAB Campus Restaurants. The University of Alabama at Birmingham. n.d. Web.

12 November 2013

"Meal Plans." UAB Campus Restaurants. The University of Alabama at Birmingham. n.d. Web.

12 November 2013.

"Freshman: College Costs (Alabama Residents)." UAB Students. The University of Alabama at

Birmingham. n.d. Web. 13 November 2013.