Editors’ note: This story was updated on Sept. 26 to clarify a student opinion of the meal plan changes. 

Last year, upperclassmen could choose to change their meal plan to a minimum of seven swipes per week, but this year, the minimum increased to 15 swipes.

The change applies to all upperclassmen, living on and off campus, except for fraternity members who can choose to have five swipes per week. First-years are still required to have a full board plan with 24 swipes, which is the same as last year.

This impacts one-third of upperclassmen who previously selected lower meal plans.

Dining Services and Student Affairs have discussed increasing the requirement since 2017, said K.C. Schaefer, the executive director of auxiliary services. They decided to enact the changes because they felt the new Marketplace renovations allowed for the increase in volume.   

When asked what prompted the change, Schaefer said, “There was a significant portion of students who felt like their needs were not being met through the requirements we had.”

Last year, the default number of swipes for upperclassmen varied based on housing and Greek membership. Fraternity members had a default of seven meal swipes but could opt down to two. Sorority members living in the sorority house defaulted to 20 but could request 15. Independent students or sorority members living elsewhere had a default of 10 meal swipes and could choose a minimum of seven.

“The primary driver in the decision was to ensure that students could focus on what is important and not have to worry about access to food,” he said. “For them to focus on academics, extracurriculars, [and] having a social life, food should be the last thing they are worried about.”

Another factor impacting the change is to increase a sense of community on campus, according to Schaefer. If juniors and seniors have more meal swipes to use, they are encouraged to stay on campus more.

“Hopefully people will adjust behaviors,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer said other liberal arts schools around the country have started increasing their meal-plan requirements for this reason as well, citing Davidson and Swarthmore as examples.

Davidson recently enacted a change to require all incoming students to have a full meal plan for all four years, but allows current students to finish their four years without being affected. Swarthmore currently offers more options than Washington and Lee, allowing students who live off campus to choose as low as one swipe per day.

Some students are frustrated with the change, and some have not noticed it. But, even students who claim they aren’t affected think everyone should be able to adjust their plan to their needs.

“I see the idea, but as a senior living off campus, it doesn’t make sense for me,” said Marcus Payne, ’25. “I tried to change mine down to 10, but they did not let me.”

Students also have concerns about financial implications of the policy change.

“Last year I opted down to seven, and that was fine, but this year, 15 is way too much,” said Eltice Langmia, ’25. “I personally love cooking my own meals, but I am still spending the same money on groceries, so there is just extra money in my account that is going to waste.”

Schaefer says financial aid awards are based on the holistic cost of the university, including room, board and meal plan, so the change should only help students not have to worry about paying for their meals.

“A lot of students were either opting into that for financial reasons, and then did not have enough additional resources to support themselves, or they were opting into it with a plan to grocery shop and cook, and then in practice, it wasn’t always happening,” Schaefer said.

The university’s extra revenue from the change will stay in the dining program to fund the extra food costs and pay the dining hall workers, Schaefer said.

Some students, like Claire DiChiaro, ’26, chose the 15-swipe meal plan for themselves but said they acknowledge that the fixed meal plans don’t work for everyone.

“It doesn’t really affect me,” said DiChiaro. “I moved mine down to 15 this year, and that works for me.”

Other students said they were not aware of the change and find it is most convenient to stick with the default number.

“It does not affect me personally, but I have friends with health issues who are negatively affected by it,” said Schuyler Ross ’25. “I don’t see why they shouldn’t at least have the option to change it.”

There is currently an option for students with special dietary needs to appeal for a different plan, which 20 students have done, Schaefer said. After the application, they are required to meet with the school dietitian, who confirms or denies the request.

Students have started an online petition on change.org to restore the original to-go box policy and minimum swipe policy. As of Sept. 22, the petition has 345 signatures.