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.