Sodexo released a complete list of new meal plan options for students for the 2014 to 2015 academic year, including the prices that were approved by the Board of Trustees. Sodexo Resident District Manager Jay DeGioia sent out an email to the student body on April 4 providing the details of the new options and addressing some questions that students have been voicing.

Due to the changes in the housing selection process implemented this year, meal plan selection will also be completed on the University's new MyHousing online tool. The new plans reflect impending changes in service and physical remodels of existing dining facilities, specifically Usdan.

In his email to the student body, DeGioia wrote that "[w]hile many models were considered, we ultimately chose plans that are representative of the new dining structure that will be in place next year after our first phase of construction." He cited flexibility and value pricing as priorities during Sodexo's planning process.

As the changes begin to be implemented, DeGioia maintained in his email that Sodexo will be closely monitoring how students adapt to the new plans and overall system. "Through our partnership with the Administration and the Student Union, our three-part team will be meeting regularly throughout next year to evaluate these plans and continue to evolve them as we enter ... Summer 2015," he wrote.

Changes will also include the University's forthcoming implementation of mandatory meal plans for all students living on campus, a change that will be phased in for the entire on-campus population within the next few academic years.

For the upcoming academic year, meal plans will only be mandatory for students living in residence halls without kitchens, including North Quad, Massell Quad, East Quad, Usen Castle, the Village and Ziv Quad, DeGioia's email states. Voluntary meal plans will be available for purchase by students living in apartment-style campus residences including Ridgewood Quad, the Foster Mods, the Charles River Apartments and 567 South Street apartments, as well as for faculty and staff, DeGioia's email continues.

In a March 10 email to the Justice, DeGioia wrote that, although door prices for the all-you-can-eat facilities had not yet been decided upon by Sodexo, "we are meeting on door prices this week and will have that [information] out shortly. For Brandeis students this cost will only be slightly higher (based on approval) than this year's door rates."

DeGioia clarified Sodexo's upcoming policies in relation to questions about methods of payment in soon-to-be renovated dining facilities. "[Dining] points can be used in all Dining locations including Resident Halls and the Food Truck," he wrote.

Since meal equivalencies will no longer be accepted at retail locations, DeGioia confirmed that "[p]oints would be used to pay the door rate [at Usdan and Sherman Dining Hall] and allow students to enjoy the all you care to eat menu" in an email to the Justice "Points would equal a dollar here just like in the retail locations."

-Samantha Topper contributed reporting.