TO: President Stenger, President of SUNY Binghamton

       Mr. Ruoff, District Manager of Binghamton University’s Dining Services

January 5, 2022

Dear Dr. Stenger and Mr. Ruoff,

We, concerned parents of SUNY Binghamton students, are requesting that the meal plan offerings at Binghamton University be adjusted to be consistent with the offerings and costs of meal plans offered at other SUNY locations as well as other neighboring flagship state schools.  

Currently, the meal plans at Binghamton are significantly more expensive and less comprehensive than other universities within the SUNY system and compared to many other  flagship state universities in neighboring states.  The differences are stark: mainly, the meals at Binghamton are all “a la carte” whereas other schools operate on an “all you care to eat” swipe system. The “all you care to eat” system, allows students to eat a meal, focusing on satiating themselves, without stressing about the accumulating costs of an a la carte meal. 

Additionally, Binghamton is the only school within SUNY to have a hefty “membership fee” of $2000, which recurs every semester/meal plan. Binghamton’s meal plan C, the recommended plan for Freshmen, costs $2950 a semester but includes only $950 for a la carte dining costs.  Assuming a 16-week presence on campus over the course of the semester, and assuming having three daily meals, this amounts to budgeting $2.87, on average, per meal. Being nourished at such a low cost is simply unrealistic!  

Additionally, other SUNY schools and flagship university state schools offer extra dining dollars or points to be used on meals outside of the traditional dining halls, and often there are guest swipes and meal exchanges included as well. Because these schools have “all you care to eat” swipes, and mostly unlimited swipes, the added dining dollars are indeed an extra value offered. In contrast, at Binghamton, students can dine outside of the dining halls, but here, too, the options are just additional a la carte options folded into the $950.  

While Binghamton includes $950 per semester for food purchases, at other schools, the cost allocated for food is a fixed cost of between $2284 to $3690 (depending on the school and meal plan) for unlimited meals and with more comprehensive options folded within this plan. Since Binghamton students eat just as much as their peers in other universities, the de facto costs of food for Binghmaton students is much higher than is stated. 

The exorbitant meal plans are a common topic of conversation amongst Binghamton parents, including on social media groups. Parents are reporting that they need to replenish the meal plan funds for their children regularly, that students often leave the dining rooms hungry, trying to ration meal costs, supplementing with food kept in their dorm, and even that students are losing weight (contrary to the typical “freshman 15” weight gain). This is simply unacceptable.   

Enclosed below is a comparison of Binghamton's meal plan to other SUNY institutions and other state flagship schools.  This comparison shows that meal plans are more comprehensive, swipe-based, and at a much lower cost than that offered at Binghamton.  

We are asking, at the very least, and most urgently, to remove the a la carte system  and instead to offer an unlimited program of “all you care to eat” meal “swipes” at all the traditional dining halls, at a cost comparable to other schools.  

Being a college student is a time of self-exploration and intellectual and social growth. But in order to facilitate this growth and learning, students first need to have their basic human needs met. Having a fixed cost for meal plans that provide satiating meals is critical and necessary for students’ development. Dining should not be a stress factor for undergraduate students. Additionally, parents should not be faced with surprise costs associated with meal plans. 

We appreciate your swift reconsideration of the meal plans at Binghamton. 

Sincerely,

Parents of Binghamton students

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 Comparison of Meal Plans in SUNY Schools and Flagship State schools in neighboring states (pulled from university websites, January 2023).

SUNY Binghamton
$2950 (Plan C); $2000 - Membership fee$950 - A la carte dining in the dining halls and affiliated vendors

SUNY Albany
$2925 - $3140
Both plans are unlimited swipes in dining halls; $150 or $340 discount dollars for affiliated retail dining

SUNY New Paltz
$2575 
Unlimited swipes, $300 Dining dollars, 3 guest passes, 50 meal exchanges in retail dining  

SUNY Buffalo
$3540
19 swipes per week (all you care to eat). 250 dining points for affiliated vendors

SUNY Stonybrook
$3077-$3327
Both plans include unlimited swipes. Additionally, 8 or 10 guest meals, 250 or 500 dining dollars

U Vermont
$2284 (All access)
Unlimited meals in dining halls, 150 retail points, 3 guest meals

U Mass Amherst
$3197 - $3696
All plans have unlimited access/swipes in dining halls, Programs vary in additional dining dollars (0-$500) and guest swipes (0-15)  

U Connecticut, Storrs
$2933 - $3240, All plans have unlimited meals/swipes. Programs vary in flex passes (35-75) and  Dining points (0-500)

U of Delaware
$2993 - $3229
Both programs - Unlimited swipes, 150 or 330  dining points (depends on plan), 5 guest meals

U of Virginia
$3035 Unlimited swipes, $300 extra dining dollars, 0 guest passes

U of Maine
$2866 - $3266
All meals are unlimited dining in traditional dining halls.  Lowest  ($2866) option includes unlimited swiping/dining without dining dollars. Includes to-go meals, exchange meals and guest swipes. $3266 - Unlimited, plus $400 dining funds; 32 to go meals, 6 guest meals

U of Pittsburgh
$2200 - $2840
All plans are unlimited dining.  $2840 - Unlimited access + $300 dining dollars. Also  meal swaps/flex swaps.