Brockport’s dining out-shines other SUNY schools

By Amanda Seef
NEWS EDITOR

Photo by Amanda Seef NEWS EDITOR

Rated No. 1 in the SUNY system for dining services, Brockport has a reputation for the best student dining.  How does Brockport stack up against other SUNY powerhouses, such as Geneseo, Fredonia or Oswego?  Is it the value, the quantity or maybe even the quality that keeps Brockport on top?

SUNY Oswego is perhaps the campus most similar to Brockport, except in their dining services.  With the meal plans that allow you to use strictly a “dining-dollar”-like amount, or a set amount of meals per week. With various dining dollar amounts, students have many choices available to them. 

The plans range from $760 to $1,790 per semester.  The “Full board” meal plan is required for first semester freshmen.  The plan is an unlimited plan, allowing students to use any dining center, or a-la-carte kiosk, they would like.

“Oswego has many options here on campus for food,” freshman Jaclyn Devendorf said.  “We have five different dining centers and our campus center also offers many food options. I say we have it pretty good.”

The campus’ dining centers resemble that of Brockway or Harrison, while there are not any made-to-order options on campus, such as TRAX or Union Square.  For late-night options, some of the dining halls stay open until 10:30 p.m.  This is actually a more healthy option for many students, as the food in the later hours provides energy to go to bed.

Fredonia has a plethora of options available, with prices comparable to that of Brockport Auxiliary Service Corporation (BASC.)  The plans available include purchasing a set amount of meals per week, ranging from five to 14, and adding in an additional $550 in “points,” similar to dining dollars.  The plans also include three to five “feed-a-friend” options, or guest passes. 

Their campus offers two all-you-can-eat buffets, one a-la-carte, four coffee shops and a bakeshop.  The meal price for breakfast is $5.25, slightly higher than Brockport’s, though their dinner price is $7.45, about the same.

Geneseo allows students flexible spending with plans ranging from $325 to $1,805.  The plans work similarly to Fredonia’s, with a point and “flex” system.  The points and “flex” credits are equivalent to $1.  The points can be used in any of the nine dining facilities on campus, but the “flex” credits can be used in the dining facilities, as well as the campus vending machines. 

“I like the services, but the variety is ... not so great,” Geneseo sophomore Matt Mohr said.

The campus’ dining facilities include many structures similar to Brockport’s. There are two dining halls, four restaurant-TRAX-style establishments, as well as cafés and coffee shops.

As for our own meal plans, residential plans range from $1,225 to $1,735.  Currently, the “dining dollar” plans include a club plan.  For example, if you were to purchase the traditional plan, you would be paying $1485 per semester.  However, you only receive $720 in dining dollars.  Students pay a club fee of $765 to help cover operating expenses.  The students using flex club plans also receive discounts on their purchases.

“BASC is committed to quality, creative and dynamic services which exceed customer expectations while supporting the mission of SUNY College at Brockport,” according to the BASC mission statement.

As the dining services on Brockport’s campus is continuously voted as No. 1 in the SUNY system, it will be no surprise that students are satisfied with the services on campus.

—Additional reporting by Jim Krencik