Published: September 11, 2009 10:56 pm         

Change allows ISU students to use meal plans off campus

TERRE HAUTE — Later this semester, Indiana State University students will have some off-campus dining options as the result of action taken by the board of trustees Friday.

The board approved an agreement with Sodexo Services of Indiana that allows the campus food service provider to develop a program for students, faculty and staff to access a dedicated meal plan at off-campus restaurants by using their university identification card.

“We’re looking for ways to improve dining options for students,” said Tom Ramey, ISU vice president for student affairs. “It’s been a student interest to facilitate getting off campus to access meal options they don’t have on campus.”

The plan will create “Big Blue Bucks” redeemable with local merchants. The off-campus account will be separate from ISU’s existing meal plan.

The plan also will benefit local merchants, Ramey said. “Terre Haute restaurants, particularly in the downtown area, want to reach out more to students and others in the university community,” he said.

A Sodexo subsidiary, Off Campus Solutions, will work with area businesses that want to participate. Eligibility will include, but will not be limited to, restaurants and retail stores.

Off Campus Solutions will contact businesses that have expressed interest in such a program.

Once the off-campus meal plan is established, students, faculty and staff will be notified about how they can deposit funds into the account.

By using this option, students don’t have to worry about carrying money and parents will be able to deposit funds into the accounts as well, Ramey said.

Boo Lloyd, who operates Boo’s Crossroads Cafe downtown, welcomes the new program and said she wants to participate. “We’d love it. We welcome the students downtown, big time,” she said.

Ramey said the program “will be operational as soon as we can set it up.”

Also on Friday, trustees approved a phased retirement program, allowing eligible employees age 60 and older who have been employed by the university on a full-time basis for at least five years to work a reduced workload, with a corresponding reduction in salary, for up to three years before full retirement.

“The Phased Retirement Program allows faculty and staff who might not be quite ready to leave full-time employment the opportunity to transition into retirement. Similar types of programs are offered at many colleges and universities throughout the country,” said Diann McKee, vice president for business affairs.

Also during the meeting, Tim Hall, an Indiana State University employee who is a sergeant in the Indiana Army National Guard, presented President Dan Bradley with an American flag that flew over the command post at Camp Anaconda, Iraq, where Hall was stationed from December 2007 to January 2009. Hall has worked at Indiana State University for 28 years and is a 33-year National Guard veteran.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.

Dave Taylor, ISU director of media relations, contributed to this report.