Meals
by
JBrown
—
last modified
2008-04-16 1433
Aggie Bucks are generally thought to be the most flexible way to handle meals for REU students. However, one of the problems REU programs have had with Aggie Bucks is that they are trackable, and some students have used them to purchase items other than food, which might not be approved under NSF. Aggie Bucks, which are the same as cash, can be used at over 200 locations on and off campus. For more information about Aggie Bucks, visit http://finance.tamu.edu/sbs/aggiecard/aggiebucks.asp.
Aggie Bucks contact:
Nancy Serna
Financial Specialist III, Student Business Services
Phone: 979-845-4661
E-mail: nserna@tamu.edu
Example: Aerospace Engineering REU
Because the students were only allowed to purchase food, drinks, and snacks with their Aggie Bucks, the Aerospace Engineering REU coordinators required the students to sign a form which stated that they would only spend Aggie Bucks on food, drinks, and snacks. (To view a PDF of this form, click here AggieBucks agreement form.pdf). It might also be beneficial to add a "no purchasing alcohol" clause to the form. Although Aerospace did not require students to turn in their receipts on big purchases, they suggest that future programs do this because this year they had to request a breakdown of the students’ spending.
Aerospace worked with the Aggie Bucks contact that helped them put the money onto the Aggie Bucks accounts so that the students would have it as soon as they got their student id's. The Aggie Bucks contact also helped to track the accounts and let Aerospace know when large purchases were made so that they could verify those purchases.
Stipends are another way that REU programs prefer to handle student meals. Some programs give students a stipend that may be used however the students wish. Other programs require that students sign a waiver stating what they may purchase with the stipend money.
Meal Plans are another option for students. The Meal Plan is a prepaid account accessed through student, faculty or staff IDs that guarantees a predetermined number of meals per semester in any of the campus dining facilities.
For all campus dining needs, visit the Campus Dining Office in the Pavilion or call 979-845-0152. For more information about meal plans or campus dining facilities, visit http://food.tamu.edu/index.html.
Summer 2008 Meal Plan Prices now available.
