Sodexo fixes glitch in its system, commuters lose access to meal exchanges

Lydia Chapman

Senior Reporter

Commuter students on campus are voicing frustration after a system glitch that once allowed them to use meal exchanges at campus dining spots was corrected earlier this semester, cutting off what many saw as their most convenient dining option.

The issue dates back to last year, when a technical error temporarily allowed commuters access to meal exchanges at the Hub, 1901, and Starbucks. The perk wasn’t officially part of commuter meal plans, but for nearly a year, many used it regularly before the glitch was quietly fixed.

“I knew it was going on and I was using it,” said Angelita Garcia, vice president of the commuter council. “But I didn’t know it was a glitch; it was never talked about. Then it got taken away so suddenly.”

For many commuters, the change has created major inconvenience. With packed schedules and jobs off campus, students say their cafeteria’s limited lunch hours, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., make it difficult to fit in a meal between classes.

“Having the option to grab something from the Hub and eat it on the way to work was something I really relied on,” Garcia said. “Now, it feels like we’re paying for something we can’t fully use.”

Commuters are required to purchase a meal plan costing between $250 and $300, but many feel they don’t get their money’s worth, especially when they can’t use their plan outside the cafeteria.

“It’s a waste of money because we’re forced to pay for it,” Garcia said. “At the end of the semester, a lot of those swipes go unused.”

According to Zack Church, associate dean of residence life and chair of the food services committee, commuter meal plans were never intended to include meal exchanges. A temporary glitch in Sodexo’s system last year mistakenly granted that access, but once the company noticed, it was disabled.

“The cheapest commuter meal plan costs about $300,” Church said. “The cheapest residential meal plan costs nearly $3,000. Meal exchanges were excluded to keep commuter meal plans affordable. Feeding students out of the Hub costs about three times more than feeding them out of the cafeteria.”

Andrew Bullard, Trevecca’s Sodexo general manager, confirmed this explanation in a statement.

“Commuter meal plans were never intended to include a meal exchange component,” he said. “A technical error in the campus meal plan software temporarily allowed that feature. Once identified, the error was corrected. Sodexo is currently developing a new meal plan that will include a meal exchange option, which is expected to launch next academic year, pending Trevecca’s Cabinet approval.”

Church added that Sodexo and the university are exploring the possibility of introducing a mid-tier commuter plan that could include meal exchanges at a slightly higher price point.

“There’s a huge gap between the highest commuter plan and the lowest residential plan,” he said. “We’re looking into what it might look like to meet in the middle.”

For many commuters, the issue goes beyond convenience; it’s about inclusion. The Hub served as a social space where commuters felt comfortable meeting up or eating between classes, without the awkwardness of dining alone in the cafeteria.

“If you go to the caf, it’s mostly residential students sitting with their friends,” said Ricardo Castellanos Núñez, commuter council president. “The Hub was our space. Now it feels like we’ve lost that.”

The change, many say, has only reinforced how “othered” commuters can feel on a largely residential campus.

Sydney Rutherford, the commuter council advisor and coordinator for leadership and community engagement, said she understands the frustration.

“It’s confusing and disheartening to have a service and feel like it was just yanked away,” Rutherford said. “We don’t want commuters to feel like they’re on a different level; we want them to have a parallel experience.”

The commuter council is now working to improve communication and support. Plans include adding more commuter-friendly snacks to the lounge, creating educational videos for incoming students about meal plan details, and advocating for a fairer meal plan structure.

“If you’re not comfortable going into the caf or can’t afford food off campus, you should at least be able to grab a snack or something,” Garcia said.

Rutherford and Church both encouraged students to share feedback directly with the council or dining services.

“The first thing to improving things is hearing from the students,” Church said. “We can’t make changes if we don’t know what commuters are experiencing.”

Contacts for concern:

–   Commuter Council President: Ricardo Castellanos Núñez (rcastellanosnunez@trevecca.edu) 

–   Advisor Sydney Rutherford (SLRutherford@trevecca.edu) 

–   Associate Dean of Residence Life Zack Church (ZPChurch@trevecca.edu)