Volanté Meal Plans: Declining Balance for Students

Necessity Of On-Campus Dining

In the world of academia, amidst lectures, exams, and late-night study sessions, one constant demand remains: food. For college students navigating hectic schedules, finding a swift and hassle-free method to dine on campus is paramount. Volanté’s tap & go solution, integrated with student cards, badges, and more, allows students to access their meal plans, use the declining balance to purchase their meal, and reload their account quickly with just a tap or swipe.

Understanding Student Meal Plans

A meal plan essentially functions as a prepaid system for on-campus dining expenses. Students load money before the start of the term to pay for their anticipated dining hall meals. After accessing the dining area and selecting their meal items, diners use their student ID, fob, barcoded voucher, or specialized meal card to deduct the cost of the meal from their account.

Meal plans serve as a priority for sustenance on campus. Yet, not all meal plans are created equal. Unlike traditional meal plans that treat your dining choices like a strict diet regimen, Volanté’s approach is more dynamic and flexible, tailored to students' needs. Instead of committing to a fixed number of meals, students can have a meal plan that adapts to their changing cravings.

Catering to Student Realities

The stereotypical college student consuming three square meals a day rarely reflects reality. Volanté acknowledges this and empowers students to align their meal plans with their actual eating patterns. Whether students are more inclined to skip breakfast or indulge in late-night cravings, Volanté’s declining balance system allows them to allocate funds smartly, optimizing their dining budget for when and what they actually eat.

The Power of Declining Balance

At the heart of Volanté lies its declining balance feature, also known as “flex dollars.” This approach differs from conventional meal plans by providing students with a financial balance, similar to a debit card, loaded onto their accounts. As they dine, purchases subtract from this balance, encouraging mindful spending and choice-driven dining.

Implementing a POS in Your Dining Hall

In colleges and universities, the point of sale (POS) serves as the gateway for gathering crucial dining data and trends. Whether through self-serve kiosks or cashier POS systems, capturing insights from the moment students tap their cards to the meals they select is instrumental in maintaining the seamless flow of the dining hall.

These systems not only streamline transactions but also offer valuable data that informs menu choices, peak dining times, and preferences. This enables dining facilities to adapt and cater to evolving student needs effectively. Volanté, as a versatile POS solution, integrates seamlessly with student dining experiences, enhancing both the transactional aspect and the broader dining ecosystem within higher education institutions.

Explore how students can effortlessly access meal plans and transactions with this free interactive tour.