Dear Campus Community,

Throughout the Fall 2020 semester, the Food and Menu Advisory Committee worked in collaboration with various groups --- both on and off campus --- to develop a COVID-acceptable, affordable, and flexible dining program for our cadets for the upcoming Spring 2021 semester. This program, scheduled to begin on February 1 , 2021, was developed in consultation with ASCMA, Cal Maritime Alumni Association, and Keelhauler Families; endorsed by the Academic Senate Executive Committee and the Triad; and approved by the Cabinet earlier today.

We are excited to launch The Marketplace , Cal Maritime’s COVID-friendly food service program for the Spring 2021 semester. Beginning January 8 2021:

1) The Dining Center will be transformed from a traditional dine-in style restaurant into a new “grab-‘n-go” style marketplace. The Marketplace will be your local, go-to general store for dining; selling a variety of individually-packaged food items, in addition to a large selection of pre-made, hot meals.

2) All resident Cadet meal plan accounts will switch from an “all you care to eat per meal” program to a “Declining Cash Balance (DCB)” account program. A DCB will function like a debit card and can be used to purchase individual food items sold in The Marketplace, and wherever food is sold on campus. Food items will be priced “per package” or “per pound” and the total price will be deducted from your card. If your account drops below $500, you will be able to add money in $50 increments. All cash has a 1:1 ratio.

All cadet meal plan accounts will be pre-loaded with $2,800 DCB (see Option C below). If you would like to go with one of the other options listed below, please complete and submit the “Dining Options for Spring 2021” form.

Option A: $3,200 (This is equivalent to the former “19 meal plan” and is now offered at a $263 discount)
Option B: $3,000 (This is equivalent to the former “15 meal plan + Flex” and is now offered at a $492 discount)
Option C: $2,800 (This is equivalent to the former “10 meal plan + Flex” and is now offered at a $692 discount)
Option D: $2,600 (TSGB Cadets only)

3) All unused Flex dollars from Fall 2020 will be rolled over and added to the Spring semester.

4) The Marketplace will have expanded, continuous hours from 7am – 7pm on weekdays and 11am-7pm on weekends, allowing you to shop when you want!

The Food and Menu Advisory Committee will continue to meet throughout the Spring semester to monitor the program and ensure that it continues to meet the needs of our cadets. Please join us for our meetings – we want to hear from YOU!

Thank you again to the following groups for their time and input into this new program: ASCMA, Cadet Triad, Executive Senate, Campus Leadership Council, Cal Maritime Alumni Association, and Keelhauler families! If you have any questions or concerns please email Eric Cooper at ecooper@csum.edu.