Editing Cafeteria (section)

==College cafeteria==<!-- This section is linked from [[Case Western Reserve University]] -->
[[File:HHU Mensa.JPG|thumb|Cafeteria at [[Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf]] in [[Germany]].]]
In American English, a ''college cafeteria'' is a cafeteria intended for college students. In British English, it is often called the ''[[refectory]]''. These cafeterias can be a part of a residence hall or in a separate building. {{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} Many of these colleges employ their students to work in the cafeteria. {{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} The number of meals served to students varies from school to school but is normally around 21 meals per week. {{Citation needed|date=January 2013}} Like normal cafeterias, a person will have a tray to select the food that they want, but (at some campuses) instead of paying money, [[Prepayment for service|pays beforehand]] by purchasing a meal plan. {{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

The method of payment for college cafeterias is commonly in the form of a meal plan, whereby the patron pays a certain amount at the start of the semester and details of the plan are stored on a computer system. Student ID cards are then used to access the meal plan. Meal plans can vary widely in their details and are often not necessary to eat at a college cafeteria. Typically, the college tracks students' plan usage by counting the number of predefined meal servings, points, dollars, or buffet dinners. The plan may give the student a certain number of any of the above per week or semester and they may or may not roll over to the next week or semester.<ref name=collegeparents>{{cite web
 |title=Helping Your College Student Select a Meal Plan 
 |work=collegeparents 
 |url=http://www.collegeparents.org/members/resources/articles/helping-your-college-student-select-meal-plan 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715224418/http://www.collegeparents.org/members/resources/articles/helping-your-college-student-select-meal-plan 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-date=2011-07-15 
}}</ref>

Many schools offer several different options for using their meal plans. The main cafeteria is usually where most of the meal plan is used but smaller cafeterias, cafés, restaurants, [[Bar (establishment)|bars]], or even fast food chains located on campus, on nearby streets, or in the surrounding town or city may accept meal plans. A college cafeteria system often has a virtual monopoly on the students due to an isolated location or a requirement that residence contracts include a full meal plan. {{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}