Penn State students will have a new option for their daily meals this year with the introduction of the Nittany Meal Plan.

Similar to a university meal plan, this new service from the national company Campus Dining Network, issues students a card to use at off-campus locations and automatically adjusts the balance of the account.

The Nittany Meal Plan card can only be used at restaurants that participate in the plan.

Sixteen restaurants in the State College area participate in the program, including Canyon Pizza, 260 E. Beaver Ave., Damon's Restaurant, 1031 E. College Ave., Wing Zone, 433 E. Beaver Ave., and Chili's Grill & Bar, 137 S. Allen St.

The card is separate from Penn State's ID+ card, and the balance of the card is not linked to a student's on-campus meal plan or Lion cash.

"The benefit is that you don't have to worry about carrying cash and you can eat in, take out or get delivery," said Ann Marie Gulian, vice president of operations for Campus Dining Network. "And, it's open more hours than a traditional meal plan."

Students with the Nittany Meal Plan would be expected to frequently eat at participating restaurants, creating business incentives for other restaurants to join.

"I think it's a great idea with the competition in town and the way the economy is," Damon's manager Greg DuBois said. "Any avenue we can use to boost sales is something to explore. And they do the advertising for us, so that's an advantage as well."

Though there is typically no discount for students on the Nittany Meal Plan, their account balances transfer semester-to-semester and year-to-year. Unused balances also can be transferred to a friend or refunded in cash.

"I would definitely use it," Dave Zuckerman (junior-criminal justice) said. "It would be convenient for me since I'm really busy and I end up eating out a lot."

There is no fee to join the Nittany Meal Plan, and there is no minimum or maximum balance for the card. Students are offered bonus dollars to add to their account when they put $600 or more onto their card.

Information on the Nittany Meal Plan and the participating restaurants is available online at www.nittanymealplan.com or at its State College office at 108 W. Beaver Ave.

Campus Dining Network operates this program at 18 different colleges and universities in 10 cities around the United States, including Michigan State University, the University of Florida and the University of Pittsburgh. Students with the Nittany Meal Plan can use their cards at any other campus offering the program.

TEXTBOX

Canyon Pizza, 260 E. Beaver Ave.

Chili's Grill & Bar, 137 S. Allen St.

Damon's Restaurant, 1031 E. College Ave.

Fat Jack's Bar-B-Que Shack, 1669 N. Atherton St.

Gumby's Pizza, 300 S. Pugh St.

Le Bistro Deli & Pizzeria, 1101 N. Atherton St.

Panda House, 1880 S. Atherton St.

Penn State Sub Shop #1, 225 E. Beaver Ave.

Penn State Sub Shop #3, 1788 N. Atherton St.

Pizza Hut, 760 S. Atherton St.

Quizno's, 317-319 E. Beaver Ave.

Smoke N Joes Café, 128 Locust Lane

The Goppers, 114 Hetzel St.

Wing Zone, 433 E. Beaver Ave.