Obtaining Your Meal Plan

New incoming students always wonder how they can apply for a meal plan while current students always wonder how they can change their meal plan. So here are the answers to applying or switching your meal plan.

Residential students can sign up for and make changes to their meal plans by contacting the NKU University Housing department in Norse Commons. Changes must be made within the first two weeks of each semester, so make sure you know which plan you are on, and how to use it!

For commuters and NKU staff, the NKU Dining Services website has details about the commuter/faculty/staff meal plans. You can purchase a commuter/faculty/staff meal plan by using your credit card on their website.

Flex Dollars are used throughout campus to buy food and other items. Meal plans with dining flex can be used for food only, but All Card dollars can be used by all cardholders for dining, vending, NKU Bookstore, NKU Parking permits and fines, copiers, game room, Steely Library fines, Bank of Kentucky Center concessions, Norse Tech Bar, computer lab printing, and for services at the Health, Counseling, and Student Wellness office. All Card dollars are an excellent way to supplement a meal plan, and for all cardholders to enjoy discounts and convenience on campus.

Once you have purchased a residential meal plan through the University Housing office, or a commuter block plan on the Dining Services website, you simply present your NKU All Card at the authorized location. Your ALL CARD will be swiped, and a meal or flex dollars will deducted from your account.

-Jonathan Hoey

Lost All Card

We all loose things! As students of Northern Kentucky University we use our All Card quite frequently. Whether it is to check out a book from the library, confirm your ID to pick up a package, or order Papa John's in the Student Union, All Cards are used everyday. It is important to keep your all card with you at all times. However, we all loose things! What happens if you loose your All Card?

If your All Card is broken or lost you can get it replaced! The location where you can get your All Card replaced is in the Student Union room 120. For previous students, All Cards are automatically reactivated each semester you register for classes. The office will reissue a new card as early as two weeks before classes begin and at least two business days after registering for classes. ($10 replacement fee applies.) This office is also a place where you can obtain your ISO number. Send us an email with your full name and the last four digits of your social security number or stop by the All Card office.

For new incoming students, they may visit the All Card office (Student Union, room 120) as early as two weeks before classes begin and at least two business days after registering for classes to receive a card. Please bring a current driver's license, state-issued photo ID or passport.

-Jonathan Hoey

Living Learning Communities

Northern Kentucky University provides multiple living learning communities for students to join. These living learning communities are beneficial to students in numerous ways. Being in a living learning community, a student is able to form relationships with other students who have the similar majors and interests in life. It also allows students to be accessible to one another for help since the living learning community all lives in one general area. Multiple living learning communities are available differing in majors, greek life, intercultural living,  and first year residents.

There are a total of 7 living learning communities available for students.
1. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)- This community is open to students with a major in the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics and Geology.   This experience will enhance a student’s social and intellectual growth by providing opportunities to learn and interact with each other and with members of the STEM community through academic and social events.

2. Honors Residential Community- The Honors Community is open to full-time undergraduate students who have been invited into the Honors Program or are the recipient of an academic scholarship.  This community of creative and academically motivated scholars wishes to develop a success network by creating lifelong, supportive relationships through proactive and interactive programming designed specifically for their needs.

3. The Fraternity and Sorority Community- This community is open to full-time undergraduate students who have been extended full membership into a Greek organization. These floors provide a sense of community that respects the Greek values and ideals of service, leadership, and academics. Together, these floors will collaborate to develop in them a sense of inter-fraternal bonding that in turn aims to re-imagine the collegiate experience.

4. Intercultural Living Community- This community offers American and international students the unique opportunity to live together within an intentional community. Programs and activities will be tailored to meet the diverse needs of the community and to enrich the student’s cultural experience at NKU.

5. First Year Communities- The communities in these apartments provide students of Norse and Woodcrest with the opportunity to connect with other new first year students while still living in apartment style housing. Intentional programming and community building activities are designed around small group and individual community needs.

6. The Norse Experience- This community will provide a comprehensive introduction to life as a Norse  for first-year freshmen. Through shared academic, social, cultural and service activities, students will engage in the Northern Kentucky University community. Norse Experience will focus on providing resources for a successful transition from high school to college while building networks amongst peers, faculty, staff, and alumni.

7. College of Health Professions- This community will provide a close-knit community of students. It will focus on helping students to succeed in their chosen major within the College of Health Professions and build relationships amongst other College of Health Professions students. Students must be enrolled in the within the College of Health Professions (Pre-Nursing, Nursing, Radiological Technology, Respiratory Care) to be considered for this community.

-Jonathan Hoey

Dorm Life

New student here at NKU? Considering living in the dorms? Confused which dorm to live in next year? Why should students live on campus compared to living off? Sarah Howard, Sophomore Resident Adviser, says,

"Living on campus allows a student to develop meaningful relationships with other students who have similar interests and goals."

I am a resident too living on campus and Sarah describes it perfectly. I have been living on campus for two years and could not have asked for anything better. Here I have met countless friends and formed relationships that have helped me succeed in my classes. Living on campus has its pros and cons but the main reason I love living on campus is the fact that I am so close to my classes! Everything is close and within walking distance! No need to hop in a car and take the time driving to classes. I am able to walk to my farthest class in 10 minutes!
 
Each resident hall varies in price and provides different utilities. Living spaces also vary depending on the resident hall. This link describes the living conditions for each resident hall and what they consist of:

http://housing.nku.edu/residence-halls.html

Here is a break down of the possible living options at NKU with the "Goods and Bads" of each residential hall.

There are a total of 6 residential halls at NKU:
1. Callahan Hall
Good: Across the street from multiple places to eat. Across the street from Kroger.
Bad: Smells throughout the halls. Not on campus. Students with no car need to take the TANK (bus that travels around campus).

2. Commonwealth / Kentucky
Good: Build stronger relationships with students in your hall due to community living.
Bad: No privacy. Share a bathroom with students from your hall. Small living space.

3. Norse Hall
Good: Closest to Norse Commons and campus.
Bad: You have a stove top but no oven.

4. Northern Terrace
Good: Brand new renovations.
Bad: No privacy. Not on campus. Students with no car need to take the TANK (bus that travels around campus).

5. University Suites
Good: Closest to the IM fields and basketball courts. Nice facilities. Computer room. Laundry room.
Bad: It is difficult to get a good RA. Some staff are unfriendly.

6. Woodcrest Apartments
Good: Apartment setting. Full kitchen with stove and oven. Large fridge.
Bad: In the very back of the Residential Village.

-Jonathan Hoey

Eating at Commons

On August 1st, 2014 NKU opened the renovated Norse Commons. The new layout and building  looks absolutely beautiful. It is an all-you-can-eat dining option that contains 6 food stations. It was a $2 million project that made NKU students thrilled to start this new year. However, IS NORSE COMMONS TRULY THAT GREAT?

I asked Adrian Motyka his thoughts on Norse Commons. He stated,

"I have been living on campus for two years now. I was happy to see the change from the old Norse Commons to the new Norse Commons. The new building is beautiful and I am grateful for the new setting. However there are still multiple things that still bother me, such as the slow service!"

For one week, my friend Adrian and I would compile a list of things. We would eat at Norse Commons at least twice a day. We were determined to point out all the things the new Norse Commons lacked or needed improvement on. Here were some our findings:

1. The service is ridiculously slow!
During the one week I counted a total of 4 times I had to wait for a server to come to the station and serve me. I found myself waiting at the food station for someone to serve me. I remember an incident where I waited so long that I decided I would go back behind the counter and serve myself. Often I found myself waiting and would see a group of employees in the back talking to each other not acknowledging the hungry students waiting in line for their food.

2. No forks, knives, and spoons!
Occasionally we would find ourselves utensil-less. Different meals would call for the use of different utensils. What good does a tender prime rib do without a knife? I found myself getting frustrated having to walk to different utensil holders, just to find nothing in any of them! Why have all this delicious food when you cannot use anything to eat it with? Unfortunately, when there are utensils available, the utensils are never fully cleaned! Adrian often found the forks and knives he picked up still had food remnants on it.

3. Employees are rude!
Yes, everyone LOVES Mary Pat! However, one employee cannot carry the kindness for the whole team! As you walk into Norse commons you are usually greeted by Mary Pat. Mary Pat is a wonderful women who cares and greets students at the door. She always has a smile on and loves conversation. However, we noticed all the other employees have an attitude. Simple comments such as please and thank you, yes ma'am and no ma'am, or hello and goodbye are never acknowledged by the servers. I feel I only am allowed to talk to them when I need a specific food or specific amount of food.


Come on NKU! Make these changes and the New Norse Commons will live up to its potential!

-Jonathan Hoey