I have also worked at an institution (1200 students) where the concerns
about variety, flexibility, and value for dollar were responded to with more
display cooking, cash equivalency at the pizza/snack bar, heightened theme
nights, and more special thanks events for diners.

The students at the institution where the 12-, 15-, 19-meal plan was
enhanced but remains show a high level of satisfaction (which is closely
scrutinized at a small, private, selective institution of 1200 hundred
students where dissatisfaction was quickly addressed).  The students at the
larger institution which moved to the declining balance the students
demanded are not as satisfied with the results and have shifted toward the
minimum required meal plans to the point where the loss of income to the
vendor resulted in a vicious cycle of less offerings and less
satisfaction/participation.

A good resource for seeing what other schools are up to is the National
Association of College Auxiliary Services monthly magazine.  They feature a
number of innovative programs and give good ideas that can be incorporated
in both large and small venues.