Understanding your current meal plan
There are two main types of meal plan models typically found on college campuses: declining meal balance and all-you-can-eat.
Our declining meal balance plan was thoughtfully designed to offer our students the perfect blend of convenience and flexibility. Students are free to use their meal plan to dine anywhere on campus and offer the flexibility of takeout. From the welcoming warmth of our dining halls to the vibrant energy of caf茅s and bustling retail food courts, each dining location on campus is ready to serve our campus community at a time that suits each individual鈥檚 unique schedule.
Every resident dining meal plan includes two key components:
- Membership fee: This helps cover the non-food costs of operating the main resident dining halls: Appalachian, C4, CIW and Hinman.
- Dining dollars: These are spendable, tax-free dollars used for food purchases across campus. This allows students to only pay for what they eat. Unused dining dollars roll over to the next semester if the student remains enrolled and opens a meal plan. Purchases in resident dining halls come with a discount because of the membership fee. Retail dining options are at full cost.
All students living in traditional resident halls on campus are required to purchase a meal plan. Those residing in the Hillside and Susquehanna apartment communities have the choice of whether to purchase a commuter meal plan.
Understanding the differences in meal plan models
Declining meal balance plan
The declining meal balance plan offers maximum flexibility, empowering students to
dine when and where they choose. With access to a wide variety of food venues across
campus, this plan allows for greater control over portion sizes and the potential
to minimize food waste. With a declining meal balance plan, premium food choices and
unique recipes are readily available. Unused funds on this plan can roll over. However,
it鈥檚 important to note that funds are limited and require thoughtful budgeting鈥攖here
is a risk of depleting the balance before the semester ends, which may necessitate
additional deposits.
All-you-can-eat swipe plan
An all-you-can-eat meal plan provides unlimited access to meals without the need to
track spending, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer a consistent dining
schedule and larger portions. This structure eliminates budgeting concerns. However,
it comes with less flexibility, as usage is typically limited to designated dining
halls during specific hours. Menus may become repetitive over time and often do not
include premium food options or popular retail brands. Additionally, these plans usually
do not extend to retail or off-campus dining venues.