Meal Plan FAQs

How do I select my meal plan for the fall semester?

If you're an incoming student or you are returning to Illinois State, we've broken down the steps to help you select your meal plan using the Housing/Dining Portal. 

How do I access my meal plan?

Your Redbird ID Card (University ID) is encoded with information regarding your meal plan. You must carry your Redbird ID Card with you in order to access the residential dining centers or use your flex dollars. 

Where can I use my meal plan?

There are two full service residential dining centers located on campus. You may use your meal plan in both of these locations, no matter where you live: Watterson Dining Commons and Marketplace at Linkins Center. For Fall 2020, you may also use your meal plan at Dining Express at the Circus Room, a satellite location in the Bone Student Center that will offer a limited menu of favorite dishes from the dining centers for carry-out only.Flex dollars, which must be spent on food or drink, may be used at all dining venues in Bone Student Center; Starbucks in the Student Fitness Center; Subway shops located on campus; sandwich shops located in the State Farm Hall of Business and Centennial Hall, and vending machines in the residential areas. 

When can I use my meal plan?

Review our calendar to see when our dining centers are open for students with meal plans.

Can I use a carry out option in the dining centers?

All meal plan options will allow carry out. However, the Unlimited Access Meal Plans allow a maximum of 3 carry out meals per day. A carry out meal is defined as one entrée, two side dishes, one dessert and one beverage.

Can I change my meal plan?

Meal plans can be changed on the housing/dining portal, please refer to the meal plan page for information on deadlines.

Can I cancel my meal plan if my Housing contract has been cancelled?

Students that were living in the Residence Halls can cancel their meal plan once they have moved out of their room.

Students that were living in Cardinal Court or Fell/School street can cancel their meal plan if they have not used any portion of their meal plan (meals or flex dollars).

How do I cancel my meal plan?

You will cancel your meal plan for the 2020-2021 Academic Year by selecting the "2020-2021 Meal Plan Contract Cancellation Request" option from the drop down menu of the Appointment and Forms module in the Housing & Dining Portal.

The process requires you to download the 2020-2021 Meal Plan Contract Cancellation form, complete the form, and upload the completed form to the Housing & Dining Portal. You can also return the form by mail, fax to (309) 438-8521, or email to MealPlans@IllinoisState.edu.

What reason do I check if I am cancelling my meal plan?

If you are unsure which reason you should check, please choose the one you think fits your situation best. Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality will be able to verify if you are eligible to cancel under any of the above criteria. If you do not receive a cancellation confirmation email within 10 business days, please email MealPlans@IllinoisState.edu for a status update.

As a student living off campus or in Cardinal Court, can I charge my meal plan to my student account?

Yes, these meal plans may be charged to your student account. Please visit the Student Accounts website for more information.

What if I run out of flex dollars before the end of the semester?

You may add money to your Redbird Dollars Account through the Redbird Card Office. All retail dining locations accept Redbird dollars.  The residential dining centers do not accept Redbird Dollars.

What happens to flex dollars at the end of the semester?

Flex dollars remaining at the end of the fall semester will roll over into the spring semester providing a meal plan is retained for the spring semester*. All flex dollars expire at the end of the spring semester and are non-refundable.

If you choose to cancel your meal plan for the spring semester, your flex dollars will expire at the end of the fall semester.

*Students living in traditional residence halls are required to have a meal plan.

What constitutes a meal?

Any access into the dining center is considered a meal whether you eat a bagel, a slice of pizza, a salad, a dessert or a beverage. In general, students on a block plan or traditional plan will not want to come into the dining center for a small snack or beverage since they have a limited number of meals they can eat in a semester or week. These students might prefer to purchase beverages and snacks from the retail restaurants on campus or vending machines in the residence halls using their flex dollars. Students on unlimited meal plans are allowed to enter the dining centers as often as they like, so they may choose to come in more frequently for a drink or snack between meals.

Please keep in mind that Unlimited Access Plans allow a maximum of three carry out meals per day.