Meal Plan FAQs

How do I select my meal plan for the spring 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 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. 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; Milner Café at Milner Library, 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?

Yes,carry out is is available; however, disposable containers do not support campus sustainability efforts. Therefore, you are highly encouraged to dine in rather than carry out whenever possible. If you choose to carry out a meal notify staff when you present your ID and containers will be provided.

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 use my meal plan to pay for a guest meal?

You may use flex dollars to pay for a guest meal. Door rates for the 2019-2020 academic year are $6.25 for breakfast, $8.80 for lunch, and $10.00 for dinner. State law requires that all guest meals be charged tax.

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.

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 dining locations 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 are eligible and choose to move to Cardinal Court for the spring semester, you will be able to make a decision regarding meal plan selection during the transition process. If you are eligible and move off campus for the spring semester and wish to have a meal plan, you may complete a contract using the Off Campus Meal Plan Application. If you move off campus or to Cardinal Court and 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.