We’ve put together a list of some common questions students have about dining on campus. If the questions you have are not on this list, you can always reach out to us either through email or on social media.
Questions about meal plans? We have answers!
What Meal Plans Can I Choose From?
If you’re assigned to an apartment-style residence or live off campus, you are not required to enroll in a dining plan and you will not be automatically assigned to a dining plan, but you may choose from any of the dining plans above or three Campus Connector Plans.
Which Plan Should I Choose?
No matter which meal plan you choose, you’ll eat well! Choosing a meal plan may seem daunting, but there are no wrong options. The best advice when deciding on a plan is to consider how many you’ll be eating in the all-you-care-to-eat dining rooms each week. If it is more than 10, our OPEN ACCESS or OPEN ACCESS + plan would be best. You’ll also want to think about your academic and social schedule. A comparison of our plans can be found here.
Do I Have To Have a Meal Plan?
If you live on campus in a traditional or suite-style room, you must enroll in one of the four residential dining plans. If you do not choose a meal plan, and you are required to have one, you will be assigned to the OPEN ACCESS plan. Students living off campus or in on-campus apartments are not required to select a meal plan but are welcome to sign up for any plan we offer.
What if I Have a Dietary Restriction or Allergens?
Are There Meal Plans for Students Living in Apartments or Off-Campus?
Yes! In addition, to our OPEN ACCESS and WEEKLY plans, we also offer 3 CAMPUS CONNECTOR Meal Plans for non-resident and commuter students that provide the flexibility to visit our dining halls and our retail locations. All of these options are available to review on our website.
How Do I Sign Up for a Meal Plan?
Residential students initially select their meal plan in the housing application. Students living off campus or in apartment-style rooms and who are currently enrolled in classes can choose a meal plan by visiting the Student Portal and selecting ‘My Student Life’ and then choose ‘Update Dining Plan.” Selections and upgrades can be made through the portal beginning on January 12, 2024.
Can I Change My Meal Plan?
Dining plan selections and upgrades for Spring 2024 can be made beginning January 12, 2024, by visiting the Student Portal and selecting “Add or Change your Dining Plan.” Upgrades can be made two weeks from the activation day of meal plans for the semester.
Spring 2024 Meal Plan Selection and Upgrade Dates
Students can select or upgrade meal plans on the Student Portal beginning Friday, January 12, 2024. The last day to upgrade a meal plan is Friday, January 26, 2024.
During the change window, changes can only be made to a meal plan with the same or higher cost than the current plan.
If you live off campus or in an on-campus, apartment-style residence and you chose a dining plan or apartment plan, please refer to your plan agreement for policies regarding changes and cancellations. Since each plan has varying amounts of meals and points, additional costs may be incurred if meal and/or point usage is greater than expected levels at the time of the change. For more information contact the Terrier Card Office at 617-353-9966 or tco@bu.edu.
What Does “Open Access” Mean?
I Am On An Open Access Plan, But My Balance Is 20 Meals, Why?
When does the Weekly 10+ or the Kosher plan reset meal balances?
Can I Take Food From the Dining Hall “To Go”?
Our all-you-care-to-enjoy residence dining halls are designed to provide a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for communal dining and social interaction among students. By enjoying meals together within these spaces, students can connect and build meaningful relationships, enhancing their overall college experience. In adherence to the University’s Terms and Conditions of the Residence License Agreement, food and related articles (with the exception of hand fruit and ice cream) are not permitted to be taken out of the residence dining halls. Our dining program is committed to minimizing food waste and promoting sustainable practices. By adhering to the no take-out policy, we aim to reduce unnecessary food waste and promote responsible consumption habits among our community.
What are Dining Points?
Dining Points are dollars stored on your Terrier Card; 1 point = 1 dollar. They are a part of each meal plan and can be used to purchase meals at on-campus eateries through the Grubhub Campus app or for food purchases at City Convenience stores.
What are Convenience Points?
Convenience Points are dollars stored on your Terrier Card. They are separate from meal plans and not the same thing as Dining Points. In addition to dining locations, Convenience Points can be used for a variety of transactions such as vending or laundry services. Convenience Points can be added using the Student Link or added by using a credit card on the Get the Point page.
What's the Kosher Plan?
How Do I Pay for My Meals?
Dining Points, Convenience Points, and Meal Swipes are the preferred contact-less payment methods. Students can easily tap their Terrier ID card to enter residence dining rooms and one meal will automatically be deducted from your meal plan. Guests can download and set-up their Grubhub Campus Dining account from a mobile device to conveniently order and pay for meals at all on campus eateries.
What Happens to My Un-used Points or Meals?
For all plans, your Dining Points balance will carry over from the fall semester to the spring semester. At the end of the academic year, all Dining Points balances over $10 will be credited to your account for half of their value. Weekly 10+ or Kosher Plan members will receive meal balances each Friday and any un-used Meals from the week prior will expire.
Are There Gluten-Free Meals on Campus?
The Fresh Food Co. at Marciano Commons and the Fresh Food Co. at Warren Towers operate a gluten-free kitchen daily for lunch and dinner. The Fresh Food Co. at West Campus has a gluten-free ingredient station. All three of these dining rooms have gluten-free pantries that offer students a wide selection of gluten-free products anytime the dining hall is open. If you have an allergen, or would like to gain access to the gluten-free pantry, please contact the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center for a consultation.
Are There Plant-Based Meals Available?
Yes! Every dining room has a dedicated vegan station at every meal. As part of the menu rotation you’ll find different options throughout the day so what you see for dinner will be different than what you had for lunch. The vegan stations include create-your-own vegan stir fry with a multitude of different combinations to choose from. Fresh Fuel @ Granby Commons, located at 213 Bay State Road, is welcoming to all and offers two kitchens, one that is kosher and one that is vegan. The majority of items on our residence dining room menus are vegetarian-friendly. We offer vegan entrees, snacks, and dessert options in all of our dining rooms. You’ll find vegan selections at at variety of on campus dining locations across campus. Look for the green vegan logo and the brown vegetarian logo on menus and grab and go offerings. For more details about vegan and vegetarian dining, click here.
Are There Kosher Dining Meals Available?
Yes! At 213 Bay State Road, you’ll find Fresh Fuel @ Granby Commons located on the 3rd floor. Here you will find a kosher and vegan menu served for lunch and dinner, plus Shabbat Dinners on Friday night and High Holiday celebrations as well.
Does BU Dining Have Late Night Locations?
We have many dining locations that are open late including Late Nite Café at Warren Towers, Late Nite Café at West Campus, and even Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.You can always find what is open nowon our website. We also partner with Domino’s Pizza so you can use points to order delivery until 3 am.
Can I Order a Meal From the Dining Room to Pick-Up?
Our Rhetty To Go program is just what you need when you don’t have time to make it to the dining hall. You can place an order well in advance and select the time and location you’d like to pick it up. Options include breakfast, lunch, and dinner with sandwiches, salads, and entrees. There are even kosher, vegan, and gluten-free Rhetty To Go options.
Are There Fun Experiences in the Dining Rooms?
Starting with Lobster Night in September, you’ll find plenty of fun and quirky dining experiences celebrating culinary creations from around the world. From National Cookie Day to Spicy Guacamole Day, there is a “food holiday” for everyone! Be sure to keep up with us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to be the first to find out about our experiences.
May I bring a Guest into the Dining Rooms?
Yes! Residential meal plans include 10 Guest Meals. If you’d like to use a Guest Meal, just tell our cashier upon entry. Unused guest meals will rollover from Fall to Spring semester. Guests can also enjoy a meal with us by paying cash or card at the door. Keep in mind that our Warren Towers dining hall does require guests to pass through housing security.
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