Frequently Asked Questions
Which plan should I choose?
Our meal options are as follows:
Café Credits Plans
If you’re looking for flexibility (want to use a la carte locations, bring a friend, or dine outside traditional hours), choose a plan with a combination of classic meals and Café Credits. You can use your Café Credits to pick up a quick bagel or sandwich on the go, or choose to meet your friends later in the evening for pizza and hot sandwiches. You can also use your Café Credits to purchase additional classic meals or bring guests to a meal.
For the ultimate flexibility, choose the All Café Credits Plan. The All Café Credits Plan gives you the most flexibility in how and where you dine. The plan allows you to customize the number of classic meals and a la carte meals you wish each day. Still hungry? Add Extra Credits to your i-card account anytime.
And if you’re not hungry this week? No problem. If you choose a plan with Café Credits, you may roll over a maximum of one week’s worth of your plan’s Café Credits to the following week, to a maximum balance of double your weekly allotment. The Extra Credits you add to your i-card account never expire. (Note: If you change your meal plan, you can roll over up to one week's worth of your plan's current Café Credits to your new plan.)
Classic Plans
If you eat most of your meals in a residence hall dining room during traditional meal hours, choose a Classic Plan. Classic Plans allow you to eat up to three all-you-care-to-eat meals a day—one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner—up to the total of meals per week you choose (14 or 20). If you think you’ll choose an a la carte meal once in a while or treat a friend, add Extra Credits to your i-card account anytime.
A La Carte
Just want a muffin and juice? Want a late-night pizza? A la carte locations are for you. You can take your meal to go, or have a seat and stay a while. Items in these locations are priced individually in Credits, so you pay only for the items you choose.
How much do meal plans cost?
Rates for 2009-2010 can be found here.
How much does a full or a la carte meal cost?
If you use Café Credits or Extra Credits for an all-you-can-eat meal, breakfast uses 695 credits, lunch uses 895, and dinner uses 1195. A la carte items are priced individually (prices vary). One credit is valued at one cent.
Can I use one of my classic meals to bring in a friend?
Your classic meals are for your use only. You can use your Café Credits or Extra Credits to bring in a friend. Café Credits are the credits that are part of your meal plan contract. Extra Credits are purchased separately and accessed with your i-card.
How do I add Extra Credits?
A: You can buy Extra Credits, accessed with your i-card, online with a credit card and at residence hall front desks with cash or check.
Will I be able to check my balance online?
Yes. You can check your balance online or via the online Service Desk.
Can I choose whether I want to pay for a meal with credits instead of a classic meal?
Yes. The default is for a classic meal to be deducted from your weekly allotment, but if you would rather use Café Credits or Extra Credits for a meal, inform the checker as you enter the dining hall.
Where can I use Café Credits for food to go?
Café Credits may be used at a la carte locations and may also be used to purchase a classic meal.
What are Extra Credits?
Extra Credits provide added flexibility. They can be purchased at any time by students, faculty, or staff and can be used to purchase food items at a la carte locations or to purchase classic meals in residence hall dining rooms. Extra Credits can be purchased online or at any area office, with no minimum required. Extra Credits never expire as long as a person has an active i-card.
Where can I use Extra Credits?
Extra Credits may be used at a la carte locations and may be used to purchase a classic meal. Extra Credits may also be used in the Illini Union Ballroom. (Extra credits are not accepted at Fat Don's specialty restaurant; only classic meals and Café Credits can be used at Fat Don's.)
Are classic meals, Café Credits and Extra Credits refundable?
No, and they are not transferable to another person.
Do Extra Credits expire?
No, not as long as you have an active i-card.
Do I have to live in the residence halls to use Extra Credits?
No. Anyone with an active i-card can purchase and use Extra Credits.
I have some Café Credits I didn’t spend this week. Can I use them next week?
Yes. You may roll over a maximum of one week’s worth of your plan’s Café Credits into the following week, to a maximum balance of double your weekly allotment. Rollover of applicable credits will occur automatically. (Note: If you change your meal plan, you can roll over up to one week's worth of your plan's current Café Credits to your new plan.)
What if I run out of Café Credits before the end of the week?
You can purchase Extra Credits at any time and use them to buy both classic meals and a la carte items.
Can I switch meal plans?
During the fall semester, you may change to any meal plan until September 23, 2009. After September 23, your meal plan may not be changed again until the spring semester 2010. You may change until two weeks after the first day of classes spring semester (February 3, 2010).
Do Café Credits carry over from fall to spring semester?
If you have a balance of Café Credits left at the end of fall semester, you may roll over your unused credits to the first week of spring semester, in accordance with rollover policy.
When does my meal plan begin at the start of a semester?
Meal plans begin on the date specified in your Housing contract. If meal service begins prior to a Sunday brunch, meal plans are prorated for the partial week. For example, if a semester's meals begin on a Thursday dinner, meal plan holders will see a complete week's worth of meals and credits in their accounts until Sunday at midnight. The partial week will be prorated.
Can my parents add Extra Credits to my i-card account?
Yes. They will need to know your University ID Number (UIN) (the number printed in blue on your i-card).
What if I don’t have enough Café Credits at the end of the week to buy a classic meal?
You can add Extra Credits online or in person. For example, if you have 1100 Café Credits in your account and would like to purchase a classic dinner, add 95 cents’ worth of Extra Credits (or more) to your i-card. The two kinds of credits, when totaled, will equal the 1195 credits you need. There is no minimum purchase of Extra Credits required per transaction.
Is there a minimum number of Extra Credits I must purchase at one time?
No.
Can I use a classic meal at an a la carte location?
Classic meals are only for all-you-care-to-eat locations. To purchase food items at an a la carte location, you will need credits. You can use either Café Credits, which are purchased as part of a meal plan, or Extra Credits, which you can add to your i-card anytime.
If I miss a classic breakfast, can I buy two classic lunches?
Classic meals may only be used once per meal period (breakfast 7:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.; lunch 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m., and dinner 4:45 p.m.–6:30 p.m.).
Can the Classic 6 plan be used at specialty restaurants?
The Classic 6 may be used at any specialty restaurant, including Fat Don’s.
Where can I eat a classic meal?
Traditional dining rooms are located in the following residence hall areas: Gregory Drive, Peabody Drive, Allen, Busey-Evans, LAR, ISR, FAR, and PAR. Anyone can eat in any dining room regardless of where they live.
Are students who live in graduate residence halls required to purchase a meal plan?
No, but they may purchase a meal plan if they wish. The Classic 6 is the plan many students living in graduate residence halls choose. They may also purchase Extra Credits.
What do I do if my i-card is lost, stolen, or destroyed?
If your i-card is lost or stolen, you need to call the ID Center at 217-244-0135 immediately to avoid financial liability.
If your i-card is stolen, you need to call the Campus Police at 333-1216. You should then report to the Campus ID Center for a new i-card as soon as possible. The replacement fee is currently $20, subject to change.
If you cannot get to the ID Center before your next meal and you have a meal contract, you may go to the area office of any hall to get a replacement ticket.
More information is available at the i-card Center website.
Are sick trays available?
Sick trays may be requested only in the home hall of the resident who is ill. Another resident with a valid meal pass must surrender the ID of the ill individual, along with his/her own, to the checker. The checker will cancel the proper meal on both meal passes and direct the resident to the proper serving counter where the ID and sick tray will be available for pick up following the meal. A sick ray may be prepared by a supervisor, coordinator, kitchen helper, cook, or student Dining Service worker.
Residents who are ill and who require a special diet prescribed by a McKinley physician must present the following four items to the checker to obtain a special sick tray:
- A half slip of paper on McKinley letterhead
- Dates valid for special sick tray
- Special menu for sick tray filled out by resident
- Valid meal pass or ID
Residents who are ill but who don't require a special diet prescribed by a physician will receive the standard sick tray. A sick tray will contain similar items for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and consists of the following:
- tea or carbonated beverages
- soup or bouillon
- soda crackers
- bagels
- toast or hot cereal
These foods are recommended for individuals with upset stomach, cold, or influenza. They are high in water to prevent dehydration, high in carbohydrate to minimize tissue catabolism, and low in protein to reduce the formation of urea and thus spare the loss of fluid.