Jump to: About Classic Meals | About Cafe Credits | About Extra Credits | Lost i-card | Sick Trays
Meal Plan Basics
Which plan should I choose?
Please note: the minimum meal plan for undergraduate hall residents is the 12 Classic/15 Cafe Credits plan.
Combination Classic and 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. Combination meal plans: 12 Classic/15 Café Credits per week; 10 Classic/45 Café Credits per week.
All Café Credits Plan
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. All Cafe Credits Plan: 130 Cafe Credits per week (see info about credit rollover below).
Classic Plans
If you eat most of your meals in a residence hall dining room during traditional meal hours, choose a plan with classic meals. These plans allow you to enter a dining hall using a meal credit up to 7 times per day (up to your plan's limit). 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. Plans with Classic Meals only: 6 classic meals per week (graduate hall and off-campus students only); Maximum Classic (dine up to 7 times per day).
New for Fall 2012: The Maximum Classic!
The Maximum Classic gives you access to all Classic locations on campus, up to 7 times per day! You can have as much or as little as you like in all of our all-you-care-to-eat dining halls. This exciting new option gives you exceptional value and flexibility.
How much do meals cost?
Are students who live in graduate upper-division 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 upper-division residence halls (Daniels and Sherman) choose. They may also purchase Extra Credits or use a credit card in our dining locations.
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. Credit cards are also accepted in our dining locations.
Will I be able to check my balance online?
Yes. You can check your balance online.
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.
Are classic meals, Café Credits, and Extra Credits refundable?
No, and they are not transferable to another person.
Can I switch meal plans?
Yes, there is a period of time at the beginning of each semester when you can change your meal plan. Read more about buying or changing meal plans.
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 not see a complete week's worth of meals and credits in their accounts until Sunday at midnight. The partial week will be prorated.
Where can I purchase items individually?
Items can be purchased individually at a la carte locations. You can use Café Credits for food items only, or Extra Credits or a credit card for any a la carte items.
What are specialty restaurants?
On designated days, specialty cuisines are offered in different dining hall locations.
About Classic Meals
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.
What are the meal periods?
If you have a meal plan with Classic Meals, you may enter a dining hall using a Meal credit up to 7 times per day, once per meal period (up to your limit: 6 meals, 10 meals, or 12 meals). Maximum Classic meal plan holders may enter once per meal period, up to 48 times per week. What time you enter a dining hall determines which meal or credits you use.
| Meal Period |
Hours |
Credit Equivalent |
| Breakfast |
7–10 a.m. |
7.36 Cafe Credits
8.43 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
| Early Lunch |
10:01 a.m.–12 noon |
9.31 Cafe Credits
10.66 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
| Lunch |
12:01–2 p.m. |
9.31 Cafe Credits
10.66 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
| Late Lunch |
2:01–4 p.m. |
9.31 Cafe Credits
10.66 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
| Dinner 1 |
4:01–6 p.m. |
12.21 Cafe Credits
13.97 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
| Dinner 2 |
6:01–8 p.m. |
12.21 Cafe Credits
13.97 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
| Late Dinner |
8:01 p.m.–12 midnight
(available at ISR & PAR) |
9.31 Cafe Credits
10.66 Extra Credits
(includes tax) |
Can the Classic 6 plan be used at specialty restaurants?
The Classic 6 may be used at any specialty restaurant.
Where can I eat a classic meal?
Traditional dining rooms are located in the following residence hall areas: Ikenberry, Allen, Busey-Evans, LAR, ISR, FAR, and PAR. Anyone can eat in any dining room regardless of where they live.
About Cafe Credits
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 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.
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.)
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.
About Extra Credits
What are Extra Credits?
Extra Credits can be purchased separately for added flexibility, or as a supplement to your meal plan. They can be purchased at any time by students, faculty, or staff. Extra Credits can be used for items at a la carte locations, to purchase classic meals in residence hall dining rooms, or for laundry. They never expire as long as a person has an active i-card.
How do I add Extra Credits?
You can buy Extra Credits online with a credit card (computer kiosks are located near front desks for your convenience). No minimum is required.
How do I earn free Extra Credits?
The more you deposit in a single transaction, the more Extra Credits you receive. Read more about earning free credits.
Where can I use Extra Credits?
Extra Credits may be used at a la carte locations, to purchase a classic meal, or for laundry. Extra Credits may also be used in the Illini Union Ballroom.
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.
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).
Lost i-card
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.
Sick Trays
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.