See below for our most commonly asked questions!
For more information about meal plans, contact Residence Life at reslife@clarku.edu, for all other inquiries email our GM, Denis Gagne, denis.gagne@sodexo.com.
If you live in a traditional or suite style room, you are required to be on a full meal plan. Full meal plans are All Access, 15, 12, and 10.
Anyone living off-campus (in apartment style housing or Blackstone Hall) can choose a 100 Block Plan, a 5 Meal per week plan, or select from the Full Meal Plans (All Access, 15, 12, or 10).
All primary plans (All Access, 15, 12, 10) can be upgraded to a plus plan. The plus plan upgrade provides for an additional swap after 9pm 7 days every week and $25 additional dining dollars.
The All Access meal plan gives students the ultimate flexibility to dine at Higgins Dining Hall, our all-you-care to eat destination. Students can visit Higgins as many times as they like, every day, seven days per week. We invite All Access students to visit the Bistro one time per meal period, but students cannot swap in the Bistro more than once during the meal period, nor can students both swap and swipe into Higgins during a meal period.
The 15, 12 and 10 plans provide 15, 12, 10 meals per week and up to a max of 3 per day. Each meal plan reloads weekly on Mondays at 2:30am. Any unused meals per week will not carry over into the new week.
The meal periods for swipes and swaps are, during the week, breakfast 7am to 11am, lunch 11am to 4pm, light lunch snack 2:30pm-5pm dinner 4pm to 9pm, and late night 9pm to midnight, and on weekends, brunch 8am to 4pm, dinner 4pm to 9pm, and late night 9pm to midnight. Students cannot swap at the Bistro and swipe into Higgins in the same meal period, even those on the all access plans. During the week, breakfast is served in Higgins from 7am to 11am, lunch 11am to 2:30pm, light lunch snack 2:30pm-5pm and dinner 5pm to 8pm, and on weekends, brunch from 8:30am to 2:30pm and dinner 5pm to 8pm. During the week, breakfast is served in the Bistro from 8am to 10:30am, lunch from 11am to 4pm, dinner from 4pm to 9pm, and late night from 9pm to midnight. On the weekends, lunch is served in the Bistro from 11am to 4pm, dinner from 4pm to 9pm, and late night from 9pm to midnight.
Students can add or upgrade a meal plan anytime. Decreasing (i.e. going from all access to 12 meals per week) or cancelling a meal plan can only happen during the first two weeks of each semester and over breaks. The specific deadlines can be accessed on your Academic Calendar.
There are two meal periods during the weekend which are Brunch & Dinner. Brunch is from 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Dinner is from 5 PM - 8PM. Higgins is open for light snacks between 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM and the Bistro is open until midnight.
To sign up, log into you.clarku.edu portal. Students can add or upgrade a meal plan anytime. Decreasing (i.e. going from all access to 12 meals per week) or cancelling a meal plan can only happen during the first two weeks of each semester and over breaks. The specific deadlines can be accessed here Residence Calendar. For more information, contact Residence Life at reslife@clarku.edu.
A Cash Card holds real cash value placed on your One Card which students can use to purchase meals at any Dining location, in addition to campus vending machines, the campus store, and some establishments off-campus. Students or parents can add money to their Cash Card.For more information on the Cash Card Program clickhere. Dining Dollars add flexibility to your dining options and are yours to spend like cash at all Dining Services locations. They are also tax-exempt. Any Dining Dollars remaining in a student’s account at the end of the fall semester will roll over and be available during the spring semester if they remain on a meal plan. Dining Dollars expire and do not rollover if a meal plan is not active spring semester. Dining Dollars not used by the end of the spring semester will expire. Although a student can not add additional dining dollars, you can add cash to your cash card by clicking here. Refunds are not available for unused meals and meals do not carry over from week to week. Plans are valid for the card holder only.
Swaps can be used in the Bistro. Available items are marked with a purple SW logo. A Swap includes an entrée and two sides. You can use 1 Swap per meal period, if you have not swiped into Higgins Café during that meal period. If you are on the All-Access Plus plan, you have an additional swap to use during Late Night in the Bistro. If you have more questions about how to Swap, ask the cashier within the location you are swapping in.
For all meal plans, students are able to use one swap per meal period, if they have not swiped into Higgins Café during that meal period.
Guest Swipes are designated meals for if a student would like to dine in with an additional guest using their meal plan. All Plus Plans, All Access, 15, 12, and 10 come with 5 Guest Meals per semester. Students may use their Guest Meals for themselves. Choose To Reuse is a program that allows students to grab to go from Higgins Café & the Bistro’ using a sustainable method. Students may purchase a container from the cashier at the Bistro or Higgins Café for a one-time fee of $5. After you have used the container, you must return it in exchange for a token or a new container. For more questions about the Choose To Reuse program, ask our cashiers.
A Swap is a meal exchange for those who choose to not use their board swipe within the dining hall. Instead, students Swap for an entrée and two side options within the Bistro in replacement of the meal they would have chosen from Higgins Café.
Campus dining operations, dietary needs, general meal plan questions, upcoming special dining events contact GM, Denis Gagne, denis.gagne@sodexo.com. To sign up for a meal plan contact Res life and housing at ResLife@Clarku.edu. Meal plan ID card issues contact the campus card office athelpdesk@clarku.edu 
