Dining Plans
OSU Dining Plans for 2009-2010
Campus Dining Services offers many different dining plans, each offering a wide variety of appealing and nutritious foods at convenient locations and hours. The differences between plans are in the number of "swipes" (generally equal to one meal). You can choose the plan that best meets your needs, based on the number of meals you anticipate eating on campus. Each standard plan can be used at any of the more than 20 different locations operated by Campus Dining Services. A description of each is included in the "Facilities & Hours" tab. You can see that there are many choices, from fast food and coffee shops to traditional all-you-care-to-eat operations, to a four-star fine dining restaurant. The hours vary, too--you can get breakfast at 7 a.m. or a snack until 2 a.m.
What is a "swipe?"
Literally, it's swiping your BuckID card through an electronic reader to record a purchase. The food you get for each swipe varies by location, but, in general, one swipe will provide a full meal. All-you-care-to-eat facilities provide unlimited food for one swipe, whereas our sit-down, white tablecloth restaurant, The ViewPoint, requires several swipes for a full meal. Most other locations offer a sandwich or entrée, plus a side dish and/or beverage, for only one swipe.
Examples:
Key points to know when purchasing your meal plan:
- All first year students living in residence halls are required to purchase one of the six plans listed below (rates listed are per quarter). Students living in residence halls coming back for a second year or more may choose any of the six plans or opt to pay the required program/facility fee only.
- You may change from one plan to another during Autumn quarter up to October 9th, during Winter quarter up to February 5th, and during Spring quarter up to April 23rd.
- Unused swipes expire at the end of the quarter.
- You may change your dining plan from quarter to quarter.
- The cost of each standard plan includes a $100 cash deposit to your BuckID account.
- You may purchase additional swipes at any time in packages of 10 for $70.
- You may use up to 20% of your total swipes to purchase groceries at the MarketPlace, Fresh Express at North Commons, Burrito Noches, Fresh Express at Morrill Commons and the Morrill C-Store.
- You may use up to 20% of your total swipes to purchase meals for guests.
Ordering your meal plan
Undergraduate students living in residence halls should order their meal plan by calling University Housing at (614) 292-8266. Those not living in residence halls or graduate students may purchase their meal plans online.
The Choices
The Value Option: The Traditional Plan
The Traditional Plan provides an affordable option to all the students living in the residence halls. It offers 207 meals per quarter in any dining location that accepts the traditional dining plan: Kennedy Commons, North Commons, North Fresh Express, Morrill Fresh Express, Burritos Noches, and Lane Avenue Residence Hall Food Service. Each location is labeled with a "t" on our Facilities & Hours page. Students are provided one meal per dining period – 3 per weekday, 2 per weekend, totaling 19 per week. Swipes expire at the end of the week and refresh the next morning. Traditional dining plans cannot be used after 10:00 pm. While this plan does not include a deposit into your BuckID, you may make a deposit into your account at any time.
Choosing the best plan for you
Think about your current eating patterns. Are you a hearty eater or do you usually eat two or three traditional meals a day? Then the Deluxe Plus or Buckeye Plus plan is the best bet for you. If you are going to be regularly eating meals off campus or if you are a light eater, then the Carmen Plus or Gray Plus plans are probably a wiser choice. You can change from one plan to another during the first few weeks of each quarter and you can purchase additional swipes at any time. Remember that swipes expire at the end of the quarter; they do not carry over. However, dollars in your BuckID account, whether from the dining plan or from other deposits, do carry over until you graduate. Are you still unsure? Contact Housing Services for additional assistance.
The BuckID deposit
Five of the dining plans include $100 in your BuckID account that you can spend at any of the approximately 100 local merchants who accept BuckID, including most area restaurants and grocery stores. You can make additional deposits at any time. Using your BuckID is more economical than using a swipe when you are ordering just a one- or two-item snack in our Campus Dining Services locations. If you are a dining plan holder and decide to use your Buck ID instead of a swipe to purchase a meal, Campus Dining Services gives you a 35% discount off of the cash price at Traditions Dining, dining locations at Kennedy, North Commons, and Lane Avenue Residence Hall Food Service. In addition, a 15% discount will be given to dining plan holders at all other CDS locations when using BuckID money instead of a swipe. The 35% discount and 15% discount program excludes holders of the Commuter Plus dining plan. Holders of the Program/Facility Fee Only plan are eligible for the 35% discount at Traditions Dining located at Kennedy Commons, North Commons and Lane Avenue Food Service. Those wanting to use the 35% discount must show the cashiers the sticker denoting their dorm on their BuckID.
Questions?
Call Campus Dining Services at (614) 292-8380.
Questions about meal contracts, purchasing or current accounts, call University Housing at (614) 292-8266.
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