2023-24 Meal Plans | Dining Services (2024)

What do the numbers mean with the different meal plan options?

The numbers listed with each meal plan represent meal swipes and Dining Dollars. The first number represents meal swipes and the second number represents Dining Dollars. How those numbers break down depends on the type of plan you get.

Am I eligible for a meal plan?

Students must be enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour to be eligible for a meal plan.

Important dates for Fall 2023/Spring 2024 meal plans.

Can I purchase a meal plan if I don't live on campus?

Yes, you are able to purchase a meal-only plan via the housing portal on MyRED.

Where can you use meal plan swipes?

Meal swipes can be used in any dining center.

In addition, meal swipes can be used at the Selleck Food Court, Abel Dining Center, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app, or at any Herbie's Market. A meal swipe has a $9 value on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market.

Meal swipes cannot be used at any Nebraska Union food vendor.

What is the value of a meal plan swipe on the app or in Herbie's Market?

Meal swipes have a $9 value if used on the Transact mobile ordering app or at a Herbie's Market location.

What are Dining Dollars and how do they work?

Dining Dollars are an addition to meal plans that give students the flexibility to purchase food items. Students present their NCard at the register of a location that accepts Dining Dollars as a form of payment, and the total of the food items purchased counts toward their Dining Dollars balance.

What’s the difference between Dining Dollars and meal plan swipes?

Visit the Dining Dollars webpage to view a more detailed explanation of what Dining Dollars are and how to use them. More detailed information about meal plan swipes can be found on the meal swipes webpage.

Where can you use Dining Dollars?

Dining Dollars are accepted in any of the Herbie’s Markets on campus (Cather, Abel, Knoll, Village, and East Campus) as well as any dining center or Husker Heroes location.

You can also use your Dining Dollars at any Nebraska Union food vendor via the mobile ordering app. Nebraska Union food vendors include Chick-fil-A, Imperial Palace, Starbucks, Steak 'n Shake, Subway, and Valentino's.

Can I reload my Dining Dollars?

$100 Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased by any student, regardless if they already have a meal plan or live with University Housing. Multiple Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased. Reload Dining Dollars in the housing portal on MyRED.

Can I change my meal plan?

Students have until the sixth day of class (census day) of each semester to change their semester meal plan. For example, if classes begin on a Monday for the semester, students would have until the following Monday (sixth day of class) to change their meal plan.

After this date, students will be unable to make changes to their current semester meal plan.

First-year students will only be able to view and select options for which they are eligible.

Is there a cost associated with changing my meal plan?

Premium 18/300, Big Red 14/200, Platinum 12/400, Diamond 10/600, and Sapphire 8/800 plans bill swipes by a nightly rate + semester dining dollars. These plans are “pro-rated” meaning you will pay the daily rate + Dining Dollars used for the number of days you have the plan.

Gold 125/500, Silver 75/500 and Bronze 50/275 plans are “block” plans, this means you are paying for a set number (block) of meals and a set number (block) of Dining Dollars. Block plans are not pro-rated, you are charged the whole cost of the plan at the time you purchase the plan.

Occasionally, and depending on prior plan usage, moving from a pro-rated plan to a block plan may cost more than the original plan.

Can I cancel my meal plan?

Meal plans are required unless the student is residing off campus or in an apartment-style unit in Courtyards, Village, or Massengale. All first-year students are required to have a meal plan.

Students not required to have meal plans can cancel their meal plan through the housing portal and click the "Cancel your contract" image on the right side of the screen. Complete all necessary prompts until you finish the form.

If contract cancellation occurs during the last 30 days of the semester, there will be no credit issued for the remaining days left in the semester.

Do meals reset? If yes, when?

Do Dining Dollars reset? If yes, when?

The Dining Dollars balance is for the semester. Unused Dining Dollars carry over from the fall semester to the spring semester but must be used by the end of the contract. No refund will be given in the last 30 days of the contract.

If I leave school at the end of the fall semester, do I get a refund?

Students leaving at the end of the fall semester will not be refunded for meals or Dining Dollars if within the last 30 days of the fall semester.

What are the meal periods?

Meal periods are as follows:

Note: Meal periods do not directly correlate to when all dining service locations are open. View hours of service for various dining locations on the .