Frequently Asked Questions

1) How can I change my meal plan? 

Meal plan changes for spring semester may be made on-line only through Friday, January 27 at 5pm. On-line changes are free. After January 27, changes must be made in person in the Card Office, located on the 2nd floor of the Johnson Student Center. A $5 fee (cash or check only) will apply.

The deadline for meal plan changes is 5 p.m. on the Friday at the end of the second full week of classes (February 3, 2012).

If you move off campus you must inform the Card Office to cancel your meal plan in conjunction with the move. If you move out of campus housing and back in at a later date, you will automatically be placed on Meal Plan A and must notify the Card Office within two weeks if you want a different plan. 

2) How can I check my meal plan balance?

The easiest way is on-line, by enrolling in ManageMyID. Cashiers can also give you balance information by swiping your card.

3) Why is a meal plan required if I live on Campus?

First, dining together is an important part of the overall co-curricular experience that helps define Occidental’s highly residential community.

Second, Occidental’s residence halls are not designed with individual living units or communal kitchens that meet County of Los Angeles standards for daily food preparation.

Finally, having on-campus students participate in board plans is necessary, from a financial standpoint, to enable Occidental to provide its excellent in-house dining program. Campus Dining determines its budget, including staffing and service levels each year, from the occupancy in the residence halls. 

4) Do any funds roll over?

Yes, some funds from plans A or B are available for rollover.

5) Why aren't refunds provided for money left in meal plan accounts?

Campus Dining's budget is based on the number of students forecasted to be housed in the residence halls each year. A majority of the cost students pay for meal plans (62%) goes towards expenses other than the cost of food and disposable supplies - including labor and benefits, energy, equipment, maintenance, linens and uniforms, cleaning supplies, technology, etc. These costs are relatively fixed, and will occur regardless of how much each individual student eats. An expected percentage of unused meal plan funds is typical, and if this factor decreased, or refunds were made available, the price of meal plans would have to be increased in order to provide the same levels of service.

6) Why isn't meal plan D offered to first year students?

We feel it typically takes a year for students to develop their individual dining patterns. On the higher plans students are not unduly restricted from trying out all dining facilities at various times of the day and week, or from making new food choices. Friendships often develop over dining together. Students are encouraged to eat breakfast, even if that means buying something the night before and storing it in the room refrigerator. Studies show that higher academic performance is directly linked to eating breakfast.

7) How do meal plans factor into financial aid?

Financial Aid packages are based on the second highest plan, Meal Plan B.

8) Do you have vegetarian/vegan/organic/local selections? Can you accommodate food allergies and special diets?

Yes! Please visit our Nutrition & Wellness page.