Frequently asked dining questions
How do I access my meal plan?
Your Redbird ID Card, which is your university ID, allows dining staff to access your meal plan information. You must carry your Redbird ID Card with you in order to access the residential dining centers or use your flex dollars.
What is the food like?
Both residential dining centers offer a variety of delicious and freshly prepared food. In addition to daily specials at homestyle venues, each dining center offers popular favorites on a daily basis, such as grilled cheeseburgers, deli sandwiches, numerous salad bar selections, pizza, and pasta. Each dining center also has its own unique venues and food options, such as a Mongolian Grill at the Marketplace at Linkins. Fresh Bites at Watterson Dining Commons features lean meats and seafood, fresh vegetables, and whole grains. To check out daily menu options in each of the dining centers, visit Dining.IllinoisState.edu/Menus.
Can I change my meal plan?
Meal plans may be changed online before the start of each semester until the change deadline. Learn more about the change process and deadlines at Dining.IllinoisState.edu/Meal-Plans.
Can I use my meal plan to purchase guest meals?
Dining center meals included in your meal plan are intended for your use only. You may, however, use your flex dollars to purchase meals for guests.
Can I carry out my meals?
All meal plan options allow limited carry outs. Dine in and carry out meals are two separate transactions. If a student would like to eat in the dining center and then get a carry out, they must re-swipe into the dining center to get the carry out box. A meal plan holder may not consume any food within the dining center once a carry out box has been obtained.
What if I run out of flex dollars before the end of the semester?
Money may be added to your Redbird account through the Redbird Card Office. All dining locations accept Redbird dollars, as well as credit and debit cards.
What happens to flex dollars at the end of the semester? If you:
- Live in the residence halls during the fall and spring semesters. Flex dollars remaining at the end of the fall semester automatically roll over to spring.
- Are eligible and choose to move to Cardinal Court, Fell Avenue, or School Street apartments for the spring semester and elect to have a meal plan. If you maintain a meal plan in the spring semester, remaining fall flex dollars will roll over to spring.
- Are eligible and move off campus for the spring semester and wish to have a meal plan. You may complete a contract using the Off-Campus Meal Plan Application. If a contract is retained, flex dollars will roll over to the spring semester.
- Move off campus or to Cardinal Court, Fell Avenue, or School Street apartments and choose to cancel your meal plan for the spring semester. Your flex dollars will expire at the end of the fall semester. They are nonrefundable.
All flex dollars expire at the end of the spring semester and are nonrefundable.
Inclusive diets
Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality is committed to offering varied food selections for all meal plan holders. Whether you are a vegetarian or vegan, have celiac disease, or have a food allergy, you will be able to find numerous options throughout our dining facilities. Watterson Dining Commons offers an allergen friendly venue called Station 8, which provides meals that do not use the top 8 allergens or gluten. Both dining centers offer allergen and gluten friendly options. Contact our registered dietitians before coming to campus at Dining.IllinoisState.edu/about/dietitian if you have food allergies or need dietary accommodations to learn about options available to you to make the most out of your meal plan.
