meal plans
Do I have to enroll in a meal plan?
Yes. All students residing on campus at Spelman College are required to participate in a meal plan. All residential students are on the Jaguar meal plan that offers unlimited meals per week. Students living in Beverly D. Tatum Suites also have the option of the Founders meal plan that offers 12 meals per week. Commuting students may choose from unlimited, 12 meals per week, or a 100 or 50 block meal plan.
What is a block meal plan?
Block meal plans allow you a set number of meal swipes or meal exchanges per semester. When dining at the Alma Upshaw Café or using a meal exchange at the Suites or retail locations, the cashier will swipe your Spelman ID card and one meal will be deducted from your plan for that meal period.
Can I change my meal plan?
Meal plans may be cancelled or modified by logging into Etrieve. Changes or cancellations will not be accepted via phone, fax, or email. The deadline to change or cancel the meal plan for the fall 2023 semester is August 25, 2023. The deadline to request or cancel a meal plan for the spring 2024 semester is February 1, 2024. Charges will be prorated based on the date the plan was cancelled or modified.
What are declining balance dollars?
Declining balance dollars are included with all meal plan options to allow you flexibility to eat in a variety of campus locations without an out-of-pocket expense. A declining balance account works just like a debit card for food. Purchases are automatically deducted from your account balance.
What happens to unused declining balance dollars?
Declining balance dollars remaining after the fall semester will rollover into the spring semester. Unused declining balance dollars expire at the end of the spring semester and are not refundable.
What if I lose my Spelman ID Card?
Your Spelman ID, which serves as your dining card, is required for all transactions. If your ID card is lost or stolen, you must immediately replace the card in order to have access to dining services.
GUESTS
Can I bring a guest to the dining hall?
Yes, guests may pay the door rate to dine in the Alma Upshaw Café for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Door rates are set for each meal period. Declining balance dollars, credit, or debit cards are accepted forms of payment.
MEALS TO GO
Can I take meals out of the dining hall?
Yes, Alma Upshaw Café allows guests to dine-in or utilize the Boxed to GO program. Disposable boxes, bowls, and cups will not be available to take meals to go. Guests using the Boxed to GO program are not permitted to eat in the dining hall.
What is the Boxed to GO Program?
When you swipe your card, inform the cashier you will be taking a meal to-go. Guests will be charged $6 dollars for the initial Boxed to GO reusable container. Guests may fill the container with menu items from any station, but the container must close and only one container is permitted per meal swipe. After each use, empty and rinse the container. At the next meal, bring the reusable container to the dining hall to exchange it for a cleaned and sanitized Boxed to GO container or a Boxed to GO carabiner if dining in for that meal.
Can I get use multiple meal exchanges at the Suites?
No, you can use one meal exchange at the Suites at each meal period. Additional meals in the same meal period can be purchased using declining balance dollars, credit, or debit card.
MEAL EXCHANGE
What is a meal exchange?
Meal exchange is a meal plan option that that allows you to use a residential meal swipe at a retail location. Each location has specified menu combinations that can be purchased with meal exchange.
Where can I use meal exchange?
Meal exchange options are available at retail locations including Nom Station, Ace Sushi, Slutty Vegan, Grab and Go at the C-store, Roam at Beverly D. Tatum Suites, and Spelman After Dark at Beverly D. Tatum Suites.
Can I use a meal exchange at Starbucks?
No, meal exchange is not accepted at Starbucks. A meal exchange is meant to be for food and menu combinations a full meal. A full meal is defined as an entrée and side. A beverage at Starbucks is not considered food and is not part of a full meal and therefore cannot count as a meal exchange.
How many meal swipes and meal exchanges can I use?
For all meal plans, you have the option of using one meal swipe or one meal exchange per meal period. Meal periods are defined as breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Additional meals in the same meal period can be purchased using declining balance dollars, credit, or debit card. The number of meal swipes and meal exchanges you have per week is based on your meal plan.
Can I use a meal exchange at a retail location and a meal swipe into Alma Upshaw Café for the same meal?
No. You have the option of using one meal swipe or one meal exchange per meal period. Meal periods are defined below. Additional meals during a given meal period can be purchased with declining balance, credit, or debit.
Monday – Friday
Breakfast 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Lunch 11:01 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dinner 4:31 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Late Night 9:01 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Saturday – Sunday
Brunch 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Dinner 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.