Meal Plan FAQ

As a first-year student, can I use my meal plan at any location?
The First-Year Full Board Plan is designed to be used primarily at The Marketplace. Only after The Marketplace closes each evening can you use a meal exchange, either at Café 77, Fireside, or Foodside. The plan allows for a maximum of one meal exchange per after-hours period. The meal plan flex dollars that come with the first-year plan may be used anywhere, anytime, without restriction.

Upper-Division students can use their meal plan anywhere, anytime.

Will my meal plan assignment from Fall Term automatically carry over to Winter/Spring Term?
Yes - If you wish to make changes to your meal plan for Winter/Spring Term, those changes must be requested between October 10 and 4:00 pm on November 1, 2024.

What is the meal equivalency rate?
The meal equivalency rate is $8.50 for breakfast and $11.00 for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Did the meal plan requirement increase this year?
Yes. Non-first-year undergraduate students are required to have a minimum of 15 meals per week - essentially two meals each day. Fraternity members, who get 10 meals each week through their external Greek meal plan, must supplement that plan with 5 or more meals through W&L (for a total of 15).

Washington and Lee is committed to the success of all students, and easy access to well-prepared, nutritious, and diverse food options is an essential ingredient to that success. The University continues to invest heavily in our dining program, team, and facilities, and we are confident that we provide excellent and varied dining options at all times of the week. The increased commitment to dining on campus will further a sense of community among our students and will allow students to stay focused on what's important without stressing over access to food.

Are there any new initiatives coming for the 2024-25 school year?
Absolutely! Most noticeably, our multi-year renovation of the Elrod Commons dining venues wraps up this summer. When students return for fall term, they will see a brand-new expanded dining room in The Marketplace, along with a full renovation to the current back dining room. In all, indoor seating capacity will increase by more than 40%, which will be further supplemented by refurnished patios that provide scenic woods-view dining options during most of the year. On the Café 77 level, a beautiful new rooftop terrace will open in the heart of campus, providing added outdoor dining capacity, as well as a great new spot to mingle with friends between classes.

Beyond the renovations, we will expand mobile ordering (which launched this spring term at Tea House) to Café 77, E Café, and Fireside. Click here for information about downloading the mobile ordering app. Students will also enjoy expanded operating hours at The Marketplace, Tea House, and Fieldside, as well as continued innovation in our menus across all dining venues. Look for everything from house-grown hydroponic greens and exciting new Global Kitchen cuisines at The Marketplace, to pop-up specials and new everyday menu items across our retail units.

What is the difference between "Meal Plan Flex Dollars" and "Food Flex Dollars?"
"Meal Plan Flex Dollars" are assigned as a part of your meal plan in the value of $250 for the fall term and $300 for the winter/spring term. They can be used at any location during any open hours. Meal Plan Flex Dollars are only valid during the term in which they are issued. If the initial allotment is completely utilized, you may add "Food Flex Dollars" for additional purchasing power.

"Food Flex Dollars" can be added at any time for a minimum of $25, and any remaining balance will be carried over from Fall Term to Winter/Spring Term (but NOT to the following Academic Year). Food Flex can be added at The Marketplace, Brief Stop, or by using the Food Flex Addition Form.

Will my "Meal Plan Flex Dollars" automatically carry over to the next term?
No. Mean Plan Flex dollars are tied to each term's meal plan and must be redeemed within the active-dates of the term.

Will my "Food Flex Dollars" automatically carry over to the next term?
Yes - Food Flex Dollars carry over from Fall Term to Winter/Spring Term, but do not carry over from one academic year to the next.

Will my Law Campus Connection or Law1000 Meal Plan Dollars automatically carry over to the next term?
No. However, any additional Food Flex Dollars you add carry over from Fall Semester to Spring Semester, but do not carry over to the next academic year.

Where can I use my "Meal Plan Flex Dollars"?
You can use the Meal Plan Flex Dollars that are assigned with your meal plan anytime, anywhere, without restriction.

Should I use "General Debit" for my food?
You can. However, we instead recommend using Food Flex Dollars. This exempts your purchases from Virginia sales tax. All purchases made with Meal Plan Flex or Food Flex dollars are tax exempt, whereas purchases made with General Debit are not.

As a first-year student, do I have any guest meals?
Yes - You have ten guest meals per term. These can be used for visiting family or friends, or to treat another student to a meal. However, you must be present during the time the guest meal is redeemed.

Can I share my meal plan with friends?
As a first-year student, you may use your allotment of guest swipes to treat friends or family. After your first year, you may use multiple swipes at a time in any venue, which can double as guest swipes as desired. However, you must always be present when the swipes on your ID card are redeemed.

As a first-year student, can I use my meal plan at venues other than The Marketplace?
Yes - You may redeem a dinner meal exchange at Café 77, Fireside, or Foodside after The Marketplace has closed. You can also always use Meal Plan Flex Dollars or Food Flex Dollars at any campus location.

What options do I have for food intolerances?
If you have any food intolerances, please reach out to Dining Services at diningservices@wlu.edu. We are committed to assisting you in navigating these issues. You may also ask our staff to talk with a chef at any time if you have specific questions about the ingredients in a particular dish.

If I am studying abroad, how do I obtain my refund?
If you are flagged as abroad prior to the start of fall or winter terms, you will typically not be billed for a meal plan.
If you are abroad for spring term, your Meal Plan cost will be refunded on a prorated basis depending on the number of weeks you are away. "Meal Plan Flex Dollars" are not refundable and should be spent prior to your time abroad.
The refund is initiated by Dining Services, processed by the University Business Office, and shows up as a credit on your student account.

Who do I notify in Dining Services when I am on Spring Option?
Students staying on campus and not taking a class for Spring Term may choose to keep their meal plan. In these cases, Dining Services will cover the required tax so you have easy access to food while you are on campus. Spring Option students will receive an email from Dining Services prior to the start of spring term requesting their preference on keeping or dropping their spring meal plan.

If you elect to drop your plan, a refund is submitted by Dining Services, processed by the University Business Office, and shows up as a credit on your student account.

Can I add money to my card without having a meal plan?
No. You can only add food flex if you have a campus meal plan.

Where can I add money to my "Food Flex Account"?
Funds may be added in-person at The Marketplace, Brief Stop, or the University Business Office. You can also utilize the online Food Flex Addition Form or the W&L eCard.

How and when can I make changings to my meal plan?
Please see Dining Policies and Schedule for open enrollment periods when meal plan changes can be made. All meal plan changes may be made using the Meal Plan Form.

Who is automatically assigned to a meal plan?
All undergraduate students, 1L, and 2L students are assigned a meal plan. See meal plan options for more information.

Do unused meals roll over from week to week?
No, meals do not roll over. Each week period runs from Saturday through Friday.

Can I get a refund for my meal plan if I decide not to return to Washington & Lee?
Yes, if you are unable to return or decide not to return to campus, a full refund will be issued for your selected or default meal plan.