Dining Policies

Policies + Disclosures

General Policy

Freshmen: All resident freshmen must subscribe to the Foundation Meal Plan.

Sophomores: All resident sophomores (regardless of style of housing) must choose among four dining plans: the Foundation Meal Plan, the Residential Meal Plan, Declining Balance Option I or Declining Balance Option II.

Juniors, Seniors and Fifth Years: When resident in the Hill Houses or the Alcove Suites, juniors, seniors and fifth-year students must choose among five plans: the Foundation Meal Plan, the Residential Meal Plan, Declining Balance Option I, Declining Balance Option II or Declining Balance Option III.

When resident in the Benefit Street Apartments, the apartments at 15 West, or the lofts at 15 West, students may choose from any meal plan option or none at all.

Graduate Students: Graduate students may choose from any meal option or none at all.

Commuter Account : Initial purchase of $250 and provides $250 Dining Dollars. The commuter plan carries over, and your Dining Dollars are available until graduation.
NOTE: The Commuter Dining Plan is not available to any residential students.

Terms + Conditions

• Meal plan contracts are available to all undergraduate and graduate students.

• Upper class students are automatically contracted and billed for the meal plan they had the previous year.

• Although billed by semester, meal plan contracts are in effect for the full academic year.

• After classes begin, meal plan contracts may be cancelled in person at the Dining Services main office through the first two weeks of the semester. No meal plan contract may be canceled after the second week of the fall semester.

• Meal plan contracts may be changed only once each semester.

• If you withdraw from RISD before the end of the second week of the new semester, you will receive an 80% refund on remaining dining dollars. After that period, 35% of your remaining balance will be refunded. Refunds on the Foundation and Residential Meal Plans are prorated based on the cost of the plan.

• The Business Office will not process meal plan contract changes or cancellations. You must contact Dining Services directly and in person for any action pertaining to meal plan contracts. Omission of board contract fees from payments to the Business office does not constitute cancellation of a meal plan contract.

• Meal plan contracts and portions thereof are non-transferable.

• Meal plan participants must abide by the same conduct rules outlined in the Residential Life Handbook. Violation may result in a termination from plan or other disciplinary action.

• Unused Dining Dollars are non-refundable and are forfeited at the end of the applicable year for all plans except the commuter plan.

• If plan is terminated for violation of any of the above terms and conditions, all remaining balance is forfeited.