Meal Plans

Our meal plans are designed to offer the best combination of value, service, planning and flexibility. 

Available plans:

Foundation Plan
This plan is designed to maximize the first-year residential experience and promote a sense of community while understanding the unique challenges associated with the foundation year at RISD.

The Foundation Plan provides unlimited access to The Met Dining Center, which is open seven days a week. It offers the necessary flexibility for students who have hectic schedules, need a snack between classes or want to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating several small meals per day. In addition, $200 worth of RISD Dining Points is available per semester, which allows students to make purchases at any of our other dining facilities. All first-year students are enrolled in this plan.

Residential Plan
This plan provides a combination of two daily meals and $475 in Dining Points. It is easy to budget and ensures that a student will have meals for the full academic year. Sophomores living on campus are automatically enrolled in this plan.

Declining Balance Plans
The Declining Balance Plans are all-points plans that allow students a flexible alternative: to eat on an à la carte basis in various RISD dining facilities. These three plans work like a debit card. Any balance of Dining Points remaining at the end of the fall semester carries forward to spring semester in the same academic year. However, any balances remaining at the end of the academic year are forfeited.

2013-14 pricing 

Foundation Plan: $2,657 per semester
Provides 3 meals per day plus $200 Dining Dollars per semester

Residential Plan: $2,104 per semester
Provides 2 meals per day plus $475 Dining Dollars per semester

Declining Balance Option I: $2,215 per semester
This plan is for students who expect to use funds for all meals and snacks.

Declining Balance Option II: $1,953 per semester
This plan provides a good balance for students with busy schedules who do not traditionally eat three meals a day.

Declining Balance Option III: $990 per semester
This is a good choice for students who regularly supplement their on-campus dining with off-campus options.

Studio Plan: $50 per semester
The Studio option is for seniors, 5th years and graduate students living on campus and looking to have the convenience of a dining plan but with limited financial impact.

Local Plan: $200 per semester
Students living in non-RISD housing have the option of purchasing the Local Plan. This option allows for enough points to enjoy a few meals or snacks per week on campus throughout the semester.

If there are any questions about meal plans, contact Isabel Ferreira, Dining Account Manager at 401 454-6642 or iferreir@risd.edu for more information.

Who needs to be on a plan?

• All students are eligible to purchase meal plans.
• First-year students pay a room and board rate that includes the required first-year dining plan.
• All sophomores, regardless of where they reside on campus, are automatically assigned to the Residential Plan, but may choose Declining Balance Option I or II. Students may change their plan on WebAdvisor.
• Juniors, seniors and fifth-year students living in the Hill Houses (except Dwight House) or the 15 West Alcove Suites must choose one of the plans offered. Students living in the Colonial Apartments, Charles Landing or the apartments/lofts at 15 West may choose from any meal plan option or none at all.
• Graduate students may choose from any meal plan option or none at all.

How to Add, Change or Cancel a Plan

First-year students are unable to alter their meal plans.

Sophomores are automatically placed on the Residential Meal Plan (2 meals per day plus 475 points per semester).

Upper class students are automatically contracted and billed for the meal plan they had the previous year. For spring semester, students are automatically re-enrolled in the same meal plan they purchased for the fall semester.

Eligible students interested in adding or changing their meal plan should do so on WebAdvisor. Changes are only allowed once per semester – during the first two weeks of the semester.

Billing Details

Meal plan contracts are billed per semester. Contracts are in effect for the full academic year.

After classes begin, eligible students may cancel a meal plan in person at the Dining Services main office through the first two weeks of the fall semester. No meal plan contract may be canceled after the second week of the fall semester. Omission of meal plan contract fees from tuition payments to the Business Office does not constitute cancellation of a meal plan contract.

Full-time students who withdraw from RISD are charged a percentage of their chosen dining plan as follows:

*Percentage charges based on semester charge; carried over balances do not apply

Second semester meal plans are activated the third week of January. Any remaining fall semester funds will be added to the new spring semester funds.

Meal plan participants must abide by the same rules of conduct outlined in the Residential Life Handbook. Any violation may result in a non-refundable termination of the plan or other disciplinary action.

Schedule

Dining halls provide service coinciding with the academic year. Dining facilities are closed on Thanksgiving and the day after and during winter holiday break. Hours and offerings may vary on holidays and during Wintersession and spring break. Please check individual venues for available hours.

ID Cards

Meal plans are not transferable and all students are required to present their ID cards for service. Any violation may result in a termination of the plan or other disciplinary action.

Managing points

Any balance of Dining Points remaining at the end of the fall semester carries forward to spring semester in the same academic year. Balances remaining at the end of the academic year are forfeited.

If you run out of Dining Points you may add additional Dining Points at any time. As an added bonus all purchases of points receive a 10% enhancement above and beyond the actual cash value.

Using your student ID makes each transaction in our dining facilities tax exempt, which adds up to even greater savings. Funds can be placed on your card using cash, a check or a credit card at the customer service window of The Met.

If you are not on campus, arrangements can be made through Isabel Ferreira, Dining Account Manager (iferreir@risd.edu or 401 454-6642).

Special Diets

The health and well-being of our student body is profoundly important to us and we therefore take food allergies, intolerances, religious observances and other dietary needs very seriously. We ask that any student who requires a special diet take the following steps to ensure that we can make appropriate accommodations.

• If you have a food allergy or intolerance, please register this information with Health Services so assistance can be given if there are any issues.
• Once Health Services has confirmed your condition, it is easier for Dining to work on special menus. Please contact Associate Director Pierre St-Germain (401 454-6362) to discuss individual needs.
• If you require a special diet due to your beliefs (i.e. Kosher or Halal, etc.), please contact Associate Director Pierre St-Germain (401 454-6362).

If you have questions about what’s available at any dining venue, don’t hesitate to ask the Chef/Manager or Assistant Chef/Manager of the facility. Vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free options are available at most dining venues and all are nut-free, except for the Jolly Roger (257 South Main Street).

More dining and residence life policies »