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Mon - Thurs: 9 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.;
Fri: 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.;
Sat, Sun: Closed

One Card & Dining Services 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

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Meal Plans

ý offers a variety of meal plan options to meet the needs of its community members, from undergraduates and graduates to faculty and staff.

Required Meal Plans

First- and Second-Year Students living on campusarerequiredto have a meal plan. First-Year students living on campusare automatically enrolled inthe All-Inclusive Premium but may select from theAll-Inclusive PremiumorAll-Inclusive Plus. Second-Year students living on campusare automatically enrolled inthe All-Inclusive Standard, but may select from the other required first or second year plan options. A student’s status as a first, or second year is determined by their credit hours on their academic records.

Meal Plan Structure

The meal plan comprises four components: Meal Swipes, Retail Meal Exchanges, Dining Dollars,Guest Meals. Depending on the meal plan selected, the value of each component will vary.

Selected
Meal Plans
How to Use Your Meal Plan
Where To Use
2025-2026 Meal Plan Rates
All Inclusive Premium All Inclusive Plus All Inclusive Standard All Inclusive Basic Flex Premium Flex Standard
Price $3,459 $3,165 $2,827 $2,038 $825 $625
Dining Dollars $150 $130 $130 $300 $100 $50
Required for First-year students living on campus
(either Premium or Plus)
Second-year students living on campus
(either Standard or Basic)
No required planholders
Available to Open to all students Open to all except first years in campus housing Open to faculty, staff, and all students except first and second year in campus housing
Dining Hall Unlimited access all days of the week Unlimited access all days of the week 15 TDR swipesper week 9 TDR swipesper week 45 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester 35 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester
Retail Meal Exchange 3 meals per day 7 per week 2 per day None 45 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester 35 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester
Guest Meals 10 6 6 - - -

Meal Plan Components

Meal Swipes

Each meal plan consists of unlimited access to the residential dining hall and Terrace Dining Room (TDR). You use a swipe whenever you eat in TDR. Your meal plan selection determines your weekly access. There is a 20-minute “pass-back” time for entry into TDR which means that there needs to be a 20-minute delay before you can reenter the location. Unused meal swipes expire at the end of the semester and do not rollover.

Dining Dollars

All meal plans come with a specific amount of dining dollars. Depending on your plan, you will automatically have dining dollars. Dining dollars can be used for snacks, menu item and product purchases at our program on-campus locations.

Additional dining dollars can be purchased in incremental amounts if you have an active meal plan. Unused fall dining dollars rollover over to the spring semester if you maintain an active meal plan for the spring semester with Fall dining dollar rollovers becoming available on the first Tuesday following the Spring meal plan drop/add period.

Up to $75 unused dining dollars can be donated at the end of each semester to the Eagles Helping Eagles Program.

Retail Meal Exchanges

A retail meal exchange is an entrée, a side, and a drink. For your best value, don’t use a retail meal exchange if you’re just getting a quick snack (that’s what dining dollars are for). Each location has a menu that tells you the options for a Retail Meal Exchange.Unused meal exchanges expire at the end of the semester and do not rollover.

Guest Meals

Enjoying a meal with a friend or use the extra meals as retail exchange options; select meal plans provide guest meals. Unused guest meals expire at the end of the semester and do not rollover. Up to 5 unused guest meals can be donated at the end of each semester to the Eagles Helping Eagles Program.

Where can the meal plan be used?
Dining Venue Campus Location Meal Swipe Retail Meal Exchange Dining Dollars Guest Meals
Terrace Dining Room Mary Graydon Student Center (MGSC) X X X
Ace Sushi MGSC - Tavern X X X
Baba's Pizza MGSC - Tavern X X X
Eagle's Express Butler Pavilion- Lydecker Tunnel X X X
East Campus Market East Campus X X X
Freshens East Campus X X X
Halal Shack MGSC - Tavern X X X
Panera MGSC - Marketplace X X X
Starbucks Butler Pavilion- Lydecker Tunnel X
Subway Butler Pavilion- Lydecker Tunnel X X X
True Burger MGSC - Tavern X X X
Qdoba Butler Pavilion- Lydecker Tunnel X X X

Other information

Disability-Related Accommodations

Students who have a disability-related dietary need, such as a food allergy that substantially limits their dining experience, are strongly encouraged to make the university aware of their accommodation needs as early as possible. To request disability-related dining accommodations, please visit the Academic Support and Access Center's (ASAC) websiteRegistering for Accommodations, or contact the ASAC at asac@american.eduor 202-885-3360.

Religious Considerations

On occasion, students' religious observance necessitates consideration academic, housing, or food-related purposes. If you have a need for such a religious consideration, you may submit a request through Kay Spiritual Life Center.

Economic Considerations

The office of One Card & Dining Services does not make exceptions to the mandatory meal policy based on economic reasons.

We prioritize protecting our community by having a rigorous program for food safety, physical safety, and hygiene in our campus dining venues.

  • All AU Kitchen managers are trained and ServSafe certified in food service safety, as well ascertified by DC Health as Food Protection Managers.
  • All AU Kitchen culinarians and back of house supervisors are ServSafe trained for proper food safety handling and are required to follow stringent safety protocols.
  • All AU Kitchen team members must undergo regular food safety training.
  • All equipment is regularly cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized at the end of each shift.
  • To view more information about our health inspection reports and our food safety protocols please visit