Frequently Asked Questions

• Weekly meal swipes will be added on Thursday (previously on Sunday).
• Weekly Meal Swaps reset each Thursday morning (previously on Sunday).
• The default meal plan for fall will remain the 12 swipes/week for sophomores, juniors and seniors. The default meal plan for the spring will be the student’s fall meal plan.
• The meal plan change period is a few days longer to give students more time to make their selection.
• 7th Street will now feature smoothies, refreshers, and specialty coffees.
• MacDonald Commons will welcome a new Retail Concept, Bucky’s South, featuring smoked meats and southern side dishes.
• 'ray & Co. in The Bison will offer grain bowls.

All students who will live in campus housing in the fall semester should sign up for a University dining option in myHOME (login required). Instructions and due dates can be found here.

First-year students may choose one of the two anytime access options. Sophomores may choose one of the two anytime access options or one of the two Bison 12 meal plans. 

Please note that additional Dining+ Dollars can be purchased only during the meal plan selection and change periods. Dining Dollars may be added at any time during the semester.

Students may make changes to their meal plans during the meal plan change period that begins Wednesday, Aug. 19, and ends at midnight on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Dates for the spring semester are Jan. 13 to Jan. 27, 2027.

Please note this is also the only period when additional Dining+ Dollars may be purchased. Dining Dollars may be purchased at any time of the year.

Your fall meal plan charge will appear on your initial fall semester bill, which will be available in mid-July. All students who have not selected a meal plan by July 1 will automatically be enrolled in the minimum required dining plan for their class year. This means first-year students who have not chosen a plan by July 1 will be charged for the Bison Orange plan. Other students who have not submitted a selection by July 1 will be charged for the Bison 12 meal plan.

If you want to change your plan, you may do so until the sign-up period ends at midnight on the Tuesday before fall classes start. Your account will be automatically updated on the next day.

After that date, you may choose a different plan during the meal plan change period. Your meal plan and account will be updated at the end of the meal plan change period.

The meal plan that you have selected as of midnight on Tuesday, Aug. 18 (before classes begin) will be in place through the end of the meal plan change period. 

Meal plan changes will open on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and end on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for the fall semester. Meal plan changes will open on Wednesday, Jan. 13, and end on Wednesday, Jan. 27, for the spring semester.

All meal plan changes will be processed on Thursday, Sept. 3, for the fall semester and Thursday, Jan. 28, 2027, for the spring semester, and new meal plans will be in place that morning.

During the meal plan change period, meal plans will remain active through dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for the fall and Jan. 27, 2027, for the spring. Any swipes not used will be forfeited on Thursday, Sept. 3, and you will be charged the amount listed in column (B) of the chart below. Dining Dollars and Dining+ Dollars will be charged based on actual usage.

Any unused swipes will be forfeited.

Meal plan charges will be adjusted as shown in the following chart. Column (A) represents the original, full cost of the meal plan. Column B shows what you will pay for during the meal plan change period for your current plan. Column (C) shows the prorated cost of the new plan to which you will be switching. 

Dining Dollars and Dining+ Dollars will be adjusted based on usage.

All students living on campus or in University-owned property are required to purchase a meal plan or dining option each semester. While not required, students who live in non-University housing may choose to purchase any of the options.

Yes. All first-year students are required to choose either the Bison Orange or Bison Blue anytime access meal plan. These plans are designed to provide consistent, flexible access to food through unlimited access to our all-you-care-to-eat dining hall, along with the option to use meal swaps at other campus locations. Anytime access plans help support a smooth transition to college life while also enhancing the social dining experience.

Second-year students are required to maintain a meal plan that includes at least 12 meal per week. This requirement supports a smooth transition from first-year residential dining to more independent upperclass living while encouraging continued participation in the campus community through shared dining experiences.

Fall Semester:

All first-year students will default to the Bison Orange meal plan and may switch to the Bison Blue meal plan during either the meal plan selection period or the meal plan change period.

All second-year students will default to the Bison 12 meal plan and may select one of the three available alternatives during either the meal plan selection period or the meal plan change period.

All juniors and seniors will also default to the Bison 12 meal plan and may choose from any available meal plan options during either the meal plan selection period or the meal plan change period.

Spring Semester:

Your fall meal plan will serve as the default for your spring meal plan selection.

Any student who did not have a fall meal plan will be assigned a default meal plan as outlined for the fall semester.

If you live on campus or in University-owned housing, including University-owned fraternity houses, you must purchase a meal plan each semester. Information about meal plans for students living in University-owned fraternity houses can be found in myHOME.

First-year students who do not choose a meal plan by midnight on the Tuesday before the start of classes will be automatically enrolled in the Bison Orange meal plan. Sophomores, juniors and seniors who miss the signup deadline will be automatically enrolled in the Bison 12 meal plan.

Students may select a different plan during the open period for changes, subject to required minimums.

If you do not live on campus, you do not need to purchase any of the dining options.

The University uses the Bison Orange meal plan cost of $3,490 per semester when it calculates the total cost of attendance. Sophomores, juniors and seniors who receive financial aid and choose a lower-priced plan should be aware that no additional financial aid will be available if they run out of swipes or Dining or Dining+ Dollars. Please plan carefully when budgeting to account for the cost of food throughout the academic year.

If you live off campus and aren't considered a resident of the University, you are not required to buy one of the dining options. If you are interested in purchasing one, all are available to you. You can select your plan online in myHOME.

Students are billed for the meal plan on their B-bill. Bursar Services can answer questions about this process.

Each week, meal swipes are reset Thursday morning before breakfast. Unused swipes will "roll over" to the next week, but swipes will expire at the end of the semester if unused (Dining, Dining+ and Campus Dollars will carry over from fall to spring). Students who run out of meal swipes can purchase meals using Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Dining+ Dollars or debit or credit cards at the door rates.

As a residential campus, Bucknell prioritizes the community living experience, including dining. The minimum dining option ensures that all students take part in this important aspect of residential life and provides students with Dining Dollars, which can be used on campus, and Dining+ Dollars, which can be used off-campus at participating retailers, including Giant and Weis markets.

Yes, you can take your food to go by using one of the reusable or disposable to-go containers.

All plans include Dining Dollars, which can be used at any Bucknell dining location. Several plans include Dining+ Dollars, which can be used on campus as well as at participating off-campus locations, including Giant and Weis Markets.

• Students may add more Dining Dollars to their account at any time. A meal plan is not required to purchase Dining Dollars.
• Dining+ Dollars require a meal plan and can only be purchased during the meal plan selection process. They can be added to any plan.
• Remaining balances for Dining Dollars and Dining+ Dollars carry over from fall semester to spring, but will expire at the end of the academic year and become invalid upon separation from the University. 

Dining Dollars are funds held in a debit card-like account — a convenient cashless way of buying meals and snacks at all on-campus dining locations. Dining Dollars can be used at any location, including for entry to Bostwick Marketplace and to purchase food through Bucknell Catering. Dining Dollars are not transferable or refundable. They may not be used as a means of payment for a University-sponsored catered event with or without expectation of reimbursement.

Yes, you can. Dining Dollars can be added instantly via the GET App. 

Dining Dollars always carry over from the fall semester to spring, but will expire at the end of the spring semester, or upon graduation or separation from the University.

Dining Dollars are not refundable or transferable. When unused Dining Dollars expire, the full value is applied to the B-Swipes program to support students in need of food assistance and other student dining initiatives.

Your remaining Dining Dollars balance can be found by logging in to myBucknell or the GET app. You can also visit the Dining Services office or Bursar Services.

Yes; however, catering options will be limited. Contact our catering department by calling 570-577-2270 or emailing catering@bucknell.edu to schedule an order. 

If you have both Campus Dollars and Dining Dollars on your BUID, your Dining Dollars balance will be used first at all on-campus dining venues.

No, Dining Dollars can only be used at on-campus dining locations and cannot be used for purchases off campus.

Yes, you can use Campus Dollars off campus at participating local merchants. For additional information, visit the Card Services page.

Yes, Campus Dollars can be used at all dining locations. But Campus Dollars do not replace the requirement for students living on campus or in University-owned housing to purchase a meal plan or dining option. If you have both Dining Dollars and Campus Dollars on your BUID, your Dining Dollars balance will be used first. Read more about Campus Dollars on the Card Services page.

Dining+ Dollars can be used at both on-campus and participating off-campus merchants.

Dining+ Dollars can be added as an enhancement to any dining option and are nonrefundable. They carry over from the fall semester to the spring semester but expire at the end of the academic year. When unused Dining+ Dollars expire, the full value is applied to the B-Swipes program to support students in need of food assistance and other student dining initiatives. Dining+ Dollars do not replace the requirement for students on campus or in University-owned buildings to purchase a meal plan or dining option.

You cannot purchase additional Dining+ Dollars. They may only be purchased in combination with meal plans.

Students swipe their BUID to enter Bostwick. The number of entries your BUID allows is determined by your meal plan. Students who do not have any remaining swipes can pay the meal period door rate by using Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Plus Dollars, debit card, credit card or cash.

All cafés and retail locations accept Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Dining+ Dollars, debit cards and credit cards to pay for purchases. 

The Bison Orange, Bison Blue and Bison 12 meal plans all include two guest passes for meals per semester. In addition, you can use Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Dining+ Dollars, debit card, credit card, or cash to pay for guests at swipe-in dining venues. You cannot swipe your card additional times to pay for multiple guest meals or let anyone else use your card to swipe into a venue.

Guest passes expire at the end of the semester for which they are issued. When unused guest passes expire, the full value is applied to the B-Swipes program to support students who need food assistance and other student dining initiatives.

Bison Kitchen has a dietitian available to assist students with nutrition. For more specific information, please visit the Bison Kitchen website.

Bison Kitchen offers many resources for students with food allergies. For more information, see the allergen guide.

All accommodation requests are handled by the Office of Accessibility Resources. Please see their webpage for more information.