Dining FAQ

Yes! Look for decals to see special dietary needs addressed.

The general manager will be happy to meet with you to discuss what you need and work with you to help you find great dining options. To schedule a time to meet with the manager, please email Student Life.

Yes! SAIC students are very busy, so the food will always be presented so that students can "grab and go" or sit and enjoy.

Students who are new to SAIC, will be charged $900.00 per semester beginning in Fall 2023. Students who are returning to SAIC in Fall 2023, will be charged $600.00 per semester. In return, you receive $900 or $600 of Dining Dollars on your ARTICard (ID), respectively. The meal plan charges will be applied to your student bill at the same time as your housing charges.

No. Only you may use your ARTICard.

If you have specific questions about the meal plan, please contact the Campus Life office or 312.629.6870 between the hours of 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (CST).

Dining Dollars are accessed through your ARTICard and can only be used at on-campus dining locations. Dining Dollars are a part of the required meal plan, which is charged to your student bill with your housing charges.

ARTICash is money that you deposit onto your ARTICard directly. It can be used for a variety of purposes including copy machines, laundry machines, vending machines, on-campus dining, and at select off-campus stores and dining locations. ARTICash money will not expire.

The meal plan is a declining-balance program; you will use your Dining Dollars to pay for what you eat. You will receive your Dining Dollars every semester to be used at on-campus dining locations. Select your meal and pay at the register!

In the fall, your Dining Dollars will be available the day you move into the residence halls. Your spring semester Dining Dollars will be charged to your student bill with your spring housing charges in late December. Any money you did not utilize in fall semester will carry over into spring semester. Money left on your account after the academic year will roll over to the next academic year continually until you are no longer enrolled at SAIC.

You can use your meal plan for a variety of à la carte meal options at three dining locations located within the 280 Building, MacLean Center, and the Sharp Building.

You may not use your Dining Dollars at off-campus locations or at vending machines. Only money in your ARTICash account will work at these locations.

After you have selected the meal of your choice, head to the cash register. The cashier will deduct Dining Dollars from your card equivalent to the cost of the food.

No. All resident students are required to have the meal plan.

Every student will use their Dining Dollars in different ways. We would expect that your Dining Dollars will get you between 5-7 meals a week. Please remember that how long the meal plan will last is up to you and how you use your Dining Dollars.

Resident students, during fall and spring semesters are required to have the meal plan. During the summer term, certain residents are required to have a meal plan. Please review the Summer Housing Contract for specifics.

Nonresident (off-campus) students are welcome to add money to their ARTICash to be used at the on-campus dining facilities. They will have the same access to the great variety of à la carte food options!

When you apply for housing, you are automatically registered for the meal plan. The signed housing contract submitted as part of the application for housing includes the costs and terms and conditions of the meal plan.

Certain summer residents are required to have a meal plan. Please review the Summer Housing Contract for specific details. For those who are not required to have a meal plan, they may place money in their ARTICash account at any time to be used at the on-campus dining facilities.

You will be able to check your Dining Dollars balance at any time at the ARTICard office, at the VTS deposit machines located around campus, and online.

We recommend checking your Dining Dollars balance often to keep yourself on track for the entire semester. If it appears you are going to run out of Dining Dollars before the semester ends, we recommend that you place money in your ARTICash account.

Unused Dining Dollars from fall semester will carry over into spring semester. Any unused funds remaining at the end of the academic year will be forfeited.

If you move out of the residence halls and remain in classes, your Dining Dollars will not be refunded. You may continue to utilize your Dining Dollars under the same conditions. If you move out during/at the end of fall semester, you will not be charged for the meal plan in spring semester.

If you move out of the residence halls and withdraw from all of your classes, you will be refunded your unused Dining Dollars minus a $30.00 administrative fee, unless you have less than $30.00 remaining. In this situation, your remaining Dining Dollars will not be refunded and you will not be charged the $30.00 administrative fee. The unused Dining Dollars will be credited to your student account. If you move out during/at the end of fall semester, you will not be charged for the meal plan in spring semester.

If you withdraw from all of your classes and move out of the residence hall, you will be refunded your unused Dining Dollars minus a $30.00 administrative fee, unless you have less than $30.00 remaining. In this situation, your remaining Dining Dollars will not be refunded, and you will not be charged the $30.00 administrative fee. The unused Dining Dollars will be credited to your student account.

If you have specific questions about the meal plan, please contact the Residence Life office with any questions at reslife@saic.edu or 312.629.6870 between the hours of 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (CST).