Students eating and socializing in one of SAIC's cafeterias
Where to Eat

Meal Plans

Feed Your Creativity

Engage

Live in an SAIC residence hall? SAIC is excited to offer all resident students a meal plan. This meal plan helps foster community by providing another opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to gather together. You can meet your roommate, have a cup of coffee with a faculty member, or gather as a floor community while sharing a meal.

Eat

The SAIC meal plan for residence hall students will be added to students' ARTICard before they move into the residence halls. The meal plan is a declining-balance program, where students select their food and their Dining Dollars account will be debited. Dining Dollars are accepted only at SAIC dining facilities in the LeRoy Neiman Center, MacLean Center, and 280 Building. The meal plan is billed with housing charges and is required of all residents.

Enjoy

On average, the meal plan will provide approximately seven meals per week. The declining-balance program gives students the ability to choose a full meal or grab a quick bite between classes and meetings. In addition, our residence halls are equipped with kitchens in each room where residents can prepare some of their meals.

Explore

For specific questions about the meal plan, you may call Residence Life at 312.629.6870 or email reslife@saic.edu.

  • The SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan Terms and Conditions 2023-2024 are incorporated into, and form a part of, the 2023-2024 Housing Contract, as applicable ("Housing Contract"), between SAIC and the Resident/Student.

    Availability of Dining Options
    SAIC will provide a variety of à la carte meal options at three dining facilities located within the 280 building, MacLean Center, and the Sharp Building.

    Terms of the Meal Plan
    The SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan is valid for the same period of time as the Housing Contract and is required for all students living in SAIC's Residence Halls. The Resident/Student agrees to pay the amount stated below and abide by the further terms listed. See Meal Plan Schedule below for information concerning specific dates of operation.

    Cost and Billing
    The cost of the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan is $900 per semester for new students and $600 per semester for current (returning to SAIC) students. This amount will be billed to the Resident/Student's account each semester on the same schedule as the housing charges listed in the Housing Contract. If a Resident/Student moves into the Residence Halls after the semester has begun, the cost of the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan will be pro-rated beginning from the scheduled move-in date.

    Dining Dollars
    Each semester, the Resident/Student will receive $900/$600 worth of "Dining Dollars" on his or her ARTICard. This amount will be tracked and managed by the ARTICard Office and may be used only for items available for purchase in the three dining facilities on campus. This excludes items for sale in vending machines. The Resident/Student must present his or her ARTICard to use the Dining Dollars at the SAIC dining facilities. The Resident/Student understands that the Dining Dollars cannot be used by anyone else for dining services. Misuse of Dining Dollars may result in additional charges, disciplinary action and/or confiscation of Dining Dollars.

    Unused Dining Dollars
    Unused Dining Dollars will carry over from fall semester to spring semester within this academic year. Any unused Dining Dollares remaining at the end of the academic year will be forfeited. When a student is no longer enrolled at SAIC, all unused Dining Dollars will be refunded in full less an administrative fee of $30.00. If the remaining Dining Dollar balance is equal to or less than $30.00, SAIC will not refund any Dining Dollars nor will it pursue collection of the remaining fee amount.

    Cancellations and Refund Schedule
    All students living in SAIC's residence halls, pursuant to a Housing Contract, are required to participate in the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan. To cancel participation in the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan, the Resident/Student, in general, must also be canceling your Housing Contract. As stated in the Housing Contract, the Student/Resident must submit a Housing Withdrawal Form.

    The following refund schedule applies:

    Prior to occupancy, students who are granted a release of the Housing Contract will also be granted a release from the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan. All unused Dining Dollars will be refunded in full.

    After occupancy, students who are granted a release of the Housing Contract and withdraw from all of their classes will also be granted a release from the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan. All unused Dining Dollars will be refunded in full less an administrative fee of $30.00. If the remaining Dining Dollar balance is equal or less than $30.00, SAIC will not refund any Dining Dollars nor will it pursue the collection of the remaining fee amount.

    After occupancy, students who are granted a release of the Housing Contract and remain at SAIC will not be granted a release from the SAIC Residence Hall Meal Plan until the end of the semester in which they were released from the Housing Contract. Students who leave housing during the fall semester will not be charged for a spring semester meal plan. No refund of Dining Dollars will be granted to the Resident/Student. Unused Dining Dollars will carry over from fall semester to spring semester. All unused funds will be forfeited after the end of this contract.

    Lost, Stolen, and Replacement Cards
    Dining Dollars will be loaded on to the Resident/Student's ARTICard. The Resident/Student must comply with the applicable terms and conditions for the ARTICard, including those terms regarding lost, stolen, and replacement cards.

    Responsibility
    SAIC shall not be responsible or liable for delay, curtailment, and/or nondelivery of meal service, or any other nonperformance hereunder, directly or indirectly resulting from and/or contributed by acts of God, the adoption of any law, ordinance, regulation, ruling, or order, lack of usual means of transportation, fires, floods, explosions, strikes, or other accidents or contingencies beyond SAIC's control.

    SAIC may revoke and terminate this agreement regarding Dining Dollars (i) if the Resident/Student fails to be or to continue to be throughout the term of the Housing Contract, a registered Resident/Student at SAIC or to complete settlement of his or her SAIC financial account in accordance with established practices and procedures; (ii) if the Resident/Student fails for any reason to comply with these Terms and Conditions, the Housing Contract or with any policy, procedure, rule or regulation adopted by SAIC in the interests of health, safety, and proper conduct of the students and orderly and efficient operation and administration of the SAIC dining facilities. In the event that SAIC terminates this agreement regarding Dining Dollars or enrollment at SAIC, no refund or credit will be due to the Resident/Student.

    Meal Plan Schedule
    The Meal Plan schedule is for Monday through Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On Saturdays and Sundays, the schedule is for brunch and dinner. Dining service will be limited during winter session, U.S. Holidays, and SAIC Holidays. These are subject to change.

    Assignment/Modification
    Neither this agreement, nor Dining Dollars, may be assigned or transferred by the Resident/Student. SAIC reserves the right to make reasonable modifications or amendments to these Terms and Conditions which shall be effective upon notice to the Resident/Student.

    Governing Law
    This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois and any actions brought concerning it shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.