General Questions:
Q: What does “All-You-Care-To-Eat" mean?
Q: I don’t live in the campus residence halls. Can I still purchase a meal plan?
Q: Do I have to buy a meal plan?
Q: Which dining option is right for me?
Q: What is the difference between “All-You-Care-To-Eat” pricing and the “grab and go” pricing that is used everywhere else?
Q: Can I take food out of “All-You-Care-To-Eat” area?
Q: Will I have access to “All-You-Care-To-Eat” areas all day?
Q: Can I get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night meals every day?
Q: What additional dining options are available?
Q: What should I do if I lose my i-card?
Q: What happens if I run out of meals?
Q: What can you do to accommodate my special dietary needs?
Q: Can I use Flex Dollars to purchase a meal?
Meal Plan Questions:
Q: What is a meal plan?
Q: How much are meal plans?
Q: What is a block meal plan?
Q: Can I change my meal plan?
Q: How do I access my meal plan?
Q: How much does each meal cost if I am not using a meal plan for payment?
Q: Can I use my meal plan to feed others?
Q: How do I buy a meal plan?
Dining Locations and Options Questions:
Q: Where can I eat on campus? And when?
Q: Which locations are no longer open?
Q: Where are “All-You-Care-To-Eat” locations?
Q: Can I use the “All-You-Care-To-Eat” dining option at all dining locations?
Q: If I bring my lunch or buy from one of the other dining options, where can I sit to eat my meal?
Dragon Dollar$ Questions:
Q: What are Dragon Dollar$?
Q: Can I buy food with Dragon Dollar$?
Q: How can I purchase Dragon Dollar$?
Q: What happens if I run out of Dragon Dollar$?
Comment and Feedback Questions:
Q: Who can I contact if I have comments?
Q: How can I give feedback on my campus dining experience?
General Questions:
Q: What does “All-You-Care-To-Eat” dining mean?
A: “All-You-Care-To-Eat” (AYCTE) dining means that you can eat as much as you want in any of the AYCTE dining locations. Once you enter the East Café (SCE), Centennial Room (SCW), or Stukel Towers Dining Hall (JST), you can eat as little or as much as you want during that visit. Food may not be taken out of the AYCTE dining areas.
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Q: I don’t live in the campus residence halls. Can I still purchase a meal plan?
A: Meal plans are available to all UIC students, faculty, and staff.
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Q: Do I have to buy a meal plan?
A: No, you do not have to buy a meal plan. At the entrance of the “All-You-Care-To-Eat” dining areas, you may buy your meal with a purchased block meal plan, Dragon Dollar$, credit card, or cash. Students living in traditional residence halls are required to purchase a meal plan. Any UIC student can purchase a meal plan if they wish to do so.
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Q: Which dining option is right for me?
A: A variety of options is available in order to best serve the campus community. To figure out the right plan for you, start by thinking about your eating habits. Are you a “jetsetter” who grabs a bagel in the morning and a salad for dinner? Or do you need three square meals a day to function properly? We have options perfect for either type of eater, and for everyone in between.
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Q: What is the difference between “All-You-Care-To-Eat” pricing and the “grab and go” pricing that is used everywhere else?
A: All-You-Care-To-Eat (AYCTE): At the entrance of East Café (SCE), or Stukel Towers Dining Hall (JST), just swipe your i-card to access your Meal Plan, Block Meal Plan, or Dragon Dollar$ each time you enter. One “meal” will be deducted from your block plan total or the amount of the meal you are purchasing will be deducted from your Dragon Dollar$ balance. Meals may not be taken out of AYCTE dining areas.
Grab and Go: Alternate campus dining options each have fixed price items. These options are considered “grab and go”. At the cash register, your items will be totaled and deducted from your Dragon Dollar$ balance, as if you were using a regular debit card. You may also pay cash at any of the dining locations. You are able to take your food items or beverages to where you choose to eat.
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Q: Can I take food out of “All-You-Care-To-Eat” dining area?
A: No. Meals eaten in the “All-You-Care-To-Eat” (AYCTE) dining areas East Café (SCE), and Stukel Towers Dining Hall (JST) may not be taken out of the dining area. Once you leave an AYCTE dining location, you may re-enter by purchasing a meal, using your block meal plan or by using your meal plan. See Meal Plan Tab for additional details.
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Q: Will I have access to “All-You-Care-To-Eat” dining areas all day?
A: No, “All-You-Care-To-Eat” (AYCTE) dining area will be closed between lunch and dinner, times vary by location. You may utilize alternate dining options during this time. Please see the Meal Plan Tab for dining hours in the AYCTE dining areas.
All-You-Care-To-Eat areas are closed during the following hours:
East Café (SCE)
Centennial Room (SCW)
Dining Hall (JST)
Monday through Friday - closed 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday - closed 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
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Q: Can I get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night meals every day?
A: No. Brunch is offered on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays instead of the breakfast and lunch option. Brunch will offer an expanded menu and be available during the breakfast and lunch time slots on those days. The late night option is not available on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Q: What additional dining options are available?
A: Additional dining options include:
Student Center East
Café Descartes
Halsted Street Station (convenience store)
Inner Circle (Burrito Bravo, Sbarros, Subway, Wendy's)
Pier Café
Vending machines
Student Center West
Café Descartes
Marketplace
Subway
Union Station (convenience store located at north entrance of Medical Bookstore)
Vending machines
Additional locations
Bunsen’s Café (SES)
Cruisin' Café (SSB)
The Daley Grind (LIB)
Morgan Street Station (convenience store) (BSB)
On the Mall: Sbarros and Frank N’ Fries (Polk St.)
Port Center Café (UH)
Skinner's Grill: Grill 155, KFC Express, Stackers (BSB)
Wood Street Station (convenience store) (CSB)
Vending machines located in additional buildings on campus
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Q: What should I do if I lose my i-card?
A: If you lose your i-card, report it immediately to the ID Center office at (312) 413-5940. Cards reported lost or stolen are immediately invalidated for your protection. A replacement i-card can be obtained in either of the ID Center offices (1790 Student Services Building or 242 UIC Student Center West).
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Q: What happens if I run out of meals?
A: No problem. You can add additional Dragon Dollar$ to your account or purchase block meal plans at anytime.
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Q: What can you do to accommodate my special dietary needs?
A: We want you to eat well on campus. American, Italian, Tex-Mex, Hallal, Kosher, vegetarian and vegan are just some of the great options available. Let us know what you need and we will work toward a solution. You can find information for a variety of special diets online at www.balancemindbodysoul.com for the latest in nutrition and health information. Look for announcements of "Dietitian on Campus".
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Q: Can I use Flex Dollars to purchase a meal?
A: UIC no longer uses Flex Dollars. Funds can be added to your i-card with Dragon Dollar$. See the Dragon Dollar$ Tab for more details.
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Meal Plan Questions:
Q: What is a meal plan?
A: A “meal plan" is a UIC dining package which will allows you to eat for a certain number of days each week, for the whole semester. See Meal Plan tab for details.
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Q: How much are meal plans?
A: Please see Meal Plan tab for details.
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Q: What is a block meal plan?
A: A "block meal plan" is a fixed quantity of meals or a certain number of meals per week that you may purchase. A “meal” is breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or late night. One block meal equals one entry to East Café (SCE), Centennial Room (SCW), or Stukel Towers Dining Hall (JST). With block meal plans, you get a specific number of meals added to your i-card. You may purchase block meal plans at any time at the ID Center or Service Centers.
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Q: Can I change my meal plan?
A: For resident dining meal plans, you can change to a larger meal plan anytime; however, you may change to a smaller meal plan only during the first week of the fall and/or spring semesters. You can make changes by completing a meal plan change form at the ID Center only.
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Q: How do I access my meal plan?
A: The dining plan option you choose is linked directly to your i-card.
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Q: How much does each meal cost if I am not using a meal plan for payment?
A: Unlike the meal plan, the cost to purchase a meal provides for a one-time individual access to the dining area. Meals can be purchased by using cash, Dragon Dollar$, or credit/debit. Meal costs are:
Breakfast - $5.15
Lunch /Late Night - $7.35
Dinner - $9.20
Weekend Brunch - $7.60
(Applicable sales tax will be charged.)
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Q: Can I use my meal plan to feed others?
A: Some residential meal plans come with a certain number of free guest passes. Simply tell the cashier you want to use one and they will access the guest pass option. With block meal plans, you may use as many of your meals as you want to feed your guests. You can always use Dragon Dollar$, cash, or credit and debit cards to purchase a meal for a guest.
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Q: How do I buy a meal plan?
A: It’s easy. If you live in one of the residence halls, simply select a dining plan when you sign your housing contract. You may sign up for a resident dining meal plan only at the ID Center or block meal plan at any time at the ID Center or the Service Centers.
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Dining Locations and Options Questions:
Q: Where can I eat on campus? And when?
A: For a complete list of campus dining locations and hours, please see the Locations tab.
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Q: Which dining locations are no longer open?
A: Awakenings Cafe (SRF) closed in Spring 2009 and Faculty Staff Dining Room Servery (BSB) closed in Summer 2009.
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Q: Where are “All-You-Care-To-Eat” locations?
A: All-You-Care-To-Eat dining areas are East Café (SCE), Centennial Room (SCW), and Stukel Towers Dining Hall (JST).
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Q: Can I use the “All-You-Care-To-Eat” dining option at all dining locations?
A: No, only at East Café (SCE), Centennial Room (SCW), and Stukel Towers Dining Hall (JST). Alternative dining areas have the grab-and-go option.
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Q: If I bring my lunch or buy from one of the other dining options, where can I sit to eat my meal?
A: There are many seating options available. In SCE, there is additional seating in West Lounge (formerly part of East Café), SRC Atrium, Inner Circle, Montgomery Ward Lounge, and the Pier Room. In SCW, additional seating is available in the East Lounge.
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Dragon Dollar$ Questions:
Q: What are Dragon Dollar$?
A: Dragon Dollar$ provide a way to use your i-card to make purchases. See the Dragon Dollar$ tab for details.
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Q: Can I buy food with Dragon Dollar$?
A: Yes. Dragon Dollar$ are accepted at all Campus Dining locations, including All-You-Care-To-Eat dining areas.
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Q: How can I purchase Dragon Dollar$?
A: Dragon Dollar$ can be added to your i-card by depositing funds similar to a banking account at one of the Service Centers. Please see the Dragon Dollar$ tab for details.
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Q: What happens if I run out of Dragon Dollar$?
A: You may add Dragon Dollar$ at any time. See the Dragon Dollar$ tab for details.
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Comment and Feedback Questions:
Q: Who can I contact if I have comments?
A: You may share your comments by sending an email to WeListen@uic.edu.
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Q: How can I give feedback on my campus dining experience?
A: We want to hear from you. Provide us with feedback on your campus dining experiences by sending an email to WeListen@uic.edu.
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