Student Meal Plans

Required for resident freshmen. Available to all students.

This plan offers unlimited meal swipes in the resident dining rooms at Indigenous and State Quads. myUnlimited plans also offers Discount Dollars, which are a declining balance of funds used to purchase food on campus at steep discounts.

This plan offers two (2) options to choose from, myUnlimited #1 and #2. Both offer unlimited meal swipes, while #2 offers a greater balance of Discount Dollars. Freshman are automatically assigned myUnlimited #1 but may upgrade to #2 through their student account.

myUnlimited in Resident Dining

The myUnlimited Meal Plan is required for all freshmen living in residence halls. This plan will allow for unlimited meal swipes at Indigenous and State dining rooms. Meal swipes used in resident dining rooms on the myUnlimited Meal Plan do not deduct any Discount Dollars.

myUnlimited in Retail Dining

The myUnlimited Meal Plan also provides the flexibility to eat at retail locations at deep discounts with Discount Dollars. This Meal Plan uses your ID card like a debit card account and carries your Discount Dollars to spend at retail locations for meals and beverages. Each time you swipe at a retail dining location, your meal plan’s Discount Dollars will get activated and the venue-specific discount (a 40% discount at campus/Sodexo retail brands and local/national retail brands) will be automatically calculated and the balance will be debited for your purchase.

Your remaining Discount Dollars balance will appear on the register display and your receipt. If you run out of Discount Dollars before the end of the semester and would like to add more onto your myUnlimited Meal Plan, you can add up to $500 each semester. Remember your meal plan is tax free, so you will also be saving an additional 8% on all discounted sale prices. Please note that other campus funds will not activate these discounts, i.e., Munch Money, Podium, Campus Gold, F/S Dining Plan. You will also use your ID card to 'swipe-in' (for tracking purposes only) at resident dining locations — no Discount Dollars will be debited.

Plan Pricing per Semester

Meal plans are purchased per semester. The per semester pricing and details of the myUnlimited Meal Plan are as follows:
 

Discount Dollars

Note: Pre-packaged items are excluded from the Discount Dollars program.

• 40% Off Your Purchase
  • 518 Market
  • 1844 Restaurant
  • Baba's Pizza
  • Calypso
  • Corner Deli
  • East Cafe
  • Jamal's Chicken
  • natural!
  • SubConnection
  • Spice Market
  • Starbucks
  • The Sweet Shop
  • Tres Habaneros
  • Umai Fusion
  • Umai Sushi
  • Yella's
  • Damor Chai Cafe
  • Downtown Cafe
  • ETEC Cafe
  • Morris's Cafe

For example: If you go to the Fountain Grill and order a burger, fries and 24 ounce beverage, you will pay:

• $15.57 without Discount Dollars (plus tax)
• $9.34 with Discount Dollars (40% discount, no tax added)

Note: Prices on the menu boards list the current retail prices. For students on meal plans, there is signage clearly indicating what discount is offered per venue (i.e., 40%). Applicable discounts are reflected at registers.

Learn more about budgeting your Discount Dollars.

Other Important Information

• Available option for all students (e.g., resident, apartment and commuter).
• All freshmen living in residence halls are required to have the myUnlimited Meal Plan (#1 or #2).
• Option #1 is automatically assigned to all freshmen living in resident housing.
• Resident freshmen can change to myUnlimited Meal Plan #2 starting July 2, 2025, through September 8, 2025.
• Meal plans are purchased per semester.
• Students can add up to $500 more in Discount Dollars per semester.
• The myUnlimited Meal Plan comes with Discount Dollars that activate discounts at all retail dining locations (40% Sodexo/in-house brands and local/regional/national brands).
• The myUnlimited Meal Plan will allow for unlimited meal swipes during every scheduled meal period / seven days a week at Indigenous and State Quad dining rooms.
• 518 Market and vending do not provide discounts when using Discount Dollars (use Munch Money, Podium,  Campus Gold or credit).
• Discount Dollars carry over from fall semester to spring semester but expire at the end of the spring semester.
• The plan is tax free (additional 8% savings on discounted price).
• Meal plans are activated when residence halls officially open for occupancy and end when they officially close. During times when the residence hall dining rooms are closed, but the resident halls are open, Discount Dollars and/or Munch Money can be used in retail locations.
• Non-freshmen students that have studied abroad, completed an internship or were off-campus for another approved reason during the previous semester and are now living in a residence hall, will automatically be assigned the myFlex Meal Plan #2, but can change during the add/change period.
• If a residence hall student moves into a University apartment or off-campus, their meal plan will be removed unless the student notifies the ID Card office requesting the continuation of their meal plan.
• All meal plans (i.e., myUnlimited , myFlex and myChoice) and Munch Money are exempt from New York State sales tax, and therefore cannot be used to purchase guest meals and cannot be refunded, changed or transferred after the add/drop period. See the Meal Plan Terms & Conditions for more information.

For all Non-Freshmen Living in Residence Halls, University Apartment & Commuter Students

Non-freshmen students living in residence halls are automatically assigned to myFlex #2 at the start of the semester.

The myFlex Meal Plan provides the flexibility to eat at retail locations at deep discounts with Discount Dollars. This meal plan was designed so you have the freedom to eat when you want and where you want, with no restrictions. The plan offers five (5) options, with the ability to add up to $500 additional Discount Dollars each semester.

Students on the myFlex Meal Plan can enjoy a 60% discount off the door rate at resident dining rooms, as well as venue-specific discounts of 40% when dining in the Campus Center or at satellite retail locations. Each dining venue clearly displays its Discount Dollar discount.

Using your myFlex Meal Plan

The myFlex Meal Plan uses your ID card like a debit card account and carries your Discount Dollars to spend at retail locations for meals and beverages. Each time you swipe at a retail dining location, your meal plan’s Discount Dollars will get activated and the venue-specific discount (a 60% discount at resident dining halls or 40% discount at campus/Sodexo retail brands and local/national retail brands) will be automatically calculated and the balance will be debited for your purchase. Your remaining Discount Dollars balance will appear on the register display and your receipt. If you run out of Discount Dollars before the end of the semester and would like to add more to your meal plan, you can add up to $500 each semester. Remember your meal plan is tax free, so you will also be saving an additional 8% on all discounted sale prices!

The plan works as follows:

• The myFlex Meal Plan has a base cost and a balance of Discount Dollars. This base cost covers utilities, maintenance, repairs, rent and the labor needed to support the food service program.
• The myFlex Meal Plan allows you to use your Discount Dollars like a declining balance account on your ID card. Discount Dollars can be used at all retail and resident dining locations for meals and beverages. Each time you use your ID card at a dining location, your meal plan’s Discount Dollars will get activated and the venue-specific discount ( a 40% discount at campus/Sodexo retail brands and at local/national retail brands) will be automatically calculated and the balance will be debited for your purchase. Your remaining Discount Dollars balance will appear on the register display and on your receipt. Remember also your meal plan is tax-free, so you will also be saving an additional 8% on all discounted sale prices. Please note that other campus funds will not activate these discounts, i.e., Munch Money, Podium, Campus Gold, F/S Dining Plan.

Plan Pricing per Semester

Meal plans are purchased per semester. The per semester pricing and details of the myFlex Meal Plan are as follows:
 

The base cost covers utilities, maintenance, repairs, rent and the labor needed to support the food service program.

Discount Dollars

Note: Pre-packaged items are excluded from the Discount Dollars program.

• 60% Off Your Purchase
  • Alumni Dining Room
  • Indigenous Dining Room
  • State Dining Room
• 40% Off Your Purchase
  • 518 Market
  • 1844 Restaurant
  • Baba's Pizza
  • Calypso
  • Corner Deli
  • East Cafe
  • Jamal's Chicken
  • natural!
  • SubConnection
  • Spice Market
  • Starbucks
  • The Sweet Shop
  • Tres Habaneros
  • Umai Fusion
  • Umai Sushi
  • Yella's
  • Damor Chai Cafe
  • Downtown Cafe
  • ETEC Cafe
  • Morris's Cafe

For example: If you go to the Fountain Grill and order a burger, fries and 24 ounce beverage, you will pay:

• $15.57 without Discount Dollars (plus tax)
• $9.34 with Discount Dollars (40% discount, no tax added)

Note: Prices on the menu boards list the current retail prices. For students on meal plans, there is signage clearly indicating what discount is offered per venue (i.e., 40%). Applicable discounts are reflected at registers.

Learn more about budgeting your Discount Dollars.

Other Important Information

• Available option to non-freshmen living in residence halls/university apartments and commuter students of any class standing.
• Option #2 will automatically be assigned to non-freshmen living in residence halls.
• Resident non-freshmen can change to any other myFlex Meal Plan (option #1 to #5) starting July 2, 2025, through September 8, 2025.
• University apartment and commuter students do not have to purchase a meal plan, but can add any available meal plan (myFlex or myChoice) during the add/change period.
• University apartment and commuter students that purchase a meal plan can change to any other meal plan (myFlex #1 to #5, or myChoice Meal Plan #1 to #3).
• Meal plans are purchased per semester.
• The myFlex Meal Plan comes with Discount Dollars that activate discounts in all campus-wide retail dining venues (40% off Sodexo/in-house brands and local/regional/national brands).
• 518 Market and vending do not provide a discount when using Discount Dollars (use Munch Money/Podium/Campus Gold/credit) — with the exception of Green Mountain Coffee, fruits and vegetables, sushi.
• Students can add up to $500 more in Discount Dollars per semester.
• Discount Dollars carry over from fall semester to spring semester but expire at the end of spring semester.
• Tax free (additional 8% savings on discounted price).
• Meal plans are activated when residence halls officially open for occupancy and end when they officially close. During times when the residence hall dining rooms are closed, but the resident halls are open, Discount Dollars and/or Munch Money can be used in retail locations.
• Non-freshmen students that have studied abroad, completed an internship or were off-campus for another approved reason during the previous semester and are now living in a residence hall will automatically be assigned to the myFlex Meal Plan #2, but can change during the add/change period.
• If a residence hall student moves into a University apartment or off-campus, their meal plan will be removed unless the student notifies the ID Card office requesting the continuation of their meal plan.
• All meal plans (i.e., myUnlimited , myFlex and myChoice) and Munch Money are exempt from New York State sales tax, and therefore cannot be used to purchase guest meals and cannot be refunded, changed or transferred after the add/drop period. See the Meal Plan Terms & Conditions for more information.

For University Apartment & Commuter Students

The myChoice Meal Plan offers University apartment and commuter students the opportunity to explore and experience the benefits, variety and convenience of dining on campus at any Campus Center location, resident dining room, and satellite retail dining location. 

The myChoice plan offers three options that include a 40% discount for all retail dining and a 60% discount to eat in the resident dining rooms. This plan was designed in response to students' requests to have greater flexibility to eat at retail venues.

Unlike the myFlex or myUnlimited plans, the myChoice plan does not allow additional Discount Dollars to be added and only one myChoice Plan can be purchased per semester.

The plan works as follows:

• The myChoice Meal Plan has a base cost and a balance of Discount Dollars. This base cost covers utilities, maintenance, repairs, rent, and the labor needed to support the food service program.
• The myChoice Meal Plan allows you to use your Discount Dollars like a declining balance account on your ID card. Discount Dollars can be used at all retail and resident dining locations for meals and beverages. Each time you use your ID card at a dining location, your meal plan’s Discount Dollars will get activated and the venue-specific discount (a 40% discount at campus/Sodexo retail brands and local/national retail brands) will be automatically calculated and the balance will be debited for your purchase. Your remaining Discount Dollars balance will appear on the register display and your receipt. Remember also your meal plan is tax free, so you will also be saving an additional 8% on all discounted sale prices. Please note that other campus funds will not activate these discounts, i.e., Munch Money, Podium, Campus Gold, F/S Dining Plan.

Plan Pricing per Semester

Meal plans are purchased per semester. The per semester pricing and details of the myChoice Meal Plan are as follows:
 

The base cost covers utilities, maintenance, repairs, rent and the labor needed to support the food service program.

Discount Dollars

Note: Pre-packaged items are excluded from the Discount Dollars program.

• 60% Off Your Purchase
  • Indigenous Dining Room
  • State Dining Room
• 40% Off Your Purchase
  • 518 Market
  • 1844 Restaurant
  • Baba's Pizza
  • Calypso
  • Corner Deli
  • East Cafe
  • Jamal's Chicken
  • natural!
  • SubConnection
  • Spice Market
  • Starbucks
  • The Sweet Shop
  • Tres Habaneros
  • Umai Fusion
  • Umai Sushi
  • Yella's
  • Damor Chai Cafe
  • Downtown Cafe
  • ETEC Cafe
  • Morris's Cafe
  • M&C
  • Niko's Cafe
  • Halal Shack

For example: If you go to the Fountain Grill and order a burger, fries and 24 ounce beverage, you will pay:

• $15.57 without Discount Dollars (plus tax)
• $9.34 with Discount Dollars (40% discount, no tax added)

Note: Prices on the menu boards list the current retail prices. For students on meal plans, there is signage clearly indicating what discount is offered per venue (i.e., 40%). Applicable discounts are reflected at registers.

Learn more about budgeting your Discount Dollars.

Other Important Information

• Available to university apartment and commuter students of any class standing.
• Only one myChoice Meal Plan can be purchased per semester.
• Additional Discount Dollars cannot be purchased.
• University Apartment or commuter students can change to any other myChoice Meal Plan (#1 to #3), myFlex Plan (#1 to #5), or myUnlimited Meal Plan (#1 to #2) starting July 2, 2025, through September 8, 2025.
• Meal plans are purchased per semester.
• Discount Dollars activate discounts at all campus-wide retail dining venues (40% off Sodexo/in-house brands and local/regional/national brands).
• 518 Market and vending do not provide a discount when using Discount Dollars (use Munch Money, Podium, Campus Gold or credit) — with the exception of Green Mountain Coffee, fruits and vegetables, sushi.
• Discount Dollars carry over from fall semester to spring semester but expire at the end of spring semester
• Tax free (additional 8% savings on discounted sales price).
• Meal plans are activated when residence halls officially open for occupancy and end when they officially close. During times when the residence hall dining rooms are closed, but the residence halls are open, Discount Dollars and/or Munch Money can be used in retail locations.
• Non-freshmen students that have studied abroad, completed an internship or were off-campus for another approved reason during the previous semester and are now living in a residence hall, will automatically be assigned to the myFlex Meal Plan #2, but can change during the add/change period.
• If a residence hall student moves into a university apartment or off-campus, their meal plan will be removed unless the student notifies the ID Card office requesting the continuation of their meal plan.
• All meal plans (i.e., myUnlimited , myFlex and myChoice) and Munch Money are exempt from New York State sales tax, and therefore cannot be used to purchase guest meals and cannot be refunded, changed or transferred after the add/drop period. See the Meal Plan Terms & Conditions for more information.

All student meal plans, whether mandatory or voluntary, are tax free and subject to New York State tax laws. Based on these tax codes, meal plans are non-transferable and non-refundable with few exceptions. Anyone suspected of misusing a meal plan will be reported to Community Standards. Repeat offenders will be handled through the student conduct process and may face disciplinary action.

If you misplace, lose or believe your ID Card has been stolen, you must deactivate it as soon as possible. You are responsible for keeping your ID Card secure and you are liable for all activity on your ID Card until it is deactivated. Refunds are not provided for money or meals fraudulently spent on an ID Card. Please log into your Mobile ID or the ID Card Portal to deactivate or reactivate your card at any time. Mobile ID will continue to work when a physical card is deactivated. You may also obtain a temporary ID Card at UPD or a Quad Office if needed.

Meal plans (including declining balance funds) may never be used to purchase food for anyone other than the plan owner; therefore, you are required to present your UAlbany ID card for all meal plan transactions (second form of photo ID will be required for transactions over $25). If your card is found in the possession of anyone else, it will be confiscated and destroyed and you will be charged for a replacement. If your Mobile ID is found in the possession of anyone else, it will be suspended indefinitely.

Nutrition resources and accommodations are available for students with food allergies, medical/psychological conditions or special dietary preferences. Learn more about nutritional services.

Meal plans are activated each semester when residence halls officially open for occupancy and end when halls officially close. During times when the quad dining rooms are closed but the residence halls are open, all declining balance tenders can be used in retail locations, as available.

The dining rooms are not open when the University is not in session, which includes Thanksgiving, intersession, winter and spring breaks. However, all declining balance tenders may be used at campus retail locations, as available. Resident and retail dining hours of operation may change during University vacations, holidays, or in emergency situations. All meal plan declining balance funds (i.e., Discount Dollars and Munch Money) are forfeit at spring Commencement each year and cannot be used over the summer. Should enrollment end prior to spring Commencement these funds will be forfeit at that time; for additional details please consult the Housing License even if your meal plan is voluntary.

Review dining hours.

A. UAlbany Traditional Residence Hall Students

Students living in traditional residence halls (i.e., Indigenous and State Quads) are required to have a meal plan. A designated meal plan is automatically assigned to students as follows:

Fall Semester (or after an absence from housing, e.g., study abroad):

• Freshmen living in traditional residence hall housing are automatically assigned the myUnlimited Meal Plan #1, but can change to the myUnlimited Meal Plan #2 during the first 10 days of the semester.
• Non-freshmen living in traditional residence hall housing are automatically assigned the myFlex Meal Plan #2, but can change to the myUnlimited(#1 or #2), the myFlex Meal Plan (#1 to #5) during the first 10 days of the semester.

Spring Semester

• Freshmen living in traditional residence hall housing are automatically assigned the same myUnlimited plan as the previous semester but can change to the other myUnlimited Meal Plan plan during the first 10 days of the semester.
• Non-freshmen living in traditional residence hall housing are automatically assigned the same plan as the previous semester but can change to the myFlex Meal Plan (#1 to #5) during the first 10 days of the semester.

Traditional residence hall students may change their automatically assigned meal plan (as allowed per class year) through the tenth business day of the semester via the ID Card Portal. Meal plans cannot be changed after the tenth day of each semester unless a student is released from traditional residence hall housing or withdraws from the University.

Traditional residence hall students are required to be on a meal plan. Any student with a special diet or medical condition must seek accommodation from the campus dietitian. In the unlikely event that UAlbany Dining cannot meet those dietary needs, a student in traditional residence hall housing must seek a release from traditional housing.

If a student is officially released from traditional residence hall housing during the first eight weeks of a semester, but has not withdrawn from the University, their meal plan will be automatically dropped unless they notify the ID Card Office that they want to maintain their plan. If any Discount Dollars have been voluntarily added, the remaining balance of the added on Discount Dollars will be automatically converted to Munch Money which is not discounted but is tax-free and non-refundable.

A student may also elect to change to their meal plan when they are released from traditional residence hall housing but not withdrawing from the University by contacting the ID Card Office. If any Discount Dollars have been voluntarily added, and the student changes to a plan that is ineligible for add on Discount Dollars, the remaining balance of the added on Discount Dollars will be automatically converted to Munch Money, which is not discounted but is tax-free and non-refundable.

B. UAlbany University Apartment and Commuter Students

University apartment and commuter students are not required to purchase a meal plan, but can add a meal plan of their choice. Unlike traditional residence hall students, University apartment and commuter students must add a meal plan selection every semester; there is no automatic re-assignment for these students.

University apartment and commuter students may add or change their meal plan through the tenth business day of the semester via the ID Card Portal. After the tenth day of each semester, meal plans may be purchased in the ID Card Office.

If any Discount Dollars have been voluntarily added, and the student changes to a plan that is ineligible for add-on Discount Dollars, the remaining balance of the added Discount Dollars will be automatically converted to Munch Money, which is not discounted but is tax-free and non-refundable.

Meal plans cannot be canceled after the tenth day of each semester unless a student withdraws from the University. Any student with a special diet or medical condition must seek accommodation from the campus dietitian. In the unlikely event that UAlbany Dining cannot meet those dietary needs, a University apartment or commuter student must seek a special circumstances release from the meal plan.

Please refer to the Housing License (Section XIV, B) for detailed meal plan refund and billing adjustment information, even if your meal plan is voluntary.

If you have any further questions and/or you are unsatisfied with the results of the process outlined above, please contact UAS at 518-442-7525.