FAQs
General FAQs
How do I reserve a table for my organization?
Email Rebecca Rogan, Associate Director of Restaurant Operations, to get approval. In your email please specify at which dining halls you would like to set up your table, on what days, and whether you would like to set up at lunch and/or dinner. When your group arrives, please have them see the manager on duty, who will provide a table and chairs ready.
Where can I post signs?
You can post signs inside McElroy, Stuart, or Corcoran with the approval of the manager. Email Rebecca Rogan via the link below for approval. You can't post signs on surfaces that are glass or painted.
Can my organization sell items like tickets or t-shirts?
You can't sell items in dining halls, but you can advertise your fundraiser through posters, flyers, etc.
Approved tables are for advertising or signup purposes only. If you are trying to sell tickets or t-shirts, you can only advertise that they are for sale someplace outside of a dining hall and promote what they are for.
You cannot request or accept any funds in dining halls.
What kinds of fundraisers can I run?
Student organizations can fundraise for service trips in the dining halls by collecting Dining Dollars via the GET Mobile app. These groups need to be approved by the Volunteer and Service Learning Center.
How do I complete community service with Dining?
You can perform community service during late night (8:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.) at either Stuart Dining Hall or Lyons. Bring your form with you so the manager on duty can sign it.
How do I arrange to interview Dining employees?
Prepare a list of questions beforehand for approval. Some of our employees don't like to be interviewed, and we have found that if we see the questions, we can arrange interviews with the best candidates and share the questions with them so they know what to expect.
To apply for a position, complete an application and email it to the appropriate manager on our Student Employment page.
The Newton Campus houses the Stuart Dining Hall and Legal Grounds Market. Serving freshman students and the Law School, Stuart serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are open the same hours as Dining halls on the main campus. Stuart has a smaller number of staff and a smaller space than dining halls on main campus, creating a more intimate feeling. All the same options available at dining halls on main campus are available at Stuart. Stuart also offers online/GET mobile ordering during all three meal periods.
How does the mandatory Residential Meal Plan work?
This Meal Plan operates on a declining balance system, with each student's BC ID serving as the debit card. The mandatory Residential Meal Plan is not subsidized through tuition funds.
Am I required to participate in the mandatory Residential Meal Plan?
The mandatory Residential Meal Plan is required for all students living in residence halls on Upper Campus and Newton Campus, in Walsh Hall, Greycliff, 66 Commonwealth Avenue, Vanderslice Hall, 90 St. Thomas More Drive, and Stayer Hall.
How do I buy the mandatory Residential Meal Plan?
All first-year students and anyone living in a residence hall that doesn't have a full kitchen will be automatically enrolled in the Base level of the mandatory Residential Meal Plan. Students can opt up to the Premium Plan or opt down to the Light Plan starting in mid-June. The meal plan selection deadline for the fall semester is August 31, 2024. Changes to the meal plan for the spring semester must be made by January 18, 2025. Please note Meal Plan changes may take up to a week to appear on your billing statement at the start of the fall semester.
When you arrive on campus, obtain your Eagle One Card (BC ID) from the Student Services Office. Your mandatory Residential Meal Plan will be valid upon University registration approval.
Does the plan cover all of my meals during the semester?
Students can choose from three different spending levels based on their dining habits. All students will automatically be enrolled in the Base Plan. While the Base Plan meets many students' needs (approximately $32/day), students will have the option to opt up to the Premium Plan (approximately $37/day) or opt down to the Light Plan (approximately $29/day).
Can I bring guests to a meal?
Yes—you may pay for guest meals with your mandatory Residential Meal Plan funds or any of your Eagle One accounts as long as you accompany your guests. Your guests may also pay with credit or debit. Your BC ID card and the accounts on it are for your use only; no one may use another person's ID card, unless accompanied by that person.
Can I replace my mandatory Residential Meal Plan with the Flex Dining Plan?
You can purchase the Flex Dining Plan instead of the mandatory Residential Meal Plan only if you are not already bound by a Residential Room & Board contract that requires you to participate in the mandatory Residential Meal Plan. First-year students can't replace the mandatory Residential Meal Plan with the Flex Dining Plan.
What happens if I lose or damage my ID card?
Go to the Boston College Student Services Office in Lyons Hall as soon as possible. Student Services will issue a new card and reactivate your Meal Plan. Your old card will be deactivated and will no longer work at University restaurants or vending machines.
You remain responsible for card usage prior to deactivation. Falsifying, altering, or misusing your own or anyone else's ID card in any way is strictly prohibited.
How does BC Dining's meal plan compare to other schools?
Unlike other universities with a fixed number of meals per week, Boston College’s dining program is based on a declining balance system. This means students start the academic year with a starting balance on their BC ID, much like a debit card. Students will only get charged for what they purchase. With a Declining Balance Meal Plan, students have the flexibility of eating what they want and when, with the option of taking food to go when needed.
Which plan is right for me?
Designed for different dining habits, students can select from three plan levels–Light, Base, and Premium. The following provides a sample to help you choose and budget your meal plan. This provides an estimated cost for students' meals. Nutrient needs and amount of food differ for each person.
- Light Plan: The Light Plan is designed for students who tend to eat some meals off-campus or in their residence hall. The Light Plan includes $3050 plus $250 in Dining Bucks (approximately $29 per day). Most students on this plan eat two on-campus meals per day during the week and an occasional meal on the weekends.
- Base Plan: The Base Plan is designed to meet most students’ needs. The Base Plan includes $3300 per semester plus $300 in Dining Bucks (approximately $32 per day). Most students on this plan eat two on-campus meals a day plus snacks.
- Premium Plan: The Premium Plan is designed for students who tend to eat most of their meals on campus. The Premium Plan includes $3743 plus $350 in Dining Bucks (approximately $37 per day). Most students on this plan eat two to three on-campus meals a day plus snacks, seven days a week.
Will I be able to switch plans?
Students can opt up to the Premium Plan or opt down to the Light Plan starting in mid-June. The meal plan selection deadline for the fall semester is August 31, 2024. Changes to the meal plan for the spring semester must be made by January 18, 2025. Meal Plan changes may take up to a week to appear on your billing statement at the start of the fall semester.
How do I add funds?
You and your parents can add funds immediately through the Agora Portal. The University accepts e-checks (electronic withdrawal from your checking or savings account), Visa, or MasterCard. You may also charge up to $100 against your student account if your account is paid in full.
What happens to my funds if I miss a meal?
Your account always maintains the balance from the last transaction. Regardless of what meals you miss, your money continues to roll over until the end of the academic year.
What happens to leftover funds at the end of the semester or year?
Any remaining fall semester funds are carried over to spring semester in the same academic year. At the end of the academic year any remaining balance will be forfeited. Any Flex Bucks you have remaining at the end of the academic year will continue to roll over until graduation—at which time you will receive a 100% refund on any balance over $5 (net Bonus Flex Bucks). Your mandatory Residential Meal Plan will be active until 8:00 p.m. on Commencement Day. You may request a refund of your Flex Dining Funds, net of Bonus Flex Bucks, at any time.
Could I just add Flex Bucks instead of opting up to the Premium Plan?
Yes, that is an option. The benefit of opting up to the Premium Plan is having more residential meal plan money, which encourages students to dine in our main dining halls and late night at Lyons where the menu is designed for more balanced meals.
What do I do if I run out of funds?
You may deposit additional funds into one of our optional Eagle One accounts. Deposits to your Flex Plan can be made at any time during the year through the Agora Portal.
Can I make a cash withdrawal from my Eagle One Card?
No, your Eagle One Card is not an ATM card. You do not have the ability to withdraw cash from it.
How do I sign up for a Flex Plan or purchase Eagle Bucks?
Online through the Agora Portal.
What's the difference between Flex Bucks and Eagle Bucks?
Flex Bucks are accepted at all on-campus locations, including specialty dining locations, concessions, vending machines, and GET Mobile ordering. Opening an Eagle Bucks account increases your spending flexibility by allowing purchases at BC bookstores, residence hall laundry facilities, and a variety of off-campus retail and service locations.
What are Mandatory Residential Meal Plan Money/Funds?
Residential meal plan money is used at qualifying on-campus dining locations. Depending on the plan level, you will start the semester with $3,050 (Light Plan), $3,300 (Base Plan), or $3,743 (Premium Plan) to use at the main dining locations, pop-up events, and Farmers Market. Any Meal Plan money remaining after the fall semester will be carried over to the spring semester in the same academic year. At the end of the academic year, any remaining balance will be forfeited.
What are Dining Bucks?
The Residential Meal Plan also includes Dining Bucks, which provide added flexibility and variety. Depending on the plan level, you will start the semester with $250 Dining Bucks (Light Plan), $300 Dining Bucks (Base Plan), or $350 Dining Bucks (Premium Plan) to use at specialty dining locations, GET mobile ordering, concessions, and vending machines. Any Dining Bucks you have remaining at the end of the academic year will continue to roll over until graduation—at which time you will receive a 100% refund on any balance over $5 (net Bonus Flex Bucks). You may request a refund of your Flex Dining Funds, net of Bonus Flex Bucks, at any time.
Sustainability FAQs
Yes—our employees are trained to keep compost, recycling, and landfill separate when they empty bins. The waste is sent to Save That Stuff, our waste provider based in Boston. If our recycling is too contaminated, it will likely not be able to be recycled; however, most of it should be, as long as students make the effort to sort correctly. Save That Stuff can take up to 10 percent contamination in compost, so even contaminated compost is able to be processed, turned into bioslurry, and used to create renewable energy and fertilizer.
We call the revolving waste station in Corcoran the “Magic Wall.” After you leave your waste on the conveyor belt, employees on the other side sort your waste between compost, recycling and landfill. This system allows us to have 100% of waste accurately sorted, limiting contamination.
While we looked into paper or compostable straws, they are significantly more expensive than plastic straws. Our “out of sight, out of mind policy,” which requires students to ask for a straw at the register, has resulted in significant reductions in straw use already (26 percent in just the first year). While we looked into paper or compostable straws, they are significantly more expensive than plastic straws. We encourage students to simply skip the straw, as this is always the most sustainable alternative. In addition, straws are not significantly more environmentally damaging than other forms of plastic, so we try to devote our attention to more significant sources of plastic waste.
No, our metal utensils are completely sanitized when they are washed. Our dishwashers are much more powerful than one you would use at home to wash your own dishes. Always choose metal utensils when eating in the dining hall.
We offer reusable options at each of our main dining units (Lower, Corcoran, and McElroy). Unfortunately, several of our smaller units, including Eagles, Lyons, and Hillside, have limited dishwashing capability, so at this time those locations don't offer reusables. It's our goal to expand reusables as much as possible.
No, they should go in the trash. Our new Preserve utensils are more sustainable because they are made from recycled plastic rather than virgin plastic. However they are not recyclable, and should still be discarded in the landfill. Remember, it's always more sustainable to use reusable silverware.
We want to provide reusable dishes and silverware for students in the dining hall, but the more dishes we lose, the less sustainable it becomes for us to keep replacing them. Making reusable dishes requires resources and emits carbon, so the more we have to keep buying, the higher our environmental footprint becomes. The best thing you can do to support our fight against disposable plastic and to help us expand the availability of reusables is to not take our dishes.
Food Allergies FAQs
- Menu items containing nuts are identified with signage in the dining halls in red font and on the online menu.
- Bakery items should be avoided since they are produced in our BC Bakery that also uses nuts.
- Boston College Dining Services uses soy, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, dairy, shellfish, wheat, sesame, gluten-containing foods, and other potential allergens in meal preparation. BC Dining staff are trained on and aware of the severity of food allergies and celiac disease, and allergens are identified to the best of our ability. However, manufacturers change product formulation without notifying BC Dining and cross-contact is possible. Students need to be aware of risks and take responsibility for asking the manager on duty for assistance. BC Dining strongly encourages students with food allergies or celiac disease to follow the Policy for Meal Accommodations, and meet with our nutritionist.
Yes, there are both vegan and vegetarian options at all open dining locations. Examples include a vegan soup daily, roasted mushroom gyros, tofu and avocado arepas, Southwestern beans and rice, tofu fried rice, and more. We have made new recipes that are vegan/vegetarian for this school year to provide those options. Additionally, there will be vegetarian and vegan options available across campus. Lastly, if you want to stay up to date with vegan and vegetarian options, please email christina.karalolos@bc.edu to be put on the vegan/vegetarian elist. We always encourage feedback and communication with us, so that we can ensure you have options you enjoy!
If a card does not dispense, please keep the receipt and call the support hotline at 617-466-7377.
Cards can be used anywhere in the US that accept credit cards.
There are NO FEES to use the card.
Maximum value on the card is $500.
Please call the Reverse ATM Support Hotline at 617-466-7377 for technical, mechanical, or operational issues. The support hotline is available 24/7. For additional assistance, please call 617-552-2726.