Dining Plans and Food Service

The on-campus dining program has been designed with flexibility to meet the unique needs of each student.

Our dining service provider, Bon Appétit, takes special care to offer students a wide variety of entrée items (including vegetarian, vegan, and made without gluten). You can view the current week’s menus through their website as well as other helpful information.

Willamette Dining and Commuter Plans

For current pricing information, please see the Housing Rates page.

All students living in a residence hall must purchase a dining plan unless they have a kitchen inside their living space. Returning students select their dining plan when they sign their housing agreement for the academic year. First year students are required to purchase a 19 Meal Plan their first semester on campus, then can switch plans after that. 

Willamette offers traditional dining plans based on the number of meals per week a student consumes, or commuter dining plans offering a number of meals for the duration of the semester.  Students are allotted one meal per meal period.

• Willamette Dining Plans

  For all residential and non-residential students. The semester long plans are numbered, indicating the number of meals on the plan each week; either 10, 14 or 19.  All plans include a number of dining flex dollars, that can be spent during the semester. 

  • 19-Meal Plan + $50 flex dollars per semester
  • 14-Meal Plan + $150 flex dollars per semester
  • 10-Meal Plan + $250 flex dollars per semester

  The 19-Meal Plan allows you to consume food at Goudy Commons during every meal period during the week (3 meals per day M-F = 15, + brunch and dinner on the weekend, 2 each day = 4). You can use the 14 and 10-Meal Plans how ever you would like to throughout the week; the count resets on Sundays.  There is no reimbursement or carry over for meals not consumed. During the week, Monday through Friday, diners can purchase lunch meals with an entree equivalency at Blitz Market in Sparks.

• Willamette Commuter Plans

  Available for non-residential students, upperclassmen and graduate students, we also offer commuter plans. Commuter plans are also available to faculty, and staff. 

  • 40-Block Plan + $250 flex dollars per semester
  • 25-Block Plan + $150 flex dollars per semester

  The two commuter options include either 40-meal or 25-meal block plans with $250 or $150 flex dollars per semester, respectively. So, students can have 40 or 25 meals per semester at any time in Goudy Commons or lunch Monday-Friday, at Blitz Market.

• Dining Flex Dollars

  Flex dollars can be used at Goudy Commons, Rick's Cafe and Blitz Market. Flex dollars are a value placed on your student ID card that can be used in a declining balance fashion. One point equals $1 in value.

  Flex dollars carry over from Fall to Spring semesters, provided you have an active meal plan.  Flex dollars remaining at the completion of spring semester are non-refundable. No credit or refund is issued for meals not taken. Flex dollars can not be cashed out, or refunded at any time.

• Want to change your dining plan?

  First year college students in the Fall semester are automatically provided the 19-meal plan. All other students are able to change your dining plan by accessing the WU Housing Portal. At the main page, select the left navigation menu, select DINING and then DINING PLANS.

  Dining plans can be changed until the second Friday of each semester.

Dining and Food FAQ

• Do I have to have a dining plan?
  All students living in residence halls that do not have a kitchen in their specific living space are required to participate in a Willamette Dining Plan program. Students living in campus apartments or off campus may purchase any of the Willamette Dining Plans or Commuter Plans by contacting the Housing office to sign up.
• When do I sign up for a dining plan?
  New students choose a dining plan in their housing application. Housing and dining plan information is available to deposited students in late May. Current students returning in the next academic year select a dining plan during the housing selection process in the Spring.
• If I want to change my dining plan, when and how do I change it?
  Dining plan changes are accepted through the second week of Fall and Spring Semester. Submit your dining plan change request through your WU Housing Portal, using your Willamette credentials to log in. The Dining tab is located on the top left side of the page. No dining plan changes are accepted after the second week of classes each semester.
• What should I do if I have medical or dietary restrictions?

  If you have a medical need, make an appointment with the Accessible Education Services and a Bon Appetit manager to learn about the available options.

  Students looking to be exempt from meal plans due to a religious need should contact the office of Residence Life and Housing at housing@willamette.edu. The Residence Life and Housing staff will work with each student to try to find a remedy that works for them.

• Are dining flex dollars considered actual money?
  Are dining flex dollars considered actual money?
• Do I get a cash refund if I have dining flex dollars left over?
  No, there is no compensation for left over flex dollars.
• What happens to my dining flex dollars at the end of each semester?

  Flex dollars carry over from Fall to Spring semester for students who remain on a Willamette dining plan.

  Students who move off a Willamette dining plan (e.g. university-owned apartment, off-campus, semester abroad program or graduation at semester) receive no carry-over credit or refund.

  Flex dollars remaining at the completion of Spring semester are non-refundable. No credit is issued for meals not consumed.

• How can I check my dining flex dollars balance?
  Your balance is listed on the register each time you make a purchase.  You can also contact the Service Center at 503-370-6911.
• If I run out of dining flex dollars what can I do?
  Once you exhaust your flex dollars, they are gone.  There is no way to re-load flex dollars onto your account.
• Can you give me an example of how the meals work?
  The 19-Meal Plan allows you to consume food at Goudy Commons during every meal period during the week (3 meals per day M-F = 15, + brunch and dinner on the weekend, 2 each day = 4). You can use the 14 and 10-Meal Plans how ever you would like to throughout the week; the count resets on Sundays.  There is no reimbursement or carry over for meals not consumed. During the week, Monday through Friday, diners can purchase lunch meals with an entree equivalency at Blitz Market in the Putnam University Center.
• What happens if I miss a meal? Do I get compensated for that missed meal?
  No, there is no compensation for missed meals. However, we know students can get over-scheduled with practices, exams, and other things! If you know you don't have time for a sit down meal, you can purchase a to-go container and take food with you. Talk to a cashier at the cafe for more information.
• Can I purchase a Willamette dining plan if I live in an apartment or off campus?
  Yes, students living in campus apartments or off campus may purchase any of the Willamette dining plans or commuter plans by contacting Residence Life and Housing.