Meal Plan
Gallaudet University offers a choice of five meal plans to both students living on campus and off campus plus a sixth plan to students living off campus. If you plan to live on campus, you are required to sign up for a meal plan. See below for more information about a board waiver. Students living off campus are not required to have a meal plan but may opt to sign up for one.
Should you choose to live on campus and do not submit your selection, you will automatically be assigned the "100 plus $125" meal plan at a charge of $2000.
There is a grace period during the first week of the semester if you want to change your original meal plan selection to a different plan. After the first week and for the remainder of the semester, you will only be allowed the option of upgrading your plan. You may carry over any remaining Dining Dollar balance from the fall semester to the spring semester, but not from the spring semester to the fall semester. Any unused block meals cannot be transferred to the semester.
The Gallaudet campus has several dining facilities where students can use their meal plan. The Cafe Bon Appetit, known also as the Cafeteria or the Agatha Hanson Plaza Dining Hall, serves all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Market Place in the Student Union Building is open for breakfast and lunch. The Rathskellar serves light dinner.
Occasionally, students living on campus request to be waived from the meal plan program. The University recognizes that special reasons may justify such a waiver and will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to grant a board waiver. For further information and a board waiver request form, stop by the Post Office in the Student Union Building or contact:
Sherri Fleishell
Special Projects Coordinator / Food Services Liaison
Business and Support Services
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave., N.E.
College Hall 314
Washington, DC 20002-3695
(202) 250-2406 (videophone)
(202) 448-6969 (TTY/voice)
(202) 448-6966 (fax)
Read the meal plan options carefully and make your Meal Plan selection on your Bison account. If you are uncertain, you can always select the cheapest plan and upgrade your meal plan later during the semester for an additional cost. When making your selection, consider your budget, cost effectiveness, study habits, and whether you are the kind of person who enjoys eating out at restaurants. Keep in mind that there is also delivery service available to the University dorms from nearby restaurants.
Below are the five different meal plan options. Block meals are fixed number of meals per week that must be used up by the end of the semester. Any unused block meals cannot be rolled over to the next semester.
Dining Dollars are meals that are deducted from a non-refundable paid balance. Meals at the Market Place are based on a la carte pricing, and costs will be deducted accordingly. Students may also opt to use their Block meal to purchase breakfast or lunch at the Market Place and then use their Dining Dollars to pay the difference. Any remaining Dining Dollar balance may be carried over from the fall semester to the spring semester only.
You may use either your Block meals or Dining Dollars at any of the three dining facilities on campus: Plaza Dining Hall (Cafe Bon Appetit), Market Place, and Rathskellar. However, only Dining Dollars can be used at the Java Corner (concession stand with Starbucks service) at the Student Academic Center. Students may grant or transfer their Block meals or Dining Dollars to another person such as visiting family members or friends.
- 250-Block plus $50 Dining Dollars
Approximately 15 block meals per week = $2650 - 220-Block plus $50 Dining Dollars
Approximately 13 block meals per week = $2540 - 190-Block plus $150 Dining Dollars
Approximately 12 block meals per week = $2540 - 150-Block plus $150 Dining Dollars
Approximately 10 block meals per week = $2460 - 100-Block plus $125 Dining Dollars (minimum requirement for on-campus residents)
Approximately 7 block meals per week = $2000
(Students who do not fill out a Meal Plan Form are automatically charged to this plan.) - Dining Dollars (Commuter students only)
minimum $150
This additional meal plan is available only to students living off campus. Off-campus students may prefer the Dining Dollars Only option which can be purchased at a discounted rate for a minimum of $150. Students may add to their balance throughout the semester. Dining Dollars, however, are non-refundable but may be carried over from the fall semester to the spring semester.
Board fees do not include the winter break period between fall and spring semesters and the spring break period during the spring semester (usually a week in mid-March), and commencement week. All students are responsible for their meals during these periods.
Board Waiver
In accordance with the Gallaudet University Residence Hall contract, all students who live on campus are required to participate in the Board Plan. The only exception is for students who have a documented food-related medical condition that cannot be reasonably accommodated through the campus food service provider. It is the responsibility of the student to provide Business and Support Services with a completed board waiver form and supporting documentation for the board waiver.
