A meal plan is mandatory for residential students. Students who have fulfilled their Residency Requirement AND live in a Townhouse or Lehman Apartment may be excluded. Meal plan options are based on the number of semesters lived on campus, including those who live in the Townhouses and Lehman apartments. First Year students must choose: 19MEAL SWIPES/100Flex or 14MEAL SWIPES/600Flex.
All campus meal plans are designed to provide a broad range of dining services for our campus customers. In addition to the cost of ingredients and service labor the meal plans must also cover over-head & program expense that have been approved by the PACES Board of Directors.
When choosing what plan is best for you, think about how much time you expect to spend away from campus as well as your eating habits. Keep in mind that there are approximately 110 days in the academic semester, so the number of meal swipes you choose to have available every week is an individual decision.
Residential Meal Plans are made up of a weekly allotment of meal swipes, and a semester’s worth of flex spending for use per semester.
* Fall Meal plans begin with lunch on Thursday 8/21/25 and ends after breakfast on Saturday 12/13/25
* Spring Meal plans begin with lunch on Friday 1/16/26 and ends after dinner on Saturday 5/16/26
* Changes to Meal Plans must be made within seven days of the start of classes on BearPAWS.
Meal swipes are allocated per week. Meals are based on the academic calendar and prorated for any weeks the college is not in session (opening weekend, extended breaks.) Meal swipes are a $7.50 (non-cash value) at all dining locations except Starbucks and concessions.
Flex is allocated per semester and can be used in any dining location at any time. Any unused balance expires when the meal plan ends at the close of the semester.
Meal plan selection is subject to review and audit by the Campus Card office and is based on room assignments and completion of the residency requirement. Students who are determined to be in contradiction with these terms will be assigned to the 14Meal/600Flex.
A Meal Plan cost reflects the cost of food, labor, rent, utilities, meal plan flexibility.
PACES is a not-for-profit organization: All money generated from your meal plan takes care of our operational costs, equipment replacements, unit upgrades, and financial obligation to SUNY Potsdam.
A meal plan is mandatory for residential students. Students who have fulfilled their Residency Requirement AND live in a Townhouse or Lehman Apartment are excluded. Meal plan options are based on the number of semesters lived on campus, including those who live in the Townhouses and Lehman apartments. First Year students must choose: 19MEAL SWIPES/100Flex or 14MEAL SWIPES/600Flex.
2025 - 2026 Meal Plan Options
Refer to the symbols to understand which plan you are eligible for:
First year students (for first two semesters living on campus)
Returning students (who have lived on campus for two semesters)
Returning students or transfer students. (who have fulfilled their residency requirement, meaning they have lived on campus a total of 4 semesters)
Returning students who commute, live off campus, or who have met the Residency Requirement AND live in a townhouse or Lehman Apartment.
Residential Meal Plans are made up of a weekly allotment of meal swipes, a semester’s worth of flex spending, and five guest passes for use per semester.
Meal swipes – Meal swipes reset every Sunday at 2 a.m. PACES doesn’t use meal periods, so you can use your meal swipe at whatever time you want and as often in a day as you’d like during the week. A meal swipe is an all at once value of $7.50 at most retail dining locations and a single swipe at the All You Care to Eat “Bear Cave”. Meals do not roll over from week to week. Unused meals cannot be credited or refunded.
Meal swipes are pro-rated when PACES operations are not open for the full week. These weeks include opening, closing, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break. Pro-rated means you will have a different allotment of weekly meal swipes based on how many days locations are open. The semester is approximately 16 weeks long and there are 110 “feeding days” during the semester.
Flex – is intended to be used for grab and go items, extra meals, beverages, and snacks. Flex may be used at any of the on-campus dining facilities. Flex does not roll over from semester to semester. Unused flex cannot be credited or refunded. Money can be added to Flex at any time at any Dining Services' cash register, at the PACES/Card office in Merritt Hall, or online via BearPAWS.
All First year students must choose either 19/100 or 14/600
$3,370-19 Meal Swipes/100 Flex
- Provides 19 meals per week, 304 meals a semester. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
- 100 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units. (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $6.25)
$3,370-14 Meal/600 Flex
- Provides 14 meals per week, 224 meals a semester. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
- 600 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units. (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $37.50)
$3,037-9 Meal/750 Flex
- Provides 144 meals a semester. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
- 750 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units. (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $46.88)
Commuter Plans
Commuter Plans are a great way for convenience and nourishment for non-resident students while they attend classes throughout the day. Flex can be used at all Dining locations on campus.
To be eligible for these plans a student must:
- Live off campus
- If living on campus you must have met the residency requirement AND live in a Townhouse or Lehman Apartment.
$750- 75 Block/100 Flex/Free Reusable to-go Container
This plan offers 75 meal swipes per semester. A meal is one entry at Bear Cave (for an all-you-care-to-eat meal) or an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
100 Flex for use at any of our dining units. Ideal usage of Flex spending per week is $6.25.
$1,500 – 1500 Flex/Free Reusable to-go Container
- 1500 Flex for use at any of our dining units. Ideal usage of Flex spending per week is $93.75.
$1,000 - 1000 Flex/Free Reusable to-go Container
- 1000 Flex for use at any of our dining units. Ideal usage of Flex spending per week is $62.50.
$500 - 500 Flex/Free Reusable to-go Container
- 500 Flex for use at any of our dining units. Ideal usage of Flex spending per week is $31.25.
$300 – 300 Flex/Free Reusable to-go Container
- 300 Flex for use at any of our dining units. Ideal usage of Flex spending per week is $18.75.
Meal Swipes
- Your meal plan provides the security of knowing that your basic dining needs are covered for the entire semester.
- Meal swipes are allocated per week (or semester) depending on the plan chosen.
- Meal swipes have a $7.50 (non cash) value at other locations. Meal swipes are accepted at all dining locations except Starbucks and concessions.
- Meal swipes must be used in the week they are issued; they do not roll over and reset every Sunday at 2 a.m. You may use as many meal swipes in each day as you wish.
- Meal swipes are pro-rated when PACES operations are not open for the full week. These weeks include opening, closing, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break.
Flex Dining Credits (Available on all plans)
- FLEX credits have the purchasing power equivalent to one dollar but they have no cash value.
- FLEX can be used in any dining unit.
- FLEX can only be used towards purchases of goods from PACES Dining Services.
- FLEX provides maximum purchasing flexibility: FLEX credits can be used at any time during the semester.
- FLEX does not rollover to the next semester, they must be used in the semester they were issued. Unused FLEX credits are nonrefundable.
Here are some Tips for Managing your Meal Plan:
- Plan Ahead: You can use your Meal swipes at any time and as many meals as you want at one time.
- Meal swipes must be used within the week in which they are allocated: it generally makes the most sense to use them first, for their full value. Something new that students have been requesting is the opportunity to use meal swipes at Becky’s Place. Starting in the Fall semester of 2024, students will be able to use a $7.50 value meal swipe for breakfast or lunch at Becky’s Place.
- Get the Best Value: Go to The Bear Cave for your meals, our all-you-care-to-eat location in Thatcher Hall for one swipe.
- Spend Your Flex: You've paid for them as part of your plan. Don't save them all for the end of the semester and then waste them on things you don't really need or be forced to forfeit them.
- Check Your Balances: You can check your balance at any register, or online at sunycard.potsdam.edu. Refer to the Ideal Flex Balance Chart (PDF) and the Proration Chart (PDF) to make sure you are on track for the semester.
- Prorated Meals: Most colleges build in and charge you for meals that they think you won't use (aka missed meal factor). PACES wants you to get what you paid for, so we take into account the short weeks (opening weeks, Thanksgiving, and Spring break week.) Check the Proration Chart (PDF) for the amount of meals you will get during those times.
- Meal Plans are a contract between you and PACES and are regulated by NYS law.
- You must present your Campus Card to the cashier to use your meal plan.
- Meal Plans have features: Meal Swipes, Flex (purchasing power equal to one dollar, but no cash value), and a Mobile App.
- Meal Plans are non-transferable, are for the sole use of the student to whom the account is issued and for food in PACES Dining Service locations.
- All students who live on campus are required to have a residential meal plan except students who have met their residency requirement AND live in Lehman apartments or Townhouse. * Meal plan selection is subject to review and audit by the Campus Card office. Students who are determined to be in contradiction with these terms will be defaulted to the 14Meal.
- Changes to Meal Plans must be made within seven days of the first day of classes on BearPAWS.
- No refunds can be issued unless a student officially withdraws from the College. (Any refunds will be pro-rated and service charges may apply).
- Plan balances do not "rollover" from one semester to another. At the end of the semester all plan balances are forfeited. Plan Balances and usage history may be checked online at sunycard.potsdam.edu.
- At the end of the fall semester, students will automatically be re-assigned their current meal plan option for the spring semester unless they select a different one on BearPaws.
- You can make changes to your plan within seven days of the first day of classes on BearPAWS.
- If you believe that you have special circumstances that necessitate a modification or release from your meal plan contract you may submit a Meal Plan Petition (PDF).
- PACES can accommodate many individual diets and most medically necessitated food requirements are available (Gluten Free, vegan, vegetarian.) We do recognize, however, that there may be extenuating circumstance under which relief from the meal plan regulations may be appropriate. If you have a special medical condition that necessitates a modification or release from your meal plan contract you may submit a Meal Plan Petition (PDF).