Meal Plans

2024 - 2025 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.

Guest Passes – are extra meal swipes that can be used for yourself or to treat a friend. Passes are valid at PACES all you care to eat Dining Hall “Bear Cave” in Thatcher Hall.

All First year students must choose either 19/90 or 14/450

$3,240-19 Meal Swipes/90 Flex/5 Guest

• Provides 19 meals per week. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
• 90 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $5.65) plus 5 guest passes (guest passes can be used at The Bear Cave)

$3,240-14 Meal/450 Flex/5 Guest

• Provides 14 meals per week. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
• 450 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $28.15) plus 5 guest passes (guest passes can be used at the Bear Cave)

$3,210-10 Meal/900 Flex/5 Guest

• Provides 10 meals per week. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
• 900 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $56.25) plus 5 guest passes (guest passes can be used at the Bear Cave)

$2,920-9 Meal/675 Flex/5 Guest

• Provides 9 meals per week. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
• 675 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $46.15) plus 5 guest passes (guest passes can be used at the Bear Cave)

$2,650-7 Meal/450 Flex/5 Guest

• Provides 7 meals per week. A meal is an all at once credit of $7.50 for food purchased in most any campus restaurant.
• 450 Flex Dining Credits for use at any of our dining units (ideal usage of Flex Dining Credits per week is $28.15) plus 5 guest passes (guest passes can be used at The Bear Cave)

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 location on campus. guest passes can be used at the “Bear Cave”.  Free to go containers can be picked up at the “Bear Cave” Thatcher Hall.

To be eligible for these plans a student must:

• Live off campus
• Have met the residency requirement AND live in a Townhouse or Lehman Apartment.

$500- 50 Block/100 Flex/2 Guest/Free Reusable to-go Container

• This plan offers 50 meal swipes per semester. A meal is one entry at The 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.
• 2 Guest Passes. Passes are equal to a meal swipe and are valid at all PACES Dining Services' locations where and when meal swipes are accepted.

$1,500 – 1500 Flex/4 Guest/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.
• 4 Guest Passes. Passes are equal to a meal swipe and are valid at all PACES Dining Services' locations where meal swipes are accepted.

$1,000 - 1000 Flex/3 Guest/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.
• 3 Guest Passes. Passes are equal to a meal swipe and are valid at all PACES Dining Services' locations where meal swipes are accepted.

$500 - 500 Flex/2 Guest/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.
• 2 Guest Passes. Passes are equal to a meal swipe and are valid at all PACES Dining Services' locations where meal swipes are accepted.

$300 – 300 Flex/1 Guest/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.
• 1 Guest Pass. Pass is equal to a meal swipe and are valid at all PACES Dining Services' locations where meal swipes are accepted.
   

View 2023-2024 Meal Plan Options

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 Becky’s Place. Meal swipes are not accepted at Starbucks and The Stand in Maxcy Hall.
• Meal swipes are issued weekly you may use as many in a given day as you wish. Meal swipes must be used in the week they are issued; they do not roll over and reset every Sunday at 2 a.m.
• Meal swipes are pro-rated when PACES operations are not open for the full week. These weeks include opening, closing, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break.
• Meal swipes are not valid at Starbucks.

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, including The Stand in Maxcy Hall.
• 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.
• FLEX can be added to an existing meal plan account at any Dining Services' register or on BearPAWS.

Guest Passes (Available on all plans)

• Guest passes allow you to purchase a meal for a guest or yourself and you can use multiple passes at one time.
• Guest Passes will be accepted at PACES locations where and when meal swipes are accepted.
• You may use multiple passes at one time, you can use one for yourself.
• Guest Passes do not rollover to the next semester, they must be used in the semester they were issued. Unused Guest Passes are nonrefundable.
• Passes have no other value.

You never have to "lose" or miss a meal with the PACES meal plans.

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: 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.
• 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, or on BearPAWS. 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 three features: Meal Swipes, Flex (purchasing power equal to one dollar, but no cash value), and Guest Passes.
• 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/450Flex/5 Guest.
• 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.
• Meals Plans are prorated during breaks. Refer to the Proration Chart (PDF) for more information.
• 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. No changes are allowed after that, even if you move off campus.
• 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 is able to 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).