University Housing

University Housing Meal Plans

Residential Meal Plans

 Students living in a first-year residence hall (Bluff, Prairie or Woodland Halls) are required to purchase a Residential Meal Plan (A, B or C).

In addition to Meal Plans A, B and C, Meal Plans D and E are eligible for purchase by residents living in Cougar Village or Evergreen Hall. Students living in these communities are not required to purchase a meal plan.

 Residential Meal Plans are an "a la carte" structure, meaning you pay for what you eat. The selected meal plan will be loaded onto the SIUE Cougar Card at the beginning of the semester and the Cougar Card is used like a debit card at campus dining locations.

 When you purchase a residential meal plan:

• Part of what you pay upfront goes toward fixed dining costs (like supplies, staff and maintenance).
• The rest of your meal plan money is added to your Cougar Card for you to use to make purchases.
• Because you already paid some costs in advance, the food you buy with your Cougar Card is discounted.
• You do not pay sales tax on your food when using these meal plans.

Meal plans can be used at most Dining Services locations. Discount pricing is not available at Union Station. We do not recommend using the residential meal plan at Union Station.

 Any balance remaining on the meal plan at the end of the fall semester rolls over to the spring semester for use. 

Students can switch meal plans during the first two weeks of the fall semester and the first two weeks of the spring semester. If a student wishes to make a change to the spring semester, they can make that request at any point in the fall semester and break.

Cougar Basic: The Cougar Basic plan is a plan that provides approximately two light meals per day. Consider supplementing your meal plan with additional Cougar Bucks to cover additional meals, snacks, and specialty beverages. It is recommended for upperclass students or students who spend time off campus, go home for the weekends, or who might have some access to kitchens.

Cougar Plus: This plan provides an average of two meals per day with some extra money for snacks and drinks. It is recommended for third-year students and beyond, or light eaters.

Cougar Legacy: The Cougar Experience plan will provide approximately 3 meals per day plus some extra money for snacks. This meal plan is recommended for Freshmen and Sophomore students or students who participate heavily in on-campus activities, clubs and organizations, or athletics.

Cougar Lite and Cougar Club plans are only available for students living on campus in residence halls that do NOT mandate a meal plan. These meal plans are perfect for students who simply want the benefit and convenience of tax-free dining while on campus.

All the above Meal Plans are non-taxable, which means sales tax is not charged on food purchases.

 All plans can be supplemented with additional monies by doing the following: Go to GET (an app where students and parents can manage their campus card accounts). Log in and click “add funds” and select Cougar Bucks.

Cougar Advantage Commuter Plans

 All current, enrolled and financially clear SIUE students have the option to select a Commuter Meal Plan. Commuter Meal Plans are an "a la carte" structure, meaning you pay for what you eat. The selected meal plan will be loaded onto the SIUE Cougar Card at the beginning of the semester and the Cougar Card is used like a debit card at campus dining locations.

 When you purchase a commuter meal plan:

• Part of what you pay upfront goes toward fixed dining costs (like supplies, staff and maintenance).
• The rest of your meal plan money is added to your Cougar Card for you to use to make purchases.
• Because you already paid some costs in advance, the food you buy with your Cougar Card is discounted.

 Students can purchase their Commuter Meal Plan in MyHousing.

Commuter Meal Plans are available to current SIUE students during the fall and spring semesters only and may be purchased for the full academic year or spring term alone. Plans are not offered during the summer. To be eligible, students must be enrolled and financially clear. Meal plans can be used at most Dining Services locations. Discount pricing is not available at Union Station. We do not recommend using the residential meal plan at Union Station.

Commuter Plans are great for creating a convenient way to pay for drinks, snacks, or a meal when you’re on campus. Commuter plans are loaded directly onto your student ID so that you don’t have to rely on cash or credit cards. Perfect for students who live in off-campus housing and would like to have the convenience of a meal plan when on campus between classes. Commuter plan purchases are taxed.

Cougar Bucks

Cougar Bucks are optional for all students and can be used for vending, printing, dining, and at the Cougar Store. Once the money is on your Cougar Card, you get a 5% discount where accepted. See a full list of places you can use your Cougar Card on campus and off-campus. Funds are added to this account online through:

• The GET phone app · In person with the Cougar Bucks Deposit Form at the Office of the Bursar, Rendleman Hall, Room 1101.

Unspent money can be refunded upon separation from the University with the submittal of a completed Request for Refund form. See Request for Refund for details.

Cougar Bucks