Frequently Asked Questions

It's a great value and it is Berea College’s policy that all designated Campus Residents purchase a meal plan each semester. Students can choose which plan best fits their schedule and lifestyle. Although there are no restrictions on how times per day you can enter the Mountaineer Dining Hall, all Meal Plan participants are required to bring their card for a swipe each time they enter.

Swiping your card allows us to keep track of how many people are coming into the dining hall. By keeping track of this, it helps us better project how much labor we need to utilize and at what time. Our system provides us with 15 minute counts, or how many swipes we have every 15 minutes. We are better able to project labor requirements to help make sure our schedules are managed to peak times of service. It also help us to better project how much food will be needed to be produced during that amount of time. This allows us to control waste, which keeps costs down for you and try to keep fresher food out during slow periods and reduce wait times during peak service times.

Flex Dollars are cash values included in all meal plan. They work like a pre-paid debit card with funds kept on your student ID card. Flex Dollars may be used at the Sandella's Cafe, the Pinnacles Cafe or the Mountaineer Dining Hall. Students and/or their parents may purchase additional Flex Dollars at any time through the BC Dining Office – come by and see Connie Middleton at the Mountaineer Dining Hall Administration Office in the Alumni or call her at (859) 985-3548. Flex Dollars may also be purchased at any time during the Fall or Spring semester on our website!

They are carried over from the fall to the spring semester, and also renew with your Spring semester plan. Flex Dollars expire at the end of the Spring semester. If you run low on Flex Dollars you can add them at any time during the semester on our website.

Unused voluntary Block meals (for staff, faculty and commuting students) carry over from semester to semester, and expire on August 1st each year.

Yes! Changing to a meal plan that includes more flex dollars and extra meals for guests can be done during the first 10 days of the semester. Upgrading to Gold or Platinum plan is possible at any time during the semester. All other requests for changes must be made at the Residential Life Office located on the third floor of the Woods-Penn building.

You can purchase the block plans in one of three ways: You may purchase a plan on our website You can purchase a block plan at our cashier desk in the Mountaineer Dining Hall If you wish to charge a plan to your student account you may purchase at the Collegium office on the 3rd floor of Woods Penn.