New Student Dining Overview

Since the fall of 2007, Bon Appétit Management Company has served as the food service provider for Wesleyan University. Renowned for its culinary expertise, commitment to socially responsible food sourcing, and sustainable business practices, Bon Appétit collaborates with respected conservation organizations to uphold these values.

Unlike many university dining programs managed entirely by external providers, Wesleyan University retains full oversight of its dining services while benefiting from Bon Appétit’s industry expertise. This unique partnership allows for a dining program that is not only innovative but also closely aligned with the needs and expectations of the Wesleyan community.

To ensure all students have access to quality dining options throughout their undergraduate experience, Wesleyan requires all undergraduates to participate in a meal plan for all four years on campus. Meal plans are designed to adapt to students' evolving schedules and responsibilities, offering increasing flexibility and autonomy as they progress through their academic journey.

 

Meal Plans

Your WesCard** provides access to all campus dining facilities, including those at the Usdan University Center, Summerfields, and various à la carte locations.

**It is very important that you submit your picture no later than June 30th utilizing the instructions on the Orientation platform. This will ensure that your WesCard, which also gives you dorm access, is ready for you upon your arrival in August.

 

First-Year Students

All first-year students are automatically enrolled in the Premier Plan, which includes unlimited meal swipes and $260 in dining points per semester. First-year students are required to remain on this plan and may not select an alternative option. Meal swipes are limited to one per meal period, with a total of 26 meal periods per week.

Second-Year Students

The Intermediate Plan serves as the default meal plan for second-year students. This plan includes two meal swipes per day and $520 in dining points per semester. Students on the Intermediate Plan receive 290 meal swipes per semester, covering meals from one week before New Student Orientation in the fall through the December dorm closure (~115 days) and again from January move-in through the May dorm closure (~121 days).

Second-year students may choose to upgrade to the Premier Plan if they prefer unlimited meal swipes.

Juniors and Seniors

Juniors and seniors are automatically enrolled in the All Points Plan, which includes $2,260 in dining points per semester plus 30 meal swipes. However, they have the option to select the Premier Plan or Intermediate Plan instead.

Students on the All Points Plan are responsible for managing their points throughout the semester, as they can be used at traditional dining locations as well as at WesShop and other campus venues. While points can be used for groceries at WesShop, students are not required to do so. If you prefer the flexibility of an all-points plan but are concerned about budgeting, we recommend prioritizing points for meals at traditional dining venues to ensure sufficient coverage throughout the semester.

Budgeting & Meal Plan Usage

Meal plans are designed to provide adequate meal coverage for the entire semester. Students are responsible for budgeting their meal swipes and points accordingly.

While some independent, off-campus vendors accept WesCard points—such as WesWings, Red & Black Café, Story & Soil, Star & Crescent, and Espwesso—these businesses do not follow the same pricing structure as the university’s dining facilities. Students should use their points at these locations sparingly to avoid running out of funds before the semester ends.

Meal Plan Waivers

Students who believe they qualify for a meal plan waiver due to medical conditions, marital status, or living at a permanent home address may submit a request via email to dining@wesleyan.edu. Waiver requests will be reviewed by the University Director of Auxiliary Services. Please note that living in off-campus housing does not automatically guarantee a meal plan waiver.

 

Undergraduate Meal Plan Schedule

The fall semester meal plan begins one week before New Student Orientation and continues through the day after dorms close in December.

  • Fall Break (October): Only Usdan Marketplace remains open, offering limited brunch and dinner service.
  • Thanksgiving Week: Dining services gradually scale down, with Usdan Marketplace as the sole location open for brunch and dinner leading up to the holiday. No dining services are available on Thanksgiving Day or the following day.

For students who need to remain on campus during Winter Break (including athletes returning early), a separate Winter Meal Plan will be added to their WesCard. This plan covers meals from brunch on the Monday after dorms close in December through the Saturday before dorms reopen for the spring semester.

The spring semester meal plan begins on the Sunday when dorms reopen and continues through brunch on the day dorms close in May.

  • Senior Week: Students approved to remain on campus may continue using meal swipes for brunch and dinner daily through Wednesday of Senior Week at Usdan Marketplace.
  • Reunion & Commencement Weekend: Limited meal swipes are available for Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, and Sunday brunch.
  • Memorial Day: All dining facilities are closed.
  • Break Periods: Meal service is reduced to daily brunch and dinner at a single campus dining location.

 

Dining Hours

Special notes about hours are updated weekly on the main dining page on the right hand side.

All hours are listed on the hours link on the dining page

 

FAQ’s

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is available on the dining page and should be reviewed. These FAQs, written by students, provide valuable insights and address many common questions.

 

Allergies and dining challenges

Dining Services at Wesleyan is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of every student. We offer personalized consultations for those with specific dietary requirements to ensure that your dining experience is safe, enjoyable, and inclusive. For further information on allergies, please visit the Allergies section on the dining page. If you would like to meet with the team to address any concerns you may have, please email dining@wesleyan.edu and request a meeting.