2023 fall semester Campus Meal Plan check up time!
As the end of fall semester approaches, students are reminded to review their fall semester Campus Meal Plan account.
Depending upon the Campus Meal Plan level and dining dollars balance, some students may be eligible to lower their meal plan level, while others may be eligible to remove excess funds. The option available to each student will depend upon their current meal plan level AND their current dining dollar balance. Many students may not be eligible to lower a meal plan or withdraw excess funds. Students will receive an email with instructions based on their individual account scenario, but they can also verify in eLiving what options are available to them: My Info > My Meal Plan.
Campus Meal Plan Management Options
Students may be eligible for one of these options:
1. Zero or low dining dollar balance.
In these situations, students are advised to add additional funds to their LionCash account instead of increasing the meal plan level. The Food Services register system is setup to identify if a student's dining dollar balance is at $0.00. When a student makes a purchase, the system will then automatically transfer the corresponding purchase amount from LionCash to the meal plan account automatically to cover the purchase amount, while still providing the meal plan discount rate (if applicable, depending upon purchase). *Students must specify "meal plan" when making purchases.
2. Level 1 high balance.
Since a level 1 is the minimum level required, remaining dining dollars are not available for refund, but will be added to the student's spring semester Campus Meal Plan.
3. Excess dining dollars available to withdraw.
Students who purchased a level 2 or 3 during the fall semester but their current dining dollars balance is not enough to decrease to a lower level may may be eligible to withdraw a portion of unused dining dollars and receive a credit on their LionPATH account. A student has to cover, at a minimum, a level 1 balance of $860 dining dollars.
4. Level 2 or 3 can lower plan OR withdraw excess dining dollars.
Students who purchased a level 2 or 3 during the fall semester and currently have a high dining dollars balance may be eligible to lower the meal plan level. A student has to cover, at a minimum, a level 1 balance of $860 dining dollars. If a student does not have enough dining dollars to lower the meal plan, the student may be eligible to at least withdraw the excess dining dollars.
Students with a level 2 may be eligible for refund up to $228; students with a level 3 up to $209 (difference between level 3 and 2), or $437 (difference between level 3 and 1).
For example, a student currently with a level 2 has $492 dining dollars. Since the student already covered the level 1 requirement of $860, the student is eligible to change from a level 2 to a level 1 and will receive a $228 credit (the dining dollars cost different between level 1 and 2). The maximum refund available is $228. If a student would lower the meal plan level, then they would have $264 dining dollars available ($492 balance - $228 credit). However, if the student estimates that they may need $300 to purchase meals through the end of the semester, the student can opt to withdrawal excess dining dollars instead of lowering the level. The student can withdrawal up to $228, and if they withdrawal $192, then they would have $300 dining dollars remaining.
Deadline
Deadline to modify the Campus Meal Plan level or withdraw excess dining dollars for the 2023 fall semester in eLiving is 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET Friday December 15.
The student's account in eLiving will indicate if a student is eligible to lower the meal plan and/or withdraw excess dining dollars. These options will not display if the student's account is not eligible for either option.
- Log in to eLiving
- Select My Info > My Meal Plan
- Select Fall 2023 for the contract period drop down menu
- Review your account information. If needed, follow the instructions to select a different level or withdraw excess funds.
2023 fall semester Campus Meal Plans are available to use until 4:00 p.m. Saturday December 16.
Dining Dollars Balance
Any remaining dining dollars at the end of fall semester will be added to the student's spring semester Campus Meal Plan account. Students are still required to purchase a Campus Meal Plan for spring semester, regardless of the balance.
Students who do not return to Penn State for spring semester will not be eligible for a refund of any unused dining dollars.
Spring Semester Campus Meal Plan
Students are able to manage the 2024 spring semester level now! Changes that are processed prior to December 18 will be accurately reflected on the student's January billing statement in LionPATH. Any changes made after December 18 will appear as a credit or charge on the account, but may not be reflected on the statement.
- Log in to eLiving
- Select My Info > My Meal Plan
- Select Spring 2024 for the contract period drop down menu
- Select a different level