Navigating campus dining options can be straightforward once you understand the variety of meal memberships and dining currencies available at St. John’s University. This guide clarifies everything you need to know about dining on campus, from meal swipes to dining dollars, ensuring you make the most of your culinary experience at St. John’s.
Understanding Meal Memberships at St. John’s
Are you a commuter or graduate student wondering if meal memberships are available? The answer is yes! St. John’s University offers both Block Meal Memberships and Dining Dollar Meal Memberships tailored for commuter students. Signing up is easy – simply visit St. John’s Central and click on the UIS tab to explore your options.
Adding value to your StormCard for dining is also convenient, with a minimum purchase of $25 allowing you to enjoy tax-free dining on campus. For an even better value, purchasing $100 or more in Dining Dollars earns you a 10% bonus. Specifically, the Dining Dollar Meal membership offers extra perks: the $250 plan includes 5 FREE Meal Exchanges, and the $500 plan comes with 10 FREE Meal Exchanges.
Block Meal Memberships are another great option, allowing you to purchase 25, 50, or 75 Meal Swipes, which can also be used for Meal Exchanges. The larger the Block Meal membership you choose, the more you save per Meal Swipe, making it a cost-effective way to dine on campus.
Perks of a Meal Membership
Why should you consider a meal membership for dining in St. John’s? The benefits are substantial. Firstly, all purchases made with a meal membership are sales-tax-free. This means you automatically save almost 10% on every dining purchase you make on campus. Beyond the savings, meal memberships offer the convenience of cashless purchasing across all dining locations.
Furthermore, St. John’s University rewards meal membership holders with additional perks like Bonus Dollars and Meal Exchanges, enhancing the value of your dining plan. These added benefits ensure you get more for your money while enjoying the diverse dining options available.
Decoding Dining Currencies: Swipes, Dollars, and More
To fully utilize your dining options, it’s crucial to understand the different types of dining currencies at St. John’s: Meal Swipes, Dining Dollars, Flex Dollars, and Bonus Dollars. Each serves a unique purpose and offers different advantages.
Meal Swipes: Primarily associated with resident meal memberships, Meal Swipes grant you access to Montgoris Dining Hall, the all-you-care-to-eat dining destination on campus. It’s your key to unlimited dining at this main dining hall during operational hours.
Dining Dollars: These come with resident meal plans and function like a declining balance debit card, specifically for on-campus retail dining locations. You can also add Dining Dollars to your StormCard throughout the semester. The purchased amount is deducted from your balance with each purchase. A significant advantage is that Dining Dollars are sales-tax-free. However, it’s important to note that this balance expires on May 31st and is non-refundable.
Flex Dollars: Designed for faculty, staff, visitors, and students alike, Flex Dollars offer versatile spending power. They can be used at dining locations, the bookstore, for postage, and other on-campus services. Unlike Dining Dollars, Flex Dollars are taxable and refundable, and they do not expire, providing greater flexibility and long-term usability. However, they do not qualify for the 10% bonus offered with Dining Dollar purchases.
Bonus Dollars: These are essentially free funds awarded when you add $100 or more in Dining Dollars in a single transaction. Bonus Dollars act as a supplementary fund, available for use once your Dining Dollars balance is depleted, giving you extra spending power.
Premium Swipes: Also part of resident meal memberships, Premium Swipes offer enhanced flexibility. They can be used for guest meals at Montgoris Dining Hall, for a premium meal upgrade at Montgoris Dining Hall, or as a meal exchange outside of standard meal exchange hours at participating locations.
Meal Exchanges Explained
A Meal Exchange provides an alternative to dining at Montgoris Dining Hall. It allows you to use a Meal Swipe at other participating dining locations for a pre-set menu during specific meal exchange times. Typically, a Meal Exchange involves selecting one item from each category on a designated menu to create a complete meal. Remember, you are limited to one meal exchange per meal period and cannot use a Meal Exchange if you’ve already used a Meal Swipe at Montgoris Dining Hall during the same meal period.
Currently, Meal Exchanges are accepted at:
- Market Montgoris: 7 Days a Week, 12 PM to 10 PM
- Marillac Food Court: Monday – Friday, 11 AM to 7 PM
- Dunkin’ in Marillac Food Court: Saturdays & Sundays, Open to Close
You can utilize up to two meal exchanges per day, one per meal period. The defined meal periods are:
- Breakfast: 7 AM – 10:59 AM
- Lunch: 11 AM – 4:59 PM
- Dinner: 5 PM – 10 PM
Important Note: If you dine at Montgoris Dining Hall using a meal swipe during a meal period, you cannot use a meal exchange during that same meal period.
Starting Balance and Adjustments
At the beginning of each semester, your StormCard is automatically credited with $50 in Dining Dollars to get you started. After the initial two weeks of the semester, any remaining meal plan points from adjustments or changes are then added to your account, ensuring your balance is up-to-date.
Dietary Needs and Feedback
St. John’s University is committed to accommodating students with special dietary needs or allergies. A dedicated registered dietitian is available on campus to provide personalized assistance. For support, you can reach out to Lauren Ciuffo, R.D., via email at [email protected] or contact Student Health Services at (718) 990-6360.
Your feedback is valuable in enhancing the dining experience at St. John’s. You can submit comments or suggestions at any time by emailing [email protected]. Additionally, each dining location features a “Meet the Managers” board for direct communication. Comment cards are also available at Montgoris Dining Hall, Law School Café, and Marillac Food Court for immediate feedback.
Adding Dining Dollars to Your StormCard
Yes, any student with any meal membership can add Dining Dollars to their StormCard for use at all campus dining locations. To add funds, simply visit the StudentLink portal through St. John’s Connect or the St. John’s Mobile app. Remember, all Dining Dollars and Meal Membership purchases made with your Storm Card are sales-tax-free!
Meal Membership Changes
Need to make adjustments to your meal membership? Changes are permitted only during the first two weeks of each semester. For any questions or modifications, contact the Office of Residence Life at (718) 990-2417 or visit Donovan Hall, room C-16.
Dining at St. John’s University is designed to be convenient, cost-effective, and cater to a variety of needs. By understanding your meal membership options and the types of dining dollars available, you can enjoy a fulfilling and satisfying dining experience on campus.
