Frequently Asked Questions

No! Your Dining Plan, Dining Dollars, and Flex are all accessed entirely through your University ID card. 

Your Dining Plan can be used at Chef Mike's Sub Shop, Chef Don's Pizza Pi, Faculty House, Fac Shack, Grace Dodge Dining Hall, John Jay Dining Hall, Ferris Booth Commons, and JJ's Place. All of these locations accept meal swipes, Flex, and Dining Dollars. 

Columbia Dining also operates retail cafes across campus, including Blue Jave Butler, Blue Java Everett Library Cafe, Blue Java Uris, and Lenfest Cafe. These locations sell pastries, paninis, snacks, and other to-go items, as well as coffee and tea, and accept cash, credit card, Flex, and Dining Dollars.  

Yes! There are two Kosher Dining Plans available:

1. Columbia University Kosher Dining Plan

When you enroll in any of the Columbia Dining Plans (first year or otherwise), you may elect to participate in the Kosher Dining Plan. This allows you access to our Kosher To-Go counter within John Jay Dining Hall that serves a full array of cold Kosher items (entrees, side dishes and vegetables served daily). You can sign up at any time throughout the semester by calling 212-854-4076.

2. Barnard College Kosher Dining Plan

The Barnard College Kosher Dining Plan provides 3 Kosher meals a day, 7 days a week. High quality food, including freshly-made pizza and fresh salad bar, is conveniently located in Barnard's main dining facility, Hewitt Hall. Both Barnard and Columbia students can enjoy their meals in comfort with the rest of the student population. The Kosher dining plan is strictly supervised k'halakhah by the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Rabbi. Additionally, the Barnard Kosher Dining Plan provides a homey atmosphere for Shabbat, Yom Tov, and other festive occasions. For more information, please contact Barnard Dining Services.

Dining Plan changes may be submitted only during the Dining Plan Change Period which typically runs for two weeks each semester. See our calendar for specific dates. Changes cannot be submitted outside of this period.

Please note: We are unable to accept cancellations of Dining plans or offer refunds.

If you have questions about your Dining Plan, please email the Dining Services Manager, Rosie Fernandez, at [email protected].

Changes are made manually and processed in the order received. You can expect the difference in cost from your old plan to your new plan to reflect on the second term bill statement.

If the second term bill statement is not updated, please contact Dining Services Manager Rosie Fernandez at [email protected].

Meals on a term-based plan rollover at the end of term but will not be available until you have used all of your second term meals. For example, if your plan provides 100 meals per term and you roll over 5 meal swipes from the fall, you will not have access (or be able to see those meals as available in SSOL) until you have used all 100 meals in the spring. Swipes expire at the end of the academic year. 

Meals on a weekly plan do not rollover week-to-week or term-to-term. 

Yes! All first year students are given up to 6 guest (complimentary) meals each term, while participants of the upperclass/graduate/GS meal plan are given up to 15 guest (complimentary) meals each term. The number of guest meals you receive varies by plan. When you swipe in at the door, simply tell the cashier how many guests are with you and the meals will be deducted from your account.

Guests may also pay by credit card.

Yes. You can use your meals at either school. At Columbia, Barnard meal plan holders can use exchange meals at John Jay Dining Hall, Ferris Booth Commons and JJ's Place. At Barnard, Columbia students can dine at Hewitt, Liz's Place or the Diana.

Only students on the Kosher Dining Plan have access to Kosher areas at either school.

All First-Year students are required to have a meal plan, but enrollment after the first year is optional.

• Meals in weekly plans expire at the end of Saturday night so that the meal swipe balance is refreshed on Sunday morning. This applies to:

  • All First-Year plans, and 

  • Upperclass, GS, and graduate plans  A / Weekly, EZ18 and EZ 19. 

• Meals in term-based plans expire at the end of the academic year. This includes Plan A / Term, Plan A / Meals, Plan B / Dining Dollars, Plan B / Flex, Plan C,  Plan D, and Plan EZ 350.

  • As a courtesy, unused meals from the Fall Term will rollover to Spring Term. However, these meals are not available until all meal swipes for Spring Term have been used and cannot be viewed in SSOL.

Yes, if you are on a term-based plan and you use all of your meals before the end of the term, you can purchase additional meal packs. Please contact the Dining Services Manager, Rosie Fernandez, at [email protected] to learn more.

Dining Dollars can be used at all Columbia Dining and Barnard Dining locations. Dining Dollars are tax-free, roll over year-to-year until graduation, and operate as a declining balance account, much like a debit card.

Flex can be used at all Columbia Dining locations, as well as the Columbia Bookstore, vending and copy machines, select off-campus retailers and for online food delivery through Grubhub. Flex purchases are subject to sales tax, but similar to Dining Dollars, they roll over year-to-year until graduation and operate as a declining balance account.

Log into Student Services Online to have it billed to your student account statement.

Dining Dollars and Flex accounts roll over from year to year until you graduate.

Please submit this form to report any issues using your Flex off-campus.

Visit the online Columbia Card Deactivation website to inactivate your account so no one can use it. Then go to the ID Center in 204 Kent Hall to get a new University ID card. Everything will be on your new card. 

Yes, you may purchase a single meal at all of our dining halls with Flex, Dining Dollars, or by credit card. Meal costs are as follows:

• Breakfast: $13.00
• Lunch: $17.50
• Dinner: $18.50

Pricing may differ during special events.