Meal Plans

Which plan is best for me? Assess your current eating habits and try to match them to the corresponding meal plan options. Don't forget to factor your weekend habits into your planning.

Can I change meal plans if I made the wrong choice? Yes, you can change meal plans each week during the first month of the semester. However, October through December and March through May, meal plan changes are allowed only once each month. Changes made to the meal plan by noon on the last Friday of the month will become effective on the first Monday of the next month.

How do I change meal plans? Students may complete the online meal plan change form, or stop by the Office of Residential Education & Dining Services, Stevenson-Griswold (x58472).

To join or withdraw from an Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) dining co-operative, students must initiate that process through the OSCA Office in Wilder Hall, Room 402, Student Union (x58108). Unused Flex Points cannot be transferred to the OSCA dining plan.

A 14-meal plan vs. a 12-meal plan: Many students find that they do not eat two meals every day, especially on weekends. You might consider choosing a smaller plan that costs less and has more Flex Points to maximize your "fun" or discretionary money.

Learn more about our Meal Plans.


Guest Meals

I want to treat a friend to a meal. Can any part of my meal plan pay for this? Yes, you can use a Campus Dining Services (CDS) Guest Meal, CDS Flex Points, Obie Dollars or a Stevenson Meal Ticket to treat a friend/guest to a meal. Please note that you cannot use your traditional board meals for this purpose. Guest Meals are those on the 5- and 7- meal plans will be able to use two guest meals per semester at Stevenson, Lord Saunders, or Dascomb. Those on the 10-, 12-, 14-, or 19- meal plans will be able to use four guest meals per semester. Unused guest meals will roll over from fall to spring semester, but not from school year to school year.

CDS Flex Points

What are CDS Flex Points? The CDS Flex Point program is a part of the CDS board plans. These points are provided to expand flexibility beyond your board meals/week to purchase á la carte items from the DeCafé Market or Dascomb or Azariah's Café in Mudd Library or additional meals at either of the all-you-care-to eat CDS dining facilities. CDS Flex Points supplement your board meals/week plan and are not meant to support regular daily meal purchases.

Flex Points are part of the board plan and are tied to the number of meals per week you choose.

Flex Points are used only to purchase á la carte items or additional meals.

Flex Points and board meals are distributed on your ID card at the beginning of each month.

If I do not use all my CDS Flex Points during the fall semester, can I still use them during spring semester? Yes, CDS Flex Points will carry over from fall semester to spring semester, but will not carry over between academic years. Therefore, all CDS Flex Points must be spent before the end of the spring semester. Remaining fall CDS Flex Points may be used during winter term or the spring semester. 


Winter Term and CDS Flex Points


How can I purchase meals during winter term? You may use any remaining fall CDS Flex Points during winter term or purchase additional winter term meals on a voluntary basis with cash or student charge. Small meal plan packages may also be purchased at the Residential Education & Dining Services office at a reduced price.

Obie Dollars

What are Obie Dollars? An additional decreasing balance account built into the ID card that can be used instead of cash at copy machines and computer lab printers across campus (whenever you need more than your $21 free print quota), at any of the CDS dining facilities, or at designated downtown merchants.

Money may be added to the Obie Dollars account at Residential Education and Dining Services in Stevenson-Biggs in $25 dollar increments or added at Mudd Library in dollar increments at the Obie Dollar deposit machine. Obie Dollars is a convenient alternative to cash or a credit card that can be used to supplement Flex Points. Obie dollars are refundable when you withdraw or graduate from Oberlin College.

Obie Dollars is an optional program that is not tied to the board program.

Obie Dollars can be used in copy machines, printers, at any CDS dining facility including Azariah's and the DeCafe, or at participating downtown merchants.

Obie Dollars are distributed on your ID card.

Learn more about Obie Dollars.

What if I do not use all of my Obie Dollars by the end of the year? Obie Dollars roll over from year to year and you can use them at any point during your four-year academic career at Oberlin College. If you have any remaining balance when you leave Oberlin College, you will be refunded all monies above any college term bill liabilities.

How much money should I put in Obie Dollars when opening an account? If you plan to use the card on campus and downtown, $300 to $500 is about right.

If you plan to use the card on campus and to buy books, you may want to open your account with $500 to upwards of $1,000.

Healthy Cooking


Have you heard about our Healthy Cooking program? Students at Oberlin College want food produced under a set of environmental, ethical and good-for-your-health criteria. Since 2001, we have focused on healthy, from scratch cooking. We have increased the amount and quality of vegetarian and vegan options from 10 percent in 1998 to 50 percent of the offered foods in our dining halls today.

Our local food purchases have increased from 2 percent in 1992 to 45 percent of our total food budget in 2008. That means that foods are fresher, have a better nutritional value, and a wonderful food profile.

We recognize the importance of food and dining rooms as gathering places. Breaking bread together helps to create a sense of community and comfort. We recognize the important role we fill and take great care in our dining hall menus every day by:

• cooking food from scratch using fresh seasonal ingredients;
• buying local food products whenever possible;
• serving good tasting and nutritious food including vegetarian, vegan, and regional cuisine;
• serving a wide variety of menu items at each meal, each day;
• working to create a more sustainable food system by making socially responsible purchasing decisions.

Campus Dining Services is operated by Bon Appétit Management Company. Like Oberlin College, Bon Appétit is committed to socially responsible food sourcing and business practices, and strong partnerships with respected conservation organizations. For general information about the food served by Bon Appétit Management Company, visit the Bon Appétit web site.