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Meal Plan Terms & Conditions

JMU Dining Meal Plan Terms & Conditions 2026-2027

Terms to know:

Punches/Swipes:

  • Meal punches (also referred to as swipes) provide entry to the dining halls, and purchase Duke Deals at most retail locations.
  • The number of meals varies based on the selected meal plan.

Duke Deals:

  • Duke Deals are combo meals available at retail locations that can be purchased with a punch.
  • Most plans allow two Duke Deals per day (except the All Access Plus plan, which allows 3 per day).
  • While the number of Duke Deals is limited, students may use punches to access the dining halls as often as they like even if they have used their daily Duke Deals.

Dining Dollars:

  • Dining Dollars is a set amount included with meal plans as a declining balance account that can be used at any JMU Dining location. The amount varies based on the meal plan selected.
  • Unused Dining Dollars carry over from Fall semester to Spring semester, but unused dining dollars expire at the end of the Spring semester.
  • Sales tax is not charged on purchases made with Dining Dollars (12.3%).

Dining Dollars GOLD account:

  • Dining Dollars Gold is an optional declining balance account separate from your meal plan Dining Dollars that allows you to add funds at any time by credit card.
  • Funds in a Dining Dollars Gold account carry over from semester to semester and are refunded at separation from the university.
  • There is a 5% discount on purchases made with Dining Dollars Gold.
  • Sales tax is not charged on purchases made with Dining Dollars Gold (12.3%).

Meal Plan Purchases:

Beginning April 20, 2026, all meal plan purchases and changes will be processed by JMU Dining through the jmu.edu/dining website. Visit our office at D-Hall first floor (behind Steak N Shake) Mon-Fri 8:30-5 pm, email mealplans@jmu.edu, or call 540-568-5754.

Students may purchase a meal plan for the 2026-2027 school year at any time during the school year beginning April 20.

Contract Duration and Billing:

Meal plans are annual contracts that extend over a full academic year. Pricing is per semester and will be billed once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Students who apply to graduate will be exempt from automatic renewal. All meal plans are billed to the student's account.

Students may opt-out of Spring auto renewal for the following reasons only:

  • December graduation.
  • Student teaching away from campus.
  • Semester-long study abroad.
  • Withdrawal from the university.

Campus Closures:

JMU Dining is closed along with the university for Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Meal punches and guest punches are not accepted during these closures. Dining Dollars, Flex, and Credit Cards are accepted at the limited locations open during university closures.

On-Campus Resident Students:

An On-Campus Resident meal plan is mandatory for all students living on campus. Meal plan selection is made at the time of signing the housing contract. If no choice is made, students are automatically placed on the All-Access meal plan. All meal plan purchases are billed to the student’s account. First year students can change their meal plan to another qualified meal plan for no charge during the meal plan change period 9/2/26-9/11/26.

JMU's Grace Street Apartment Residents and Resident Advisors

Students living in Grace Street Apartments and Resident Advisors are required to have a meal plan. When signing the housing contract, the only options are the three On-Campus Resident meal plans. These students have the option of changing to any Off-Campus Resident meal plan for no fee prior to classes starting.

Off-Campus Resident Students:

Off-campus residents have the option of purchasing any of the seven meal plans offered or adding funds to a Dining Dollars Gold account through the JMU Dining website.

Eligibility:

Any JMU student may purchase a meal plan. The contract is binding only after the student has been admitted and enrolled, and the charge has been placed on the student's official university bill.

On-Campus Residents:

Meal plans officially begin on the day prior to classes. Students moving on campus prior to classes will be provided with three punches per day to be used once per mealtime (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and Dining Dollars. Their chosen meal plan, including guest meals, will be activated the day before classes begin.

Important Dates for Plan Changes/Cancellations:

  • April 20 - July 3, 2026: Students may change from one meal plan to another or cancel their meal plan with no fee.
  • July 4 – July 26, 2026: No changes or cancellations may take place while student accounts are being processed.
  • July 27 – August 14, 2026: Students may change from one meal plan to another for a $20 fee or cancel their meal plan for a $100 fee (This fee does not apply to first year on-campus residents, RAs, or Grace Street Apartment residents).
  • August 15 – September 1, 2026: No changes or cancellations may take place.
  • September 2 - September 11, 2026: Students may change from one meal plan to another for a $20 fee or cancel their meal plan for a $100 fee. (This fee does not apply to first year on-campus residents, RAs, or Grace Street Apartment residents).
    • All refunds will be prorated based on time for all access plans and weekly plans, and usage for block plans, less the change or cancellation fee.
      • Students downgrading their plan can have the prorated balance refunded to their student account or deposited into a Dining Dollars Gold account.
      • Students wishing to cancel their meal plan must do so in person. Prorated refunds can be credited to the student’s university account or deposited into a Dining Dollars Gold account.
    • Students upgrading their plan will have the prorated difference plus the change fee billed to their student account.

Meal Plan Cancellations After September 11, 2026:

Meal plan contracts may not be canceled or adjusted, except for the following reasons:

  • Official separation from the university.
  • Extreme and unforeseen hardships such as hospitalization.
  • Uniformed services such as the Armed Forces, including service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days.
  • Absence to attend semester-long study abroad programs.

Meal plans for students withdrawing from the university will be prorated based on time for All Access and Weekly plans, and usage for Block plans.

Unused Meal Punches and Dining Dollars:

  • Unused meal punches do not carry over from week to week for All Access and Weekly plans.
  • Unused meal punches do not carry over from semester to semester for all plans.
  • Unused punches can be donated to the JMU Pantry at E-Hall, Mr. Chips, or Market 64.
  • Dining Dollars carry over from Fall to Spring semester but expire at the end of the Spring semester (this does not apply to Dining Dollars Gold accounts).

Summer Meal Plans:

Please review the summer dining schedule before signing up for a summer dining plan. Summer dining hours are limited and may not be compatible with your summer class schedule. Check our website for summer hours at jmu.edu/dining.

Students may sign up for as many meal plans as needed throughout the summer sessions. Unused summer Dining Dollars and unused meals are non-refundable and do not carry over to the Fall semester.

Summer meal plan cancellation is only allowed if the student is completely withdrawing from summer courses. A prorated refund will be credited to your student account.

Incapacity of the University:

If dining accommodations are destroyed or made unavailable to the university and the university does not furnish other accommodations, the contract shall terminate. All rights and liabilities of the parties hereto shall cease, and payments previously made by the student shall be refunded on a pro rata basis for the period for which accommodations were made unavailable to the student. The student understands that any refund issued by the University pursuant to this paragraph may be subject to modification or reduction, to the extent the University reasonably deems necessary, to address costs already incurred by the University in preparing dining accommodations.

Entitlement of Services:

Only the customer named is entitled to services extended under the meal plan options and may not transfer services without prior consent of the director of JMU Dining.

Promotions:

Promotions are not transferable and are not redeemable for cash, gift cards, credit, or toward previous purchases.  Other exclusions may apply.  Void where prohibited.  Additional restrictions may apply.  Aramark reserves the right to cancel or modify any promotion or offer at any time.  Refer to each Promotion’s respective materials for additional details, instructions, and requirements.