As a residential college, Wheaton requires that all students living on campus enroll in one of the meal plan options available through the college’s Dining Services. This position is grounded in the principle that the foundation of community at a residential college is table sharing and the opportunity to engage and interact with fellow residents. It is also based on economic practicality: our ability to provide a full dining plan with multiple locations in a cost-effective way requires whole community participation.

New students will be enrolled in the Unlimited meal plan for their first year. Returning students may choose to enroll in either the Unlimited or the Weekly 14 plan, which includes 14 meal swipes per week. Returning students living in theme houses also have the option to enroll in the Weekly 10 plan, for 10 meal swipes per week. Online enrollment occurs each spring for the following academic year. Changes can be made within the first two weeks of each semester by going to the Dining Services Office located in Emerson Dining Hall and completing a Meal Plan Change Form. All meal plans selected for the fall semester automatically become your spring choice unless you request a change by the dates below. Changes to meal plans will not be made after these dates.

Fall: Changes to your fall semester meal plan can be made within the first two weeks of the fall semester.

Spring: Changes to your spring semester meal plan can be made within the first two weeks of the spring semester.

Meal Plan Options

  • Unlimited (all you care to eat in Chase Dining Hall), with $100 Lyons Bucks and 5 guest meals per semester.)
  • Weekly 14, with $400 Lyons Bucks and 5 guest meals per semester (This plan is not available to First Year Students.)
  • Weekly 10, with $525 Lyons Bucks and 5 guest meals per semester (This plan is only for students who live in a theme house.)

View pricing for each meal plan

Each option includes the Lyons Swipe program which provides each student with an equivalent meal option for breakfast, lunch or dinner in one of our retail locations Monday – Friday. Lyons Bucks and Guest Meals carry over from fall semester to spring semester only. Remaining Block Meals expire at the end of each semester. Remaining Lyons Bucks and Guest meals are forfeited at the end of the spring semester.

Dining Services is committed to providing a well-balanced meal plan offering a variety of food options to students at each meal. In addition, we are committed to work with students who have specific dietary needs and preferences.

Students are encouraged to call Dining Services at 508-286-8209 for more information on available options. A student may also request to meet with the ? Director of Dining Services or dining’s dietitian who will work with them to meet their nutritional needs on the meal plan. To request a meeting please email dining_nutrition@wheatoncollege.edu.

Meal Plan Exemption

As stated above, Wheaton College requires all residential students to participate in a Meal Plan. If after consultation with Dining Services, there are medical or religious factors that preclude a student from participating in the Meal Plan, a student can request an exemption.

To learn more about meal plan exemptions and request a consultation by dining services, please visit the Business Services section of insideWheaton under Offices & Services.