Am I required to participate in a Fordham Meal Plan?
All freshman students who are living in McKeon Hall are required to have a meal plan.
All mandatory resident students will be billed $4,665 from our Default Ram Plus Plan through the University and DO NOT need to purchase on our dining site. You have the choice to choose between the following plans allotting meal swipes and declining cash balance to best suit your needs.
Ram Plus ($4,665): Unlimited Meal Swipes + $800 DB
Ram Unlimited ($4,490): Unlimited Meal Swipes + $600 DB
Weekly 15 ($4,030): 15 Meal Swipes per week + $450 DB
If upperclassmen, off-campus, or commuter students are looking for smaller plan options, our block plans are a great solution. Block plans provide a certain number of meals that can be used throughout the academic year.
Block 100 Plus ($1,935): 100 Meal Swipes + $400 DB
Block 100 ($1,715): 100 Meal Swipes + $200 DB
Block 50: ($1,020): 50 Meal Swipes + $300 DB
Please visit us at https://fordham.campusdish.com/LincolnCenter_MealPlans for a description of our meal plans and purchasing options.
How and when can I make a change to my meal plan?
For returning students in mandatory housing, you will be re-enrolled in your previously selected meal plan from the fall semester. Those living in non-mandatory housing or commuter students, you may now purchase a Fall 2025 meal plan by visiting the 'Meal Plans' tab on the Ram Hospitality website.
Students living in mandatory housing have an evaluation grace period of two weeks after the start of each semester to make an adjustment to their meal plan to best suit their individual needs. They can make edits/changes to their chosen plan by reaching out to the meal plan specialist Tawana Shaird (shaird@fordham.edu) with their full name, student ID number, and the new mandatory plan option they would like to select.
Please note, during the first two weeks of the semester $100.00 of Declining Balance dollars are posted to the student's account. After the two-week meal plan change window ends, the full amount of their Declining Balance Dollars will be available. Declining Balance Dollars on all mandatory, voluntary, and commuter meal plans do roll over from fall to spring semesters.
Block plans are valid for the academic year. Commuter or voluntary students who purchased a meal plan other than 'Block', will need to purchase a new one for the following semester.
Where can I use my meal swipes at Lincoln Center?
Meal swipes are accepted at Community Dining Hall. You can also exchange meal swipes for a predetermined meal option with our meal exchange program at various retail locations.
What are Declining Balance Dollars?
Declining Balance Dollars (DB) are similar to a debit account, where one begins with a certain amount of money and deducts purchases from the balance. You can use your declining balance dollars at any of the Fordham University retail dining locations and resident dining halls. When running low, Declining Balance dollars can be added on anytime during the academic year:
http://www.fordham.campusdish.com/
What is meal exchange and where can I use it at the Lincoln Center campus?
To add even more flexibility to your meal plan at the Lincoln Center campus, meal plan holders are able to use their meal plan at all retail locations for predetermined meal options. Exchange options vary by location and may not be substituted for any other item.
What if I don’t use all my meal swipes or Declining Balance Dollars?
For the following meal plans: (Ram Plus, Ram Unlimited, and Weekly 15) all unused meal swipes expire at the end of each academic semester
Commuter block meal plans: (Block 100, Block 100 Plus, and Block 50) are valid for the entire academic year.
Declining Balanced dollars are carried over from the fall to the spring semester. All unused dining dollars are forfeited at the end of the academic year.
What should I do if I run out of Declining Balance Dollars before the semester ends?
You may deposit additional funds to your “declining balance” account at any time during the semester by visiting the declining balance tab:
https://fordham.campusdish.com/MealPlans/Category?cat=Declining_Balance_Dollars_9254&lid=9254
Please allow 48 - 72 hours for funds to show on your account. After 3:30PM, funds will be posted on the next business day.
Is there a fee associated with reloading Declining Balance Dollars and is there a minimum amount I have to reload?
There is no fee to reload your Declining Balance dollars, and no minimum.
How can I check my balance, swipes and Declining Balance Dollars?
You can check the balance of your swipes and declining balance dollars during the academic school year in a few ways:
- By creating/logging into the Grubhub for mobile campus app.
- Request a balance check paper from any cashier at any dining location.
- Call (718) 817-4515 to speak with a dining representative
As a returning student, when do I sign up for next year’s meal plan?
For returning Lincoln Center students living in mandatory housing, meal plan selection information is included with the housing information sent out in the spring. For those living in non-mandatory housing/commuters, you may purchase your plan on the Meal Plans tab:
For students with special dietary requirements, are you able to provide meals to meet his or her dietary needs?
Yes, our culinary team is happy to accommodate students with special dietary needs. For health and wellness related questions, please reach out to the campus Registered Dietitian, Susana Debbe via email:RamHealth@fordham.edu.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the meal plan?
Please email ramhospitality@fordham.edu for any meal plan-related questions.
Do meal plans come with guest passes?
The Ram Plus plan comes with 8 guest passes.
The Ram Unlimited plan comes with 8 guest passes.
The Weekly 15 plan comes with 4 guest passes
The Block Plans come with 0 guest passes.
Can I treat my friend to a meal in the dining hall?
Yes, you can treat a friend or to a meal by using a guest meal swipe or dining dollars.
