Frequently Asked Questions

A meal plan is a UIC dining package all students, faculty, and staff can use at our dining halls and dining locations on campus. All meal plans include meal swipes for dining hall access and may also include flames fare for use at our other dining locations. Some plans offer both, while others offer just meal swipes. See our meal plan options here for more details.

A meal swipe/block refers to the units you use to access meals in the dining halls. Each meal swipe allows you entry into any of our dining halls, where you can enjoy a variety of meal options. If you are on a meal swipes per week plan, your number of weekly meal swipes will reset every Monday morning. Block plan users can use their number of meal swipes for the entire academic year.

Meal Plans are required for residential students living in ARC, Courtyard, Commons North, Commons West, Commons South, and JST. Residential Meal Plans

If you are commuting and not living in the listed dorms, you will select “Block Meal Plans” on the wallet portal. wallet.uic.edu

The price shown for meal plans is for the entire academic year. This total cost will be split evenly across the Fall and Spring semesters.wallet.uic.edu

You will receive a partial refund. The refund is based on a weekly-prorated schedule and you have until the end of the second week of fall or spring semester to cancel the plan. Visit the wallet portal to manage your meal plan wallet.uic.edu.

You can start using the meal plan starting Friday, August 23, 2024. The dining plan option you choose is linked directly to your i-card.

Our two dining halls, 605 Commons Dining Hall in SCE and JST Cafe at James Stukel Towers, are open to all residents, commuters, and faculty/staff. You are not limited to the dining hall in your dorm building. For example, if you live in JST, you can also eat at 605 Commons Dining Hall, not just JST Cafe.

Flames Fare are dining dollars or tax-free money conveniently loaded to your i-card that students, faculty, and staff can use at any participating restaurant on campus. Please note that refunds are not available for unused Flames Fare dollars. Flames Fare balances carry over from fall to spring semester and from spring to summer sessions only. View all locations that accept flames fare here.

Once per semester, during the last week of October and the first week of March, a Flames Fare Bonus Week occurs. During this time, students, staff, and faculty will receive a 10% bonus on their I-Card when purchasing additional Flames Fare. Keep up with UIC Dining on Instagram and https://www.dining.uic.edu for official Flames Fare Bonus Week dates.

Yes, food can be taken out of the dining areas with our reusable container program, OZZI. Our reusable containers are available for use at both dining halls (605 Commons Dining Hall at SCE, and JST Cafe at JST).

How it works:

• Buy a reusable container for a one-time fee of $7 for container and $10 for container and cup at the front registers when you swipe in at 605 Commons Dining Hall (SCE) or JST Cafe (JST). Please note that your meal swipe only allows you to choose either the take-out option or the dine-in option, but not both.
• Fill up your reusable container with food from the dining hall to take out. Please note that you cannot fill your Ozzi container and then dine-in at the dining hall.
• Return your reusable container to the recycling machine located at the front of both dining halls. Once returned you will receive an Ozzi token.
• Repeat the process by exchanging your Ozzi token to the front register to get a clean Ozzi container.

UIC Dining Services offers a variety of options including Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, and more! For more dining options, please see our locations & hours tab or dining home page for holiday and break hours.

Yes, you can change your meal plan, but it must be done within the first two weeks of the semester. After this period, you can only upgrade to a higher meal plan. Resident students, commuters, faculty & staff can change their meal plan by going to wallet.uic.edu. For issues accessing the wallet portal or need to make corrections please contact ID Center 312-413-5940

If you lose your i-card, report it immediately to the UIC ID Center at 312-413-5940. You can also visit the ID Center located on the first floor of Student Center East (750 S Halsed St.) They will assist you in deactivating the lost card and issuing a replacement. Your meal plan and Flames Fare balance will be transferred to your new card.

Yes, UIC Dining offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options at all dining locations. Our team ensures that these options are clearly labeled and readily available.

Any UIC Student, Faculty, Staff, or guests may purchase meals at any dining location with Flames Fare, Credit/Debit Card. Please be aware that our dining locations are cashless. Purchase Flames Fare at wallet.uic.edu

Unlike the meal plan, the cost to purchase a meal provides for a one-time individual access to the dining area. You can purchase entry to the dining hall by using Flames Fare, credit card, or debit card.

Dining hall rates (605 Commons Dining Hall (SCE) and JST Cafe (JST)):

• Breakfast - $7.96 / before sales tax
• Lunch - $12.19/ before sales tax
• Weekend Brunch - $12.19 / before sales tax
• Dinner - $13.80 / before sales tax

Yes. You may purchase in increments from $50 up to $200. For more details on Flames Fare visit, link to flames fare page.

Flames Fare can be added online at wallet.uic.edu with a credit/debit card.

You may check your Flames Fare balance by logging in at wallet.uic.edu

No, Flames Fare is a different form of payment than Dragon Dollars. Dragon Dollars can be used for copying and printing payments at the UIC Library.

Flames Fare balances carry over from fall to spring semester and from spring to summer sessions only.

You may share your questions and comments by sending an email to dining@uic.edu

You may share your questions and comments by sending an email to dining@uic.edu