SUNY ESF
Meal Plan Options for ESF Students

ESF's long-standing relationship with Syracuse University includes a wide variety of meal plan options, and dining choices with convenient locations and hours available to all ESF students.  

There are two dining locations on the ESF campus—the Trailhead Café in the Gateway Center and Moon Library Café. Syracuse University dining locations are within walking distance and nearby many students’ on-campus housing, commuter parking, walking paths to and from classes, academic and student support services, extracurricular/student engagement activities and events. 

Syracuse University meal plans provide ESF students with easy access and payment via their ESFID card.  

What are the meal plan requirements for First-Year Centennial Hall Residents?

All first-year students living in ESF's Centennial Hall are required by ESF to purchase a meal plan through Syracuse University.  

You may select any of the available meal plans at Syracuse, but you are required to have a minimum of 85 meals per semester (SU Block 85 Plan). This plan provides an average of five meals per week at five all-you-care-to-eat Syracuse University dining centers plus $200 in Meal Plan Dining Dollars that may also be spent for entrance to the dining centers or at ESF dining locations and Syracuse University retail dining locations across the campus.

Typically, Centennial Hall residents use their SU meal plan swipes at the five dining centers found on the SU campus, including Sadler dining center, located just a short walk from Centennial Hall. Dining centers are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and any time in between. Meal Plan Dining Dollars are often used in ESF’s Trailhead Café and Moon Library and nearby Syracuse dining locations. 

ESF students living on campus who choose one of SU's block meal plan options, Block 85 or Block 130, are also required to purchase $500 in 'CUSE Cash each semester. This provides students with additional meals throughout the semester.  

It is important to emphasize that Meal Plan Dining Dollars and 'CUSE Cash are both accepted at ESF-owned and operated facilities -- Trailhead Café in the Gateway Center and Moon Café in Moon Library. Meal Plan Dining Dollars and 'CUSE Cash may also be used at a variety of establishments on the SU campus, including the Schine Student Center. More information about Meal Plan Dining Dollars can be found here and more information about 'CUSE Cash can be found here. 

What are Meal Plan Dining Dollars?

Students who have Meal Plan Dining Dollars can use them during the current semester only. These Dining Dollars do not roll into future semesters. The only way a student can get Meal Plan Dining Dollars is to have a meal plan that comes with them. If a student would like to add more money to use, they should add 'CUSE Cash (see below).

What is 'CUSE Cash?

'CUSE Cash is a declining balance cash account that provides access to food, goods, and services through the ESF I.D card. This account is separate from the any funds that come with a purchased meal plan and must be established each academic year. 'CUSE Cash can be spent at nearly every point of sale on Syracuse University's campus:dining centers, food services locations, vending machines, the Schine Box Office, the Stadium Box Office, campus convenience stores, concession stands and shops in the JMA Wireless Dome, and for all products in the Syracuse University Campus Store. 'CUSE Cash account balances carry over from fall semester to spring semester. After Commencement Day, unused 'CUSE Cash balances will be credited to the student's Syracuse University bursar account.

How Do I Select and Pay For a Syracuse University Meal Plan?

Meal plan selections can be made by logging in to MySlice. Meal plan changes can be made until the end of the second week of each semester and spring semester meal plans will default to the previous semester meal plan selection. The College does a meal plan audit each semester to ensure students are meeting their minimum meal plan requirements.

The charge for your meal plan and the purchase of 'CUSE Cash will be billed through your SU bursar account rather than your ESF account. You will be responsible for any use of financial aid to fund these costs at the time of payment.

What are the meal plan requirements for First-Year commuters/upperclass Centennial Hall Residents/Transfers/Graduate Students?

Upperclass residents in Centennial Hall, first-year commuter students, transfer students, and graduate students are not required to purchase a Syracuse University meal plan. However, all ESF students are welcome to choose any combination of SU meal plans, Meal Plan Dining Dollar plans, and 'CUSE Cash plans that best suit your needs.

ESF Meal Plan Options

• General Information
• 2023-2024 Meal Plan Rates