The Meal Plan Requirement
The Benefits of On-Campus Dining
Dining with other students is an important part of the residential experience in that it builds connections within the residence hall and campus communities. With this in mind, Residence Life collaborates with Loyola Dining Services to provide students with high quality, nourishing, and plentiful dining options.
The Meal Plan Requirement
All First and Second year residential students are required to purchase a Loyola University Chicago Meal Plan, and must choose from the All Access Meal Plans. Junior and Senior students may choose an All Access Plan, a Dining Dollar Declining Balance Plan, a Block Plus Plan, or may choose not to have a meal plan. Residents of Baumhart Hall may choose a Dining Dollar Declining Balance Plan or opt out of the Meal Plan Requirement.
Learn More about Residential Meal Plans
Requesting an Exemption or Modification
Recognizing that some students may have certain financial or dietary restrictions, Loyola University Chicago affords meal plan exemptions or modifications for certain documented reasons. Students seeking an exemption from or modification of the meal plan requirement must complete the meal plan release process and meet established criteria to be approved.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities or Medical Concerns
In partnership with the University, Loyola Dining is committed to providing a well-balanced meal plan with a wide variety of options at each meal to meet each student’s needs and preferences. We have many creative ways of supporting each student’s individual dietary needs within the dining program. Meeting directly with the Loyola Dining registered dietitian, touring the dining halls, and building relationships with our chefs and managers are the best ways for students to be supported by Loyola Dining.
In rare circumstances, the University will make accommodation for a first- or second-year student from the required meal plan. Dining accommodations will only be considered for those who demonstrate that, for disability-related reasons, a University meal plan cannot in any way meet their dietary needs, and provide appropriate supporting medical documentation. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all required documentation.
The student must apply for disability accommodations for dining via The Request for Meal Plan Release/Exemption Portal and upload supporting documentation at that time. Students must submit documentation that meets the below guidelines to be considered for an accommodation, but submitting documentation does not guarantee that an accommodation will be made.
Documentation must:
- Be provided by an appropriate medical doctor (MD or DO) or licensed mental health professional who is not a family member of the student
- Include a medical diagnosis for a disability
- Describe the nature, severity, and extent of the disability’s impact
- Include the procedures, tests, and/or evaluations used in determining the diagnosis
- Support the need for a specific accommodation, special diet, or dietary restriction
- Contain a signature from the professional and their professional license number
- Be typed on official letterhead that includes contact information
- Be un-editable
- Be recent (typically within the last 5 years)
Students may also provide a personal statement, if they choose, describing the nature and impact of their disability, but this is not a substitute for the required medical documentation. Students may be asked to provide additional documentation at any point during this process.
Once sufficient documentation has been received, the Loyola Dining dietitian will reach out to the student via email to schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting to review and discuss reasonable accommodations.
If the provided documentation is insufficient, the Loyola Dining dietitian will reach out to the student via email to request sufficient documentation. Once sufficient documentation has been received, the Loyola Dining dietitian will reach out to the student via email to schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting to review and discuss reasonable accommodations. Accommodation decisions will be made in collaboration with the Res Life/Dining/SAC committee and will be communicated to the student via email.
If the student disagrees with the decision or believes that their documentation has been incorrectly deemed insufficient, they may file an appeal. They are entitled to appeal and request a reconsideration of the decision. These requests should be made to the Director of the Student Accessibility Center, Carolyn Corbran (ccorbran@luc.edu). If the student still feels as if they were unfairly denied they may submit a formal appeal to the Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Services, Lester Manzano (Lmanzan@luc.edu). Students are allotted one opportunity to appeal each specific accommodation decision.
Some students seeking dining accommodations may also be eligible for class-related accommodations based on the impact of their disability. The Student Accessibility Center (SAC) would review those needs with a student. Students should contact SAC to register their disability or discuss plan updates if already registered to discuss class-related accommodations. They can be contacted at sac@luc.edu and information found on the website about registration can be located here: https://www.luc.edu/sac/applywithsac/
Please be advised that students will continue to be billed for their meal plan until such time as a decision has been reached on the requested accommodation. Applying for a meal plan accommodation means the students understands the following:
- I understand that meal plan accommodations will be considered only for students with a documented disability which prevents the dining program from in any way being able to meet their dietary needs.
- I understand the documentation guidelines as written above.
- I understand that I will continue to be billed for my meal plan until a decision has been reached on my requested accommodation.
Please note:
- Certain supporting documentation may be required, requests cannot be properly reviewed until this documentation has been provided.
- Simply submitting the necessary documentation does not guarantee that your request will be approved, as Dining Services may be able to accommodate your dietary needs.
- If the reason for your request fits one of the standard reasons provided, select that reason. Do not select 'Other Reasons Not List' or your request may be returned to you for editing, which may delay processing of your request.
- Vegan and vegetarian options are offered in all dining locations during all meal periods. Vegan/vegetarianism is not considered a reason for release from the meal plan requirement.
- Certified Halal meats are served at LU's Halal Grill (inside Simpson Dining) and The Olive (inside de Nobili Dining). A Halal diet is not necessarily considered a reason for release from the meal plan requirement.
- With the exception of Baumhart Hall, First and Second Year Students living on-campus are required to have an All Access Meal Plan regardless of their building assignment. Living in an on-campus apartment-style building does not alter the meal plan requirement.
- After a term has started, if a student is released from an All Access Meal Plan, the student will be billed for the weekly prorated cost of the meal plan plus any Dining Dollar use. Proration begins for the following week at approximately 5:00PM (CST) each Friday. For example, if your request is approved during the second week of the term, you will be billed for 2 full weeks plus any Dining Dollar use.
- Our staff typically processes these requests on Friday mornings to ensure maximum use of the billed portion of the plan.
- Weekly prorated charges are applied regardless of the frequency with which the All Access Plan was used.
- After a term has started, if a student is released from a Declining Balance Meal Plan, the student will be billed for any Dining Dollars they have used prior to being released from the plan.
- Proration of charges is based on the date that the request was approved, not the date that the request was submitted
Spring 2026 only: Request for Meal Plan Release/Exemption Portal
2026-2027 Requests for Meal Plan Exemptions are not being accepted yet.
The Benefits of On-Campus Dining
Dining with other students is an important part of the residential experience in that it builds connections within the residence hall and campus communities. With this in mind, Residence Life collaborates with Loyola Dining Services to provide students with high quality, nourishing, and plentiful dining options.
The Meal Plan Requirement
All First and Second year residential students are required to purchase a Loyola University Chicago Meal Plan, and must choose from the All Access Meal Plans. Junior and Senior students may choose an All Access Plan, a Dining Dollar Declining Balance Plan, a Block Plus Plan, or may choose not to have a meal plan. Residents of Baumhart Hall may choose a Dining Dollar Declining Balance Plan or opt out of the Meal Plan Requirement.
Learn More about Residential Meal Plans
Requesting an Exemption or Modification
Recognizing that some students may have certain financial or dietary restrictions, Loyola University Chicago affords meal plan exemptions or modifications for certain documented reasons. Students seeking an exemption from or modification of the meal plan requirement must complete the meal plan release process and meet established criteria to be approved.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities or Medical Concerns
In partnership with the University, Loyola Dining is committed to providing a well-balanced meal plan with a wide variety of options at each meal to meet each student’s needs and preferences. We have many creative ways of supporting each student’s individual dietary needs within the dining program. Meeting directly with the Loyola Dining registered dietitian, touring the dining halls, and building relationships with our chefs and managers are the best ways for students to be supported by Loyola Dining.
In rare circumstances, the University will make accommodation for a first- or second-year student from the required meal plan. Dining accommodations will only be considered for those who demonstrate that, for disability-related reasons, a University meal plan cannot in any way meet their dietary needs, and provide appropriate supporting medical documentation. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all required documentation.
The student must apply for disability accommodations for dining via The Request for Meal Plan Release/Exemption Portal and upload supporting documentation at that time. Students must submit documentation that meets the below guidelines to be considered for an accommodation, but submitting documentation does not guarantee that an accommodation will be made.
Documentation must:
- Be provided by an appropriate medical doctor (MD or DO) or licensed mental health professional who is not a family member of the student
- Include a medical diagnosis for a disability
- Describe the nature, severity, and extent of the disability’s impact
- Include the procedures, tests, and/or evaluations used in determining the diagnosis
- Support the need for a specific accommodation, special diet, or dietary restriction
- Contain a signature from the professional and their professional license number
- Be typed on official letterhead that includes contact information
- Be un-editable
- Be recent (typically within the last 5 years)
Students may also provide a personal statement, if they choose, describing the nature and impact of their disability, but this is not a substitute for the required medical documentation. Students may be asked to provide additional documentation at any point during this process.
Once sufficient documentation has been received, the Loyola Dining dietitian will reach out to the student via email to schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting to review and discuss reasonable accommodations.
If the provided documentation is insufficient, the Loyola Dining dietitian will reach out to the student via email to request sufficient documentation. Once sufficient documentation has been received, the Loyola Dining dietitian will reach out to the student via email to schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting to review and discuss reasonable accommodations. Accommodation decisions will be made in collaboration with the Res Life/Dining/SAC committee and will be communicated to the student via email.
If the student disagrees with the decision or believes that their documentation has been incorrectly deemed insufficient, they may file an appeal. They are entitled to appeal and request a reconsideration of the decision. These requests should be made to the Director of the Student Accessibility Center, Carolyn Corbran (ccorbran@luc.edu). If the student still feels as if they were unfairly denied they may submit a formal appeal to the Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Services, Lester Manzano (Lmanzan@luc.edu). Students are allotted one opportunity to appeal each specific accommodation decision.
Some students seeking dining accommodations may also be eligible for class-related accommodations based on the impact of their disability. The Student Accessibility Center (SAC) would review those needs with a student. Students should contact SAC to register their disability or discuss plan updates if already registered to discuss class-related accommodations. They can be contacted at sac@luc.edu and information found on the website about registration can be located here: https://www.luc.edu/sac/applywithsac/
Please be advised that students will continue to be billed for their meal plan until such time as a decision has been reached on the requested accommodation. Applying for a meal plan accommodation means the students understands the following:
- I understand that meal plan accommodations will be considered only for students with a documented disability which prevents the dining program from in any way being able to meet their dietary needs.
- I understand the documentation guidelines as written above.
- I understand that I will continue to be billed for my meal plan until a decision has been reached on my requested accommodation.
Please note:
- Certain supporting documentation may be required, requests cannot be properly reviewed until this documentation has been provided.
- Simply submitting the necessary documentation does not guarantee that your request will be approved, as Dining Services may be able to accommodate your dietary needs.
- If the reason for your request fits one of the standard reasons provided, select that reason. Do not select 'Other Reasons Not List' or your request may be returned to you for editing, which may delay processing of your request.
- Vegan and vegetarian options are offered in all dining locations during all meal periods. Vegan/vegetarianism is not considered a reason for release from the meal plan requirement.
- Certified Halal meats are served at LU's Halal Grill (inside Simpson Dining) and The Olive (inside de Nobili Dining). A Halal diet is not necessarily considered a reason for release from the meal plan requirement.
- With the exception of Baumhart Hall, First and Second Year Students living on-campus are required to have an All Access Meal Plan regardless of their building assignment. Living in an on-campus apartment-style building does not alter the meal plan requirement.
- After a term has started, if a student is released from an All Access Meal Plan, the student will be billed for the weekly prorated cost of the meal plan plus any Dining Dollar use. Proration begins for the following week at approximately 5:00PM (CST) each Friday. For example, if your request is approved during the second week of the term, you will be billed for 2 full weeks plus any Dining Dollar use.
- Our staff typically processes these requests on Friday mornings to ensure maximum use of the billed portion of the plan.
- Weekly prorated charges are applied regardless of the frequency with which the All Access Plan was used.
- After a term has started, if a student is released from a Declining Balance Meal Plan, the student will be billed for any Dining Dollars they have used prior to being released from the plan.
- Proration of charges is based on the date that the request was approved, not the date that the request was submitted
Spring 2026 only: Request for Meal Plan Release/Exemption Portal
2026-2027 Requests for Meal Plan Exemptions are not being accepted yet.