Dining Services FAQs
Special Dietary Needs
Connections Account
- How can I track my Connections/Privileges account balances?
- Can I use my Connections/Privileges Account at off campus restaurants?
- Can I use my Connections/Privileges account to pay at the campus parking lot?
- Can I use my Connections/Privileges account to pay for copies?
- Can I use my Connections/Privileges account at campus vending machines?
- Can I buy school, art, lab, and computer supplies (like printer cartridges) with my Connections/Privileges Account?
- When is my Connections account balance refunded?
Meal Plan
- What is Hand Pass Access?
- How do I sign up for a meal plan?
- How do I upgrade or downgrade my meal plan?
- Are meal plans mandatory?
- What are “meals per week”?
- What is a “meal exchange”?
- What if my purchase at a retail dining facility exceeds or falls short of the meal exchange value?
- Are meal plans refundable?
- What are Dragon Dollars used for?
- Can I bring a guest to eat with me?
- How many guest passes do I get?
- Can I use my meals and Dragon Dollars to pay for a guest?
- Can I buy more guest passes?
- Is takeout allowed from Neubig?
- I live off campus. Can I purchase an on-campus meal plan?
- What if I am too sick to go to the Dining Hall to use my meal plan?
Food Safety
Special Dietary Needs
Who can I talk to about my special diet or dietary need?
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Please contact our Nutritionist or Director of Dining Services to set up an appointment or call 607-753-5773.
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Connections Account
How can I track my Connections/Privileges account balances?
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· View your balance online - click Quick links at the right of this screen
· Ask any food service cashier for your balances
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Can I use my Connections/Privileges Account at off campus restaurants?
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Yes, at participating restaurants. The on-campus discount does not apply.
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Can I use my Connections/Privileges account to pay at the campus parking lot?
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The walk up pay station accepts cash or credit/debit cards only.
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Can I use my Connections/Privileges account to pay for copies?
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Yes. Just swipe your ID card to pay. (Please read the instructions at copiers.)
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Can I use my Connections/Privileges account at campus vending machines?
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Yes -- just swipe your ID card. Discounts do not apply.
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Can I buy school, art, lab, and computer supplies (like printer cartridges) with my Connections/Privileges Account?
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Yes. You may use your Connections/Privileges account at the College Store.
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When is my Connections account balance refunded?
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We refund Connections balances by check for accounts with balances of $25 or more when requested. There is a waiting period to reopen an account that has been refunded. Contact the ASC Neubig Office.
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Meal Plan
What is Hand Pass Access?
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This state-of-the-art technology allows access to our all-you-care-to-eat Neubig Dining Center.
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How do I sign up for a meal plan?
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- On campus: You don’t need to do anything. All on-campus students are enrolled automatically in the Silver Plan, which is covered under “Room and Board” on your tuition bill. Freshman and first-semester transfer students may upgrade to the Gold or Platinum plan only. On-campus returning students may choose any of the five meal plans.
- Off campus:Off-campus and West Campus students may select any on-campus or off-campus meal plan or set up a Connections account.
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How do I upgrade or downgrade my meal plan?
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- Log onto myRedDragon
- Select the Student Online tab
- Select the “Main Menu” link in the Residence Life and Housing Channel
- This will bring you to the main Residential Services menu where there is a link for: “Upgrade or downgrade on campus mean plan/Add off campus meal plan”
- The deadline for changing your meal plan is the Friday of the first FULL week of classes by 4:30 pm.
NOTE: You can change your meal plan online only once. To make further changes, contact the ASC office in Neubig Hall by calling (607) 753-2430 or by emailing marybeth.coats@cortland.edu.
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Are meal plans mandatory?
Yes. SUNY Cortland Residence Life Policy mandates meal plans for all on-campus students
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Yes. SUNY Cortland Residence Life Policy mandates meal plans for all on-campus students
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What are “meals per week”?
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Each meal plan has a specified number of meals per week:
|
Plan
|
# Meals per Week
|
|
Platinum
|
Unlimited |
|
Gold
|
Unlimited |
|
Silver (default)
|
17
|
|
Bronze
|
14
|
|
Copper
|
10
|
Each time you use a meal at Neubig Dining Center -- or meal equivalent at any other dining facility -- a meal is subtracted from your weekly balance.
- Meals are reset every Thursday morning prior to the first meal.
- Meals are prorated during the shorter weeks in the school calendar.
- Meals are for your personal use only.
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What is a “meal exchange”?
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You can enjoy meals as part of your plan in any of our nine retail dining facilities by using what we call “meal exchange.” It’s simple: Just apply the dollar value of your meal toward your purchase. We’ll deduct a meal from your weekly meals balance each time you use a meal exchange.
Meal exchange values are as follows:
|
Hours
|
Exchange
|
|
7:30am – 10:30am
|
$4.00
|
|
10:30am – 8:00pm
|
$6.00
|
|
8:00pm – 11:00pm
|
$5.00
|
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What if my purchase at a retail dining facility exceeds or falls short of the meal exchange value?
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If your purchase is more than the meal exchange, use your Dragon Dollars , Connections , cash or credit card to make up the difference.
If you are under the value, you do not receive a refund.
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Are meal plans refundable?
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A meal plan is non-taxable in NYS. This is a significant savings on the cost of this service. In order to meet this non-taxable eligibility the meal plan contract must be for a contractual length of time and not be refundable. This means that meals and Dragon Dollars must be used in the semester in which they are purchased or they are forfeited.The cost of the meal plan is not refundable at the end of the semester. If you withdraw from school, contact the Customer Service Office at 607-753-2430 for information on cancelling your meal plan.
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What are Dragon Dollars used for?
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- To make up the difference between the meal equivalent and your retail food purchase, as explained above.
- To purchase food in any dining facility
Remember these guidelines:
- Dragon Dollars are for your use only; you cannot use them for a guest.
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Can I bring a guest to eat with me?
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All campus meal plans include Neubig Dining Center guest passes. You can use them for visitors – or for a friend who forgets his or her ID card, or even for yourself, if you run out of meals in a given week. Use them or lose them: Guest passes do not carry over from fall to spring semesters.
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How many guest passes do I get?
Click here for plans and number of guest passes each includes.
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Click here for plans and number of guest passes each includes.
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Can I use my meals and Dragon Dollars to pay for a guest?
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No. Meal plans, in accordance with NY State Sales Tax laws, are non-transferable. That means you’re the only one who can use your meals and Dragon Dollars.
That doesn’t mean you can’t cover meals for a guest! Just use Neubig Dining Center guest passes, your Connections account or cash.
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Can I buy more guest passes?
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No. You’ll have to use your Connections account or cash to pay for meals once your passes are gone.
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Is takeout allowed from Neubig?
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Neubig is an unlimited access, residential dining facility, and takeout is not available. Takeout service is available at all retail units.
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I live off campus. Can I purchase an on-campus meal plan?
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Yes. Choose any meal plan offered. ASC recommends an off campus meal plan for students who prefer light grab-and-go meals. On campus meal plans will benefit those who plan to eat often on campus and with friends.
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What if I am too sick to go to the Dining Hall to use my meal plan?
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Please contact your Residence Hall Director, who will have you sign a form giving permission for someone to use your meal card to purchase a meal for you.
The cashier will keep the form as a record of your authorized use.
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Food Safety
Where can I find out more about food safety?
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Here is a link to more information. ASC is committed to providing safe food for your consumption.
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