Dining Services
SBU has an agreement with Fresh Ideas to operate the University Food Service. The daily menus are published on the SBU web site. Together we know the busy lifestyles and varied appetites of our students and we offer five easy meal plan selections:
Meal Plan Options
Students who reside in the dorm facilities are required to have a meal plan. Dorm residents may choose a 20, 15, or 10 meal plan option. Students residing in the on-campus apartments are not required to have a meal plan, however, may if they choose. For apartments students, as well as off-campus students, there are additional meal options called the Super Bearcat Bucks plan or the Debit Meal Plan.
Please contact the Office of Residence Life to change your meal plan option. Students may only downgrade to a lower meal plan within the first two weeks of the semester. Students wanting to upgrade, may do so at any time. Prices are subject to change on a yearly basis.
20-Meal Plan: This plan is designed for the student wishing to eat all available meals within the cafeteria. As an added bonus for choosing this plan, Fresh Ideas, our campus caters, gives the students fifty dollars in Bearcat Bonus Bucks. The bonus bucks can be used during all operating hours at any of our three food sites (Sports Café, Meller’s Dinning Commons, or the Cat Snack) using the students ID card.
15-Meal Plan: Allows you to eat any 15 of the 20 meals offered each week. This plan is usually selected by the student that goes home on the weekends or by the ones that have trouble getting to the cafeteria for breakfast.
10-Meal Plan: With the 10-Meal Plan the student may eat any 10 of the 15 meals offered Monday – Friday. This plan works well for the student with employment conflicts from an off-campus job. This plan is not available for weekend meals.
Debit Meal Plan: This is a prepaid account, encoded in your student ID, to use as a debit card at any of our food service sites (excluding concessions). The Debit Meal Plan is available to ALL students. This offers the students the ultimate convenience and flexibility for your food dollar. Twenty dollars is needed to open an account, and balances transfer from semester to semester. Deposits may be made during business hours in the Food Service Office located in the Meller’s Dining Commons. No refunds are given on Debit Meal Plan accounts.
Super Bearcat Bucks: Available to apartment/house residents and off-campus students. This plan includes 65 meal credits per semester at any of our food service locations, during meal hours. This also includes fifty dollars bonus bucks to be used at any of our food service sites during operating hours.
Value Exchange: To lend additional variety we have included a value exchange in our meal plans. A student may use their board plan to eat at the Cat Snack during extended meal hours or to receive sack lunches during busy days.
Each meal plan period begins on Monday at breakfast and ends on Sunday at dinner. Students who are over their meal limit may pay cash or use their Bearcat Bucks at the door. All meals provided in the dining commons are all you can eat.
Snack Bar
The Cat Snack offers a variety of made-to-order subs, garden salads, wraps. In addition, they offer a large variety of drinks and snack foods.
Sports Café
The Sports Café is a great place for students to visit, take a late night study break, or to just relax and catch up on the world news. It is located in the Meyer Wellness and Sports Center. We serve delicious flavored coffees, espresso, cappuccinos, hot chocolate, cold and frozen beverages, and varieties of tempting pastries, salads and sandwiches.
Mellers Dining Commons
We offer an extremely varied menu to cater to as many tastes as possible; such as, traditional entrees served with a variety of vegetables and carbohydrates, Italian cuisine including pastas, sauces, fresh baked pizza, baked pasta dishes and breadsticks, Mexican fare such as quesadillas, enchiladas, Spanish rice and chips w/salsa, stir-fry bar and oriental entrees featuring chicken or vegetarian stir-fry, sweet & sour and cashew chicken, egg rolls and rice. Our Chef creates fresh new items on a regular basis.
Our Grill Station and Deli Bar offer a large selection of meats, cheeses, protein salads and breads. The daily Specialty Bar has an ever-changing variety of menus, including baked potato bar, taco bar, nacho bar, wrap stations, pretzel bar, pasta bar, etc., etc., etc.
Our bakers create heavenly desserts from fresh-baked homemade cookies and bars to mouth-watering pies and cobblers. We serve an array of cakes, puddings and jell-o daily.