Board Plans

There are twenty-four "meal opportunities" each week during the regular academic year. These include breakfast, lunch (brunch on weekends), and dinner seven days a week as well as the popular late-night SuperSnack offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Students select which meals to attend based on their preferences and the total meal allowance of their board plan.

On Campus: All first year students are required to participate in the Full Board Plan (any 21 meals). All upperclass students living in College housing excluding the College apartments, participate in either the Full Board Plan (any 21 meals), Res 14 (any 14 meals) or the Res 10 (any 10 meals) plan.

Off Campus: Students living in College apartments or off campus may purchase any of the board plans listed above or the Bear 9 (any 9 meals) or Declining Balance Plan. The Declining Balance Plan is an all-points plan that allows off-campus students a flexible alternative to eat meals at the dining halls or on an a la carte basis in the dining cash operations. Points not used at the end of the semester are forfeited and cannot be carried forward to the next semester.

Polar Points: Board plans include a cash component called "points" which may be used when board plans are active. These points enable students to bring guests to the dining halls or to purchase a la carte foods at the Smith Union dining operations. Points not used at the end of the semester are forfeited and cannot be carried forward to the next semester. Additional funds for dining may be purchased through the OneCard program.

ID Cards: Board plans are not transferable, and all students are required to present their ID cards for entrance into the dining halls and for meal plan point or OneCard purchases in the retail operations. Lost student ID cards should be reported and replaced immediately at the OneCard office located in Coles Tower adjacent to Thorne Hall.

Billing Process and Financial Aid: All meal plans are billed to student accounts on a semester basis. Board plans may be changed during an enrollment period at the end of each semester. Following the enrollment period, a $25 fee will be charged for late changes. No changes will be allowed after the late-change period. Please understand that choice of meal plan directly affects the board charge on your semester bill. Since board cost is a component of a student's financial aid budget, the cost of attendance and financial aid award will be adjusted to reflect the cost of the "Res 14" for students on aid who select a plan other than the "Full Board Plan". Please review the tip sheet for more information or contact the Office of Student Aid at sao@bowdoin.edu or 207-725-3144.

Cost Allocation: The cost of each board plan is based on the historical number of meals eaten by the average student. Board revenue is allocated to pay dining expenses in the following areas: employee wages and benefits, food, equipment purchases and repairs, supplies, and contracted services like laundry and trash removal. Because of the College support needed to operate two dining halls and three a la carte operations, the board fee also covers general administrative expenses and overhead of the College.

Schedule: Dining halls provide board meals during the weeks that classes are in session.

Questions regarding board plan policies at Bowdoin?  Contact Billy Watkins, Dining Service Business Manager, (207)725-3912