As part of our commitment to the well-being of the students, faculty, and staff we maintain processes and protocols to help ensure the safety of campus dining operations at all times.

  • Cleaning & Sanitation
    • CLEANING: Our sanitation standards are industry-leading and designed to ensure that all equipment, service wares and physical spaces are maintained at the highest level of cleanliness.  Our products (detergents, sanitizers, and disinfectants) have the highest possible efficacy ratings and each associate receives extensive and ongoing training to guide them through specific cleaning requirements for every station and space.  
    • HIGH TOUCH CLEANING: As part of our efforts to maintain the safest possible environments, each location has identified the surfaces and items that warrant more frequent cleaning and sanitation, such as tabletops, door handles, light switches, condiment stations, stair rails, etc.
    • EQUIPMENT: All equipment utilized in cleaning and sanitation, including dishwashers and chemical dispensers are checked multiple times per day for correct temperatures, concentrations, and functionality.
       
  • Health Guidelines
    • HAND HYGIENE:  The most important safeguard against spreading germs has always been proper hand hygiene.  We have provided our students and guests with hand wash stations, hand sanitizer, ‘no-touch’ service options and targeted signage and communication to promote hand hygiene. Our employees receive substantial and ongoing training on proper hand hygiene and the appropriate use of gloves, as well as a schedule of mandatory hand washing. 
    • FACIAL COVERINGS: Our facial covering policy remains aligned with current federal (CDC), state, local, and school requirements.  While these are evolving daily, we are committed to keeping our guests and staff safe utilizing facial coverings.
    • EMPLOYEE HEALTH:  Before starting work, each employee confirms daily that they are not experiencing any symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, shortness of breath, etc.). 

  • Product Safety
    • VENDORS & SUPPLIERS: All suppliers must pass stringent safety and sanitation requirements to gain and maintain approval to be a vendor to Aramark. 
    • FOOD SAFETY: Aramark standards for food receipt, storage, handling, and preparation are detailed and specific. Each step of the process is monitored and documented so that quality, temperature control, and contamination risks are managed at all times.

We are here to answer any of your questions: Contact Us


Monarch Dining FAQs

1. AM I REQUIRED TO GET A MEAL PLAN?

Meal plan requirements are based on class standing and residency. Please visit odu.edu/dining to view our “Meal Plan Requirements Based on Class Standing & Residency” chart. Please note: All first-year RESIDENT students are required to select one of the All-Access meal plans. The meal plan will be charged to your student account. First-year COMMUTER students can choose from any of our 9 meal plans and can sign up at cardcenter.odu.edu.

 

2. WHEN CAN I CHANGE MY MEAL PLAN?

Meal plan changes/cancellations can be done online at cardcenter.odu.edu during the 1st week of the semester. If any student who is living on-campus decides to cancel their housing agreement, then their meal plan will automatically be remove as well. After cancellation, please check your student account the following business day to confirm that your meal plan has been removed from your bill.

 

3. WHAT ARE MEAL SWIPES?

Meal Swipes give you access to our all-you-care-to-eat dining halls: Broderick Dining Commons and Rogers Riverside Café. 1 swipe = 1entry. Meal Swipes for Weekly Meal Plans do not roll over to the next week and reset every Monday morning. Block Plan meal swipes are given as a lump sum at the beginning of the semester and can be used anytime throughout the semester.

 

4. WHAT ARE FLEX POINTS?

Flex Points are tax-free dining dollars that may be used at any Monarch Dining location. 1 Flex Point = $1. Students can use Flex Points for consumable items like frozen meals, bottled beverages, and snacks; or after Meal Exchange swipes have been used. Please note non-consumable items sold at our P.O.D. Market convenience stores (i.e., household, toiletries, haircare, electronics, etc.) can be purchased using Monarch Plus/credit/debit.

 

5. WHAT ARE MEAL EXCHANGES?

Meal Exchanges are swipes that can be used at select Monarch Dining retail locations for certain meal combos. 1 exchange/swipe = 1 combo. Meal Exchanges for the Weekly Meal Plans do not roll over to the next week and reset every Monday morning. Block Plan Meal Exchanges are taken from the allotted Meal Swipes given at the beginning of the semester and once all meal exchanges are used, Flex Points would be the available payment option at retail locations.

 

6. CAN I ADD FLEX POINTS?

You can add flex points to an active meal plan in increments of $25 anytime throughout the semester at cardcenter.odu.edu.

 

7. CAN FLEX POINTS BE PARTIAL DOLLAR AMOUNTS?

Flex points are tax-free and operate like cash. 1 Flex Point = $1. Items will not be rounded up to the nearest dollar but will be charged as exact values.

 

8. HOW ARE MEAL PLANS BILLED/PAID?

Meal Plans are billed to your student account and can be paid with cash/check, credit, financial aid, loans, or payment plans.

 

9. WHERE CAN I SIGN UP?

Resident students select their meal plan option when completing their Housing application. Off-campus students can sign up for a meal plan at cardcenter.odu.edu.

 

10. HOW CAN I CHECK MY BALANCE FOR MEAL PLANS?

You can check your balance online at cardcenter.odu.edu or on your myODU portal.

 

GUEST & T0-G0 MEAL POLICY

One guest or to-go meal may be purchased for one meal exchange, or meal plan holders may use their flex points at full retail price to treat their guests to a meal.

 

MEAL PLAN SECURITY

In case a student’s Campus ID card is lost or stolen and for the security of a meal plan holder’s meal plan, the maximum number of meal swipes/exchanges per meal period is 3 (Monday-Sunday: Breakfast is 12a-10:29a; Lunch is 10:30a-3:59p; Dinner is 4p-11:59p)

 

MEDICAL & RELIGIOUS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

Our dining team is available to assist with a wide range of food-related medical conditions. Religious dietary restrictions such as Halal and Kosher can be accommodated as well. Email dining@odu.edu for a Chef Manager consultation.

*As of 9/1/2023. Subject to change