What is a Dining Plan?
A Dining Plan unlocks delicious meals, coffee, snacks, and more, at 20 locations across campus. Your Dining Plan includes Swipes and Dining Dollars, conveniently loaded onto your VCU ID. No need to carry additional cards or cash!
If you are a VCU employee and interested in purchasing our employee dining plan please click here.
Swipes
Swipe for all-you-care-to-eat at Shafer's Market810 and AVO Kitchen. Additional swipes may be used for premium options or special events like the Food Truck Festival each semester.
Build Your Own Swipe
Our Build Your Own (BYO) Swipe program is an a la carte way to create your meal. Use it for consumables at Ram City Market, P.O.D. Market and any of our retail locations (excluding Starbucks) up to $9.85.
Dining Dollars
Think of Dining Dollars as a prepaid and reloadable debit card, accepted at all VCUDine locations (including vending machines) for anything from a Starbucks coffee to extra fries at Chick-Fil-A.
Dining Plan Benefits
With your dining plan, you receive many benefits and perks, including:
- Quality food made fresh by our culinary team, with a variety of menu options personalized the way you like
- Healthy choices available all across campus
- Special events with themed meals and exclusive offers for meal plan members
- Casual atmosphere with wifi, TVs, music and lounge-style seating—perfect for studying or hanging out with friends.
Key Dates
Fall Semester 2025
Dining begins on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 7:00 am
Last day to make Dining Plan changes is Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:00 pm
Market 810 closes at 7:00 pm on Friday, November 21, 2025, and reopens at 11:00 am on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Dining ends on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 10:30 am
Spring Semester 2026
Dining begins on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 7:00 am
Last day to make Dining Plan changes is Friday, February 6, 2026, at 4:00 pm
Market 810 closes at 3:00 pm on Friday, March 6, 2026, and reopens at 10:30 am on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Dining ends on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:30 am
Summer Session 2026
Dining begins on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 8:00 am
Last day to make Dining Plan changes is Friday, May 29, 2026, at 4:00 pm
Dining ends on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 2:00 pm
Managing Your Plan
There are two ways you can check your Swipes and Dining Dollars balance:
- Go to your VCU Card account: https://get.cbord.com/vcu/full/prelogin.php
- On your receipt after a purchase at any dining location
Dining Dollars running low? No problem! Add more Dining Dollars.
