MEAL PLANS
First-Year Meal Plan Requirement
All students entering SHSU within 1 year of high school are required to reside on-campus and purchase a University Resident Meal Plan their first year of college, usually fall and spring semesters.
Meal Plan Terms & Conditions
Prospective and current students should review the Meal Plan contract carefully. By submitting it online, students agree to the terms, including responsibilities, cancellations, and refund deadlines.
Resident Meal Plans
| Resident Meal Plans | Cost per Semester |
|---|---|
| All Access/Unlimited, with $150 of declining balance (Bearkat Bucks) each semester (All Access will serve as the Default Meal Plan) | $2,750 |
| 15 meals per week with a $300 declining balance (Bearkat Bucks) each semester | $2,650 |
| 10 meals per week with $450 declining balance (Bearkat Bucks) each semester (available for sophomore and above, not available for first-year required students) | $1,960 |
| Students living on-campus (except University owned apartments) are required to purchase a Residential Meal Plan. | Varies |
Commuter Meal Plans
| Commuter Meal Plans | Cost per Semester |
|---|---|
| Bearkat Value - A block of 72 meals with $400 of declining balance (Bearkat Bucks) each semester | $1,030 |
| Bearkat Lite Plan - A block of 32 meals with $350 of declining balance (Bearkat Bucks) each semester | $635 |
| Bearkat Flex Plan - $750 of declining balance (Bearkat Bucks) | $750 |
Cancellation of Contract
→ Refund Deadlines Before Start of Contract Period
First-Year students with approved meal plan waivers will receive a full refund of meal plan prior to the beginning of the term. First-year students without approved meal plan waiver will have dining charges added to their fee statement prior to the beginning of the term.
Upperclassmen students may add and cancel the meal plan in full with no penalty prior to the beginning of the term.
→ Contract Termination After Start of Contract Period
Students who request a contract termination after the term has begun will need to apply to terminate the contract. Meal Plan Contract Termination forms are available in the Residence Life Office.
Meal Plan Termination Refunds
| Meal Plan | Type | Dining Refund | Liquidation Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Access | Resident | Pro-rate from termination date | $25 |
| 15 Meals Per Week | Resident | Pro-rate from termination date | $25 |
| 10 Meals Per Week | Resident | Pro-rate from termination date | $25 |
| Bearkat Value | Commuter | Refund of unused meals | $25 |
| Bearkat Lite | Commuter | Refund of unused meals | $25 |
| Bearkat Flex | Commuter | Pro-rate from termination date | $25 |
Early termination of the meal plan contract will be cause for immediate cancellation of the associated Bearkat Bucks. If the student has used part or all the Bearkat Bucks and thereafter cancels the meal plan prior to the conclusion of the semester, Bearkat Bucks will be prorated through the end of the day that the cancellation occurs. The student is required to reimburse the University for any Bearkat Bucks used over the allotted amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common dining and meal plan questions below. For anything not listed, contact your hall staff or contact the Residence Life office at (936) 294-1812.
Bearkat OneCards are issued by Student Account Services. Please watch the video below to learn how to request a card. If you lost your card or require a replacement, please call Student Account Services at 936-294-2273 or email at bearkatone@shsu.edu.
Beginning first-year students are required to live in university residence halls and participate in a meal plan during the fall and spring semesters. A "beginning" first-year student is defined as a student who graduated from high school within the previous year. All on-campus residents, excluding those staying in Bearkat Village Apartments, must purchase a meal plan, regardless of classification.
- Bearkat Bucks is a pre-paid balance account that can be used at any of the Aramark facilities on campus.
- The BankMobile Vibe Checking Account is an optional account designed specifically for students.
All meal plans, regardless of type, are valid for the entire academic year.
All residential students (except those residents in Bearkat Village and Copper Village) will have the All Aaccess Plan added automatically to their student account. Before the academic year begins, students may adjust their meal plan to the Unlimited or 15 Meals Per Week Plan through the MySam Portal. Commuter students may purchase any meal plan through the MySam Portal.
- Before the inception of the Fall or Spring semester, residential students may change their meal plan among the All Access, 15 Meals Per Week or 10 Meals Per Week (required first-year students are not eligible for the 10 Meals Per Week option) plans, and non-residential students may change their meal plan among any of the available meal plans, with no penalty Students may access their meal plan account to request the change in the MySam Student Portal > Bearkat Life > Dining > Dining Portal > Log in to your Bearkat OneCard WebManager > Change Meal Plan.
- On the first day of dining operations, all students wanting a meal plan change must apply to change their contract in writing to the Department of Residence Life. Students will have a grace period (ending the Friday of the first week of classes) to request a change of meal plan.
- After the grace period ends, a change of the meal plan will only be approved for certain mitigating circumstances that did not previously exist at the beginning of the contract period. If a change is approved, the student will be charged liquidated damages of $25.00 and the prorated difference between the meal plans will be refunded to the student.
*Changes made online should be completed on a laptop or desktop. See Meal Plan Contract Terms and Conditions for more information.
Students can go to MySam to view their Bearkat Bucks balance.
All Bearkat Bucks accounts are cleared out at the conclusion of Summer Session II classes. This means that any balance on those accounts are cleared to a zero amount and no refunds are given. The best thing to keep in mind regarding this issue is to use it or lose it. The only exception to this rule is if you resign from school (only your deposits are refunded, not bonus points included with your meal plan).
No, you may not eat without a valid Bearkat OneCard. If you require assistance with your card, please contact Student Account Services at 936-294-2273.
On the meal plan, you can eat at a variety of places during hours of operation.
Students can view hours of operation for each dining facility here.