Meal Plans
- Q: Will my meal plan from the Fall roll over or be refunded?
A: No, Calvin University will not roll-over or refund meal plans from the Fall 2020 semester.
- Q: When will information about the Fall 2021 Meal Plans come out?
A: Fall 2021 Meal Plans have been finalized. Please click here to learn more.
- Q: Can I purchase additional meal plans?
A: Yes, contact Dining Services or stop by our main office for further assistance.
- Q: What happens to my unused Knight Bucks?
A: Unused Knight Bucks will reset to a zero balance at the end of each semester.
Main Office
- Q: When does the main office open?
A: Office hours Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.
- Q: When do meal plans start for Spring semester?
A: Fall meal plans end on January 31st and Spring meal plans begin on February 1st. Off-campus students will need to sign up for a new meal plan for each semester. Please allow a set-up time of 24 hours before you plan on dining. Please follow the link to sign up. Meal Plans »
- Q: How can I reach someone if I have any questions?
A: All inquiries can be emailed to CalvinDining@creativedining.com or a voicemail left at 616-526-6384.
Catering
- Q: How does the newest executive order affect catering on campus?
A: Catering is limited to a maximum of 10 guests per room, including six feet of social distancing. This is subject to change given current executive order and local health code. We will continue to adjusted our service to accommodate state guidelines.
A: Any line for food we ask there to be the standard six feet of distance between guest
- Q: Does catering have a menu?
A: Yes, click here to view the catering menu.
Dining Halls
- Q: What has dining services done to address student requests for additional hours and variety of meals?
A: We revamped the Homestyle concept to add more variety to the our busiest line.
A: We brought back the panini press at Uppercrust.
A: We started our Sack Lunch program this past semester that gives our student diners another meal option if they want to skip the lines during lunch and dinner. You can find more information about our sack lunches on Johnny's home page.
- Q: How does the newest executive order affect dining on campus?
A: Cereal bars and coffee stations are now self-serve.
A: Staff that cannot socially distance while working are required to wear both a mask and shield/safety goggles.
A: Salad bars are still prepackaged and grab n go.
A: Diners are to wear a mask in the dining halls unless you are eating is still a requirement. This limits everyones exposure to to everyones air particles
A: Take out containers are still available for all students, faculty and staff.
A: All containers will continue to be handed to each guest individually, except for the salad bars. Which are now pre-packaged and grab n go.
A: Indoor seating is still limited to roughly 150 seats per dining hall and distanced according to state's social distancing guidelines
A: Tables and chairs will be cleaned and sanitized in between each seating.
A: All high-touch areas will be cleaned and sanitized at least every 30 minutes.
A: All condiments and napkins will continue to be served by our staff.
A: Students will need to review the Calvin Policy and Protocols for Campus Visitors. Students with block plans or using Knight's Bucks will be able to bring guests into the dining halls as long as they are fellow students or Calvin faculty and Staff.
A: Cereal bars and coffee stations are now self-serve.
- Q: With the new concepts, will Calvin Dining Services still be able to accommodate special dietary needs, allergens, vegans, and vegetarians?
A: Yes, Every meal will have options that are allergen-friendly and animal friendly and all food items will be labeled clearly to help diners find something that meets their needs or restrictions. When in doubt ask one of our amazing staff members for help.
- Q: Why is Calvin Dining Services using disposable and why not eco-friendly disposables?
A: We are currently required by the local health department to use disposable which is line with CDC recommendations. We have attempted to source eco-friendly disposables through current suppliers and we are getting what we can. Right now there is a shortage of large to-go containers.
- Q: Will students receive a refund on room and board because they will not be returning to campus after Thanksgiving?
A: We do not anticipate issuing refunds for these days, given the overall increased costs to the institution that we anticipate as we prepare and maintain a safe housing program for the fall 2020 semester. Some of the COVID-related changes we anticipate are in areas such as cleaning, food service, and care for individual students who may become ill during the semester (who may require isolation space, food delivery, etc.). These services increase costs but will be assumed within the constraints of the current budget for room and board. In addition, housing options will remain available for students unable to travel home at Thanksgiving break (additional details about the process to apply/petition for an exception to stay on campus will be shared in the months ahead). https://calvin.edu/offices-services/center-for-student-success/academic-calendar/Academic+Calendar+2020-2021+FAQ.pdf.
- Q: What will happen to my CD meal plan when the semester end?
A: CD meal plans are being extended until the end of interim.
- Q: Can you still look up names if I forget my I.D.?
A: Currently, with the new system, we are unable to do so. So please make sure you have your I.D. or the Eatable App to swipe into the dining halls.
- Q: When is The Zone coming back?
A: The Zone will resume March 15, 2021. It will be located at the end of the Homestyle line.
- Q: Will Homestyle still serve burgers?
A: Yes, but not everyday. Please check our daily menus for the burger specials at Homestyle.
- Q: Will the dining hall ever go back to using the Green2Go containers?
A: Yes, the plan is to start distributing Green2Go containers to students the week of March 15.
Johnny’s
- Q: How does the newest executive order affect dining at Johnny's?
A: Johnny’s and it’s staff will continue to observe physical distancing guidelines, decreasing dining capacity, and changing disposables and packaging to ensure that prepared food remains free from cross-contamination, and plexiglass at check out to provide a barrier for our customers.
A: Johnny's still requires all employees to wear masks and gloves during services. Employees will also be required to change gloves out every hour.
A: Indoor seating is still available for students. All tables will be marked with seating availability, capacity and socially distanced.
- Q: Will there be more healthy options for sack lunches?
A: Yes, we've recently added additional salad options for sack lunches. Please continue to leave comments and we will adjust our offerings accordingly.
- Q: What will happen to my Knight Bucks at the end of the semester?
A: Access Knight Bucks for the Fall 2020 semester will end 1/31/2021. Your Knight bucks will be reset with the start of your Spring 2021 meal plan on 2/1/2021.
- Q: When is Johnny's opening for the winter semester?
A: January 18, 2021, retail items only. The hours for the remainder of interim are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday. For the remainder of the semester the hours are 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Regular business hours will resume on February 1, 2021
Peet’s
- Q: How does the newest executive order affect dining at Peet's?
A: Peet's still require all employees to wear masks and gloves during services. Employees will also be required to change gloves out every hour.
A: There's still no indoor seating for the foreseeable future.
A: Everyone entering Peet's will have to maintain a social distance of six feet and wear a face mask.
A: Protective plexiglass at the register will remain in place to separate our employees from our customers.
A: All creams and sugars will continue to be added by a Peet’s barista.
- Q: Is there a limit on the amount of Knight Bucks I can use at Peet's?
A: No, you can use a much or as little of your Knight Bucks as you want.
- Q: What can you tell me about Peet's food menu?
A: All of Peet's food is made in-house with fresh ingredients. This includes food for those with special dietary needs.
- Q: When is Peet's opening for the winter semester?
A: Starting February 1, hours are 7:30 a.m - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m - 5 p.m..
Prince Conference Center
- Q: How does the newest executive order affect the Prince Conference Center?
A: There are no indoor dining events
A: Conference rooms are now limited to 20 people per square feet.
A: Self-serve station will remain closed, and replaced with individually wrapped all hand fruits and snack.
A: Protective plexiglass at the check in counter will remain in place to provide a barrier between clients and staff.
A: Outdoor events are limited to 25 people.
A: Banquets are temporarily discontinued.
A: Continental breakfast will continue to be pre-packaged.
- Q: If the Prince Conference Center is owned by Calvin University, are the rooms like dorms?
A: No, we feature 69 rooms with standard hospitality amenities.
- Q: Is transportation accommodations available?
A: No, due to safety concerns we are not offering our free shuttle shuttle service at this time. But there are also local Lyft and Uber options available. Yellow Taxi can be reached at (616) 459-4646.
- Q: Do you have an on-site restaurant?
A: No, but we do serve banquets and dinners for groups of all sizes, from 4 to 350. We are also within walking distance of Johnny's and Peet's Coffee. See their FAQ section for more details.
- Q: What is your cancelation policy?
A: Cancellations must be made within 24 hours prior to check in date and time.
Faculty
- Q: How does the newest executive order affect faculty dining on campus?
A: Only Calvin approved student, staff and faculty guest are allowed as guest to dine on campus.
A: See dining hall FAQ section for other information
- Q: Are there any locations opening this semester?
A: Yes, all the retail locations will open on the 18th of January. Johnnys will be retail only for the remainder of the interim.
- Q: Will Peet's have food on the menu?
A: Yes, Peet's has added grab & go items to their menu.
- Q: What are the dining hours across campus?