LSU Dining

1. Where can I eat my Meals?
2. What is the difference between Paw Points and TigerCASH?
3. How can I sign up for an LSU Dining Meal Plan?
4. How does my Meal Plan get added to my Tiger Card?
5. When is the last day I can change my Meal Plan?
6. How many days are there in a semester?
7. Can I buy additional Meals or Paw points?
8. Do Meals or Paw Points roll over?
9. What about students who work? Can they still eat if they have to work at a meal period?
10. What happens if I transfer to the Greek system? Will I lose my money for the Meal Plan?
11. What happens if I withdraw from the University?  Will I be reimbursed for the Meal Plan?
12. What if I have other questions that are not answered here?

Where can I eat my Meals?

Weekday Resident Dining meals are eaten at either The 459 Commons behind Acadian Hall or our newest dining location, The 5 near the Pentagon residential area. You are free to eat at the dining hall most convenient to you.  You simply swipe your ID card upon entering the dining hall and you can eat as much as you want and stay as long as you want! 

• The 459 Commons: 7:00am - 8:00pm Monday through Thursday and 7:00am - 7:00pm on Friday. 
• The 5: 7:00am - 8:00pm Monday through Thursday and 7:00am 7:00pm on Friday. 

You can swap a Meal Plan Meal for a Meal Transfer Combo at various locations 7 days a week.  Outtakes features a Papa John's Pizza and Taco Bell and Take 5 features a Quiznos which is brand new to campus.  Salad and deli options are also available as Meal Transfers.  These locations are a separate retail / convenience store area situated inside the dining halls.     

Late night Meal Transfers are available at Einstein Bros Bagels on the first floor of the Student Union from 8:00pm - 10:30pm nightly and all day Saturday and Sunday.  Outttakes and Take 5 also offer Meal Transfers anytime during open hours 6-days-a-week and late night, too.  The Tiger Lair Food Court features Meal Transfers on Saturday's only.  Please see participating locations for details.   

Please note that sharing Meals and Meal Transfers do not apply to the TIGER MAX MEAL PLAN!

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What is the difference between Paw Points and TigerCASH?

Paw Points and TigerCASH are accepted at all campus LSU Dining locations. The only way to get Paw Points is with a Meal Plan. Meal Plans, Paw Points and TigerCASH are loaded onto your Tiger Card for your convenience. Paw Points can only be used at LSU Dining locations. For example, you can use Paw Points at McDonald’s or Einstein Bros Bagels in the LSU Student Union (1st floor), Tiger Lair Food Court (2nd Floor), Magnolia Room Restaurant (3rd floor), CC’s Coffeehouse in Middleton Library, Smoothie King in the UREC,  Atrium Café, Chick-N-Grill at Pierre’s Landing (near Taylor Hall), LSU Faculty Club Restaurant (students, faculty and staff welcome), and much more!  See the LSU Dining map for all of our locations.  Paw Points have a one-time roll over from Fall to Spring if you have a Spring Meal Plan.  At the end of the Spring semester, any unused Paw Points are lost.

TigerCASH can be used at the LSU Bookstore, computer labs, vending machines, laundry machines, student section concession stands and numerous off-campus locations. TigerCASH is also the only way to copy and print on-campus. TigerCASH funds are available from deposits you make either online, at the Tiger Card Office or at any of the VTS machines located on campus.  Remember that TigerCASH does roll over from semester to semester and you will never lose it.  When you graduate or leave the university, any remaining funds will be reimbursed to you. 

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How can I sign up for an LSU Dining Meal Plan?

You may sign up for a Meal Plan through your PAWS account after you are registered for classes. Once you are in your account, simply go to Registration Services, then Additional Services. Enter the corresponding Service Code for the Meal Plan you would like to choose. Meal Plan charges will be added to your Fee Bill if it is before the deadline for processing.  If you sign up before mid-July, it will automatically be added to your Fee Bill. 

If you are a first-year or second-year student living on-campus, you must sign up for an LSU Dining Meal Plan. Students living in East Campus and West Campus Apartments are exempt from the Meal Plan requirement since they have full kitchens.  If you do not sign up for one, the Tiger Plus will be assigned to you.  You have until the 14th class day to make changes to your Meal Plan at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.

You may sign up for a Meal Plan anytime on your PAWS account.  Contact the Tiger Card Office at 578-4300 for more information.  The following link is a video posted on their website to take you through the PAWS process.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i98g9NEGIyQ

You may also make changes to your Meal Plan via your PAWS account up until the 14th day of class.   

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How does my Meal Plan get added to my Tiger Card?

Students can add a Meal Plan to their Fee Bill during registration once they are registered for classes.  After you have chosen your method of payment, return to the "Fee Bill" screen, scroll to the bottom and click "Complete Registration." 

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When is the last day I can change my Meal Plan?

The last day to make changes to your Meal Plan is the 14th day of class.  This can be done at the Tiger Card Office in the LSU Student Union or through your PAWS account.

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How many days are there in a semester?

There are approximately 15 weeks in the semester or 110 days of dining service. If you are going home on the weekends, plan for 75 days on campus.

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Can I buy additional Meals or Paw Points?

You can not purchase additional meal blocks or Paw Points. However, you may add TigerCASH to your card at any time which is accepted at all LSU dining locations.  TigerCASH does not expire and can be used at designated locations on and off campus .

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Do Meals or Paw Points roll over?

Meal Plans are semester-based. Once the semester is over, any unused Meals will be lost. Paw Points will roll over one time only from Fall to Spring semester if you have a Spring Meal Plan.  Rolled over Paw Points will activate after the 14th day of class in the Spring semester.  Any unused Paw Points at the end of the Spring semester will be lost.   They will not roll over from Spring to Summer or Spring to Fall.  Any remaining Paw Points from Spring Meal Plans or Summer Meal Plans will NOT roll over.  The balance for Meals and Paw Points is available at any LSU Dining register or on the Tiger Card web site.     

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What about students who work? Can they still eat if they have to work at a meal period?

If you are on a Meal Plan, show your work schedule to the building manager and they will prepare a meal to go for you.

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What happens if I transfer to the Greek system? Will I lose my money for the meal plan?

No. You can withdraw from the LSU Dining Meal Plan and be fully refunded, minus any meals you have eaten provided you show proof that you are on a Greek Meal Plan.  Requests must be submitted by the deadline. Partial LSU Dining Meal Plans are available for Greeks who still want to enjoy on-campus dining options.  It is a Paw Point only plan that can only be used at all LSU Dining locations for those who would like some additional dining choices.  There is a drop date in early September that will be communicated to the Greek community giving them the opportunity to commit to whichever dining preference they choose for one year. 

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What happens if I withdraw from the University?  Will I be reimbursed for the Meal Plan?