Dining Services

Face coverings will be required in all dining locations, except when eating. Customers may remove face coverings to consume food and beverages.  

A limited amount of indoor seating may be available at select locations. Indoor seating will adhere to the Restore Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) guidelines for indoor/outdoor dining. Guests should generally plan to grab and go items and social distance to different areas.

Locations will utilize social distancing and line queues to minimize contact.   Additional safety measures will be in place at dining locations including regular hand washing timers in addition to normal handwashing, food served in to-go containers, additional sanitizer dispenser stations and plexiglass installed around all points of sale.   All food service operations will follow Restore Illinois DCEO guidelines for restaurants.

It is anticipated that dining locations may experience extended wait times during peak hours of operation: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.   Therefore, students are encouraged to stock up and purchase several of the pre-packaged, grab-and-go meals at a time in order to reduce the number of trips needed to dining locations.

Cash is still accepted, but non-meal plan students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to add Cougar Bucks using the GET app to reduce the exchange of cash or “hand to hand” contact. Cougar Bucks also provides 10% off at most dining operations and the Cougar Store.

Dining Service will provide a variety of grab and go items including pre-made and pre-packaged meals. Typically, the grab and go meals will consist and an entrée and 1-2 sides. They will easily able to be reheated in a standard microwave.

For the 2020-2021 academic year, University Housing as determined that microwaves are permitted in the residence halls. Only one microwave per room and cannot be greater than 800 watts. Please work with your roommate to coordinate who will bring the microwave.

Grab n Go will have a variety of menu options to handle numerous dietary restrictions. Gluten-Free entrees and desserts will be offered as well as Vegetarian, Vegan and International offerings. For further information or if you would like to discuss your specific dietary restrictions please contact our Chef at eruhman@siue.edu

Hot Items will be available throughout our Dining Operations. Grab n Go options are being increased to allow for guests to purchase multiple meals at one time or to be able to keep food at hand. This will allow for reduced visits to food areas if desired by Students, Faculty or Staff.  

The mandatory meal plan (60/40) is already automatically refunded at the end of spring semester to your student account. Should the University shift to remote instruction, dining services will remain available. Therefore, refunds or proration of charges will not be made.

All Catering orders will be for carryout and delivery and will be purchased through the event services office. Only bottled beverages will be available, this includes water service. Catering menu will be regularly adjusted based on sourcing and availability. Buffets in the traditional sense will not continue, plated service will not be available, and Bars will be discontinued. Orders will be served on disposables. Catering will adhere to the Restore Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) guidelines for dining, and changes will be made throughout the semester to remain current with those protocols. This section will be updated as regulations around Catering Services are changed by the DCEO and the IDPH.