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Carthage partners with Parkhurst Dining to bring a contemporary and dynamic experience to Carthage. Primarily serving private colleges and universities, Parkhurst emphasizes fresh, healthy, and creative meals hand-crafted by expertly trained chefs.

All Carthage meal plans include Meal Swipes, Meal Exchanges, and Birdie Bucks (Go, Firebirds!). Here’s what those terms mean:

MEAL SWIPES

For residential students, Meal Swipes are loaded onto your card weekly. Students on any meal plan (Standard, Premium, Flex 1, Flex 2, Commuter) can use one Meal Swipe per day on a Meal Exchange in the Student Union, Redzone, or Lentz Do Lunch. Unused Meal Swipes do not roll over to subsequent weeks and expire each week on Saturdays at 11:59 p.m.

For commuter students, Meal Swipes do not expire each week, and can be used until the end of the academic year, at which point they expire.

Meal Swipes can be used at:

• The Caf (for all-you-care-to-eat dining)
• Campbell Student Union restaurants*
• RedZone convenience store*
• Lentz Do Lunch*

* Meal Exchange only

MEAL EXCHANGE

One Meal Exchange equals one Meal Swipe.

Meal Exchange options are specific menu items at noncafeteria food outlets that are equivalent to a Meal Swipe in The Caf. You’ll find Meal Exchange options at the Campbell Student Union restaurants, Red Zone, and Lentz Do Lunch. Mix and match items to the dollar amount associated with a Meal Exchange.

Meal Exchanges are accepted at:

• Flex Kitchen
• Lentz Do Lunch
• Pacific Harbor
• Red Zone
• The Local Scene

Students can use one daily Meal Exchange on the Standard, Flex 1, and Flex 2 Plans anytime.

Students on the Premium Plan can use 3 Meal Exchanges a day, with a limit of one Meal Exchange per period.

Daily meal periods are as follows:

• Period 1 — 7-10:59 a.m.
• Period 2 — 11 a.m.-4:29 p.m.
• Period 3 — 4:30-7:29 p.m.
• Period 4 — 7:30 p.m.-close

BIRDIE BUCKS and Birdie Bucks +

One Birdie Buck/Birdie Buck + equals $1.

Birdie Bucks/Birdie Bucks + can be used at the following locations:

• The Caf (though it’s best to use Meal Swipes here)
• Campbell Student Union restaurants
• Red Zone convenience store
• Lentz Do Lunch
• Starbucks
• Campus Bookstore (apparel, branded goods, supplies, and non-course materials)

Birdie Bucks

Birdie Bucks included in meal plans are loaded onto your card by semester. Unused Birdie Bucks included in meal plans will roll over from the fall to the spring semester but expire at the end of the academic year. 

Birdie Bucks +

Residential and commuter students can add additional Birdie Bucks + to their cards at any time using the . Birdie Bucks + added using the GET App do not expire until a student graduates.

• Residential meal plans are purchased for an entire academic year based on a 15-week semester.
• Meal Swipes are deposited weekly on Sundays; unused swipes expire on Saturdays at 11:59 p.m.
• Birdie Bucks included in meal plans are deposited on the first day of each semester; unused Birdie Bucks expire at the end of the academic year.
• Guest and Parent Passes expire at the end of the academic year.

STANDARD PLAN

Total cost per semester: $2,650

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	210 (14 per week)
Birdie Bucks	$300 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Parent Passes (per year)  *Freshman meal plans ONLY	2 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	1 per day

Plus PLAN (new for 2026-27)

Total cost per semester: $3,250

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	270 (18 per week)
Birdie Bucks	$300 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Parent Passes (per year) *Freshman meal plans ONLY	2 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	1 per day

Premium Plan

Total cost per semester: $3,400

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	Unlimited daily swipes in The Caf
Birdie Bucks	$180 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Parent Passes (per year)  *Freshman meal plans ONLY	2 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges*	3 per day*

* 3 daily Meal Exchanges are allowed. Limit one Meal Exchange per period. Daily meal periods are as follows:
Period 1 — 7-10:59 a.m.
Period 2 — 11 a.m.-4:29 p.m.
Period 3 — 4:30-7:29 p.m.
Period 4 — 7:30 p.m.-Close

 

• Residential meal plans are purchased for an entire academic year based on a 15-week semester.
• Meal Swipes are deposited weekly on Sundays; unused swipes expire on Saturdays at 11:59 p.m.
• Birdie Bucks included in meal plans are deposited on the first day of each semester; unused Birdie Bucks expire at the end of the academic year.
• Guest and Parent Passes expire at the end of the academic year.

STANDARD PLAN 

Total cost per semester: $2,650

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	210 (14 per week)
Birdie Bucks	$300 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	1 per day

 

Flex 1 plan

Total cost per semester: $2,650

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	150 (10 per week)
Birdie Bucks	$675 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	1 per day

 

Flex 2 Plan

Total cost per semester: $2,650

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	105 (7 per week)
Birdie Bucks	$1,030 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	1 per day

 

Plus PLAN (new for 2026-27)

Total cost per semester: $3,250

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	270 (18 per week)
Birdie Bucks	$300 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Parent Passes (per year) *Freshman meal plans ONLY	2 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	1 per day

 

Premium Plan

Total cost per semester: $3,400

WHAT YOU GET EACH SEMESTER

Meal Swipes	Unlimited daily swipes in The Caf
Birdie Bucks	$180 in Birdie Bucks
Guest Passes (per year)	4 (can be used in fall or spring)
Meal Exchanges	3 per day*

* 3 daily Meal Exchanges are allowed. Limit one Meal Exchange per period. Daily meal periods are as follows:
Period 1 — 7-10:59 a.m.
Period 2 — 11 a.m.-4:29 p.m.
Period 3 — 4:30-7:29 p.m.
Period 4 — 7:30 p.m.-Close

Commuter Plan A	25 Meal Swipes for $250 (1 Meal Exchange Per Day)
Commuter Plan B	50 Meal Swipes for $450 (1 Meal Exchange Per Day)

Commuter Meal Plans can be purchased as needed in blocks of 25 or 50 throughout the academic year. Commuter Plan Meal Swipes can be used in The Caf and Lentz Do Lunch. Commuter Plan Meal Swipes expire at the end of the academic year. Birdie Bucks can be added to commuter student ID anytime via the GET App. Birdie Bucks are accepted at all dining locations on campus, including Starbucks.

During J-Term, residential students who are on campus can choose to purchase an optional meal plan. Students will select J-Term meal plans during J-Term/Spring registration in November.

10-Block Plan — 10 Meal Swipes for $90
25-Block Plan — 25 Meal Swipes for $225
50-Block Plan — 50 Meal Swipes for $450

• If residential students run out of swipes, they can purchase another plan.
• Unused Birdie Bucks from the Fall semester remain active and available to use.
• At the conclusion of J-Term, unused meals will expire, and students will resume their normal meal plan.
• Commuter meal plans remain active during J-Term; no additional purchase in necessary.

Need to grab a meal to go? No problem! Every meal plan comes with a “Green Box” virtual token good for a to-go container you can fill with your selections. Check out a “Green Box” from The Caf. Then just return the container to refresh your token and use again.

Faculty and staff meal plans can be purchased in a block of 10 meals for $77.00 (plus tax). Faculty are allowed one daily Meal Exchange (see glossary above for more information). Faculty and staff can also add Birdie Bucks (formerly Carthage Cash) to their cards to use at any campus dining location or the bookstore.