New Student FAQ

We offer two all-you-care-to-eat dining locations, Regattas, which is located in the David Student Union (DSU), and The Commons, adjacent to Santoro Hall. Both locations accept the Unlimited meal plan, 14- and 10-meal plans and 80 Block meal plan.

Discovery Café offers several retail locations, to include Chick-fil-A, Discovery Bistro, Ever Fresh Sushi, Discovery Pizzeria and Discovery Grille, all conveniently located on the first floor of the DSU.

Einstein’s Café is located in the Trible Library, and The Palette Café is located in the Torggler Fine Arts Center.

Dining Dollars, Captains Cash, Debit Cards and Credit Cards are accepted at all Dining Services locations.

All first-year students will receive a reusable container for use when choosing a meal to go from Regattas and The Commons.

Our “Green 2 Go” program aligns with the University’s efforts to work together to assess how we do things and to make better, more sustainable choices.

The Transact mobile ordering app allows you to order food for pick up. It is available at the following locations:

• Chick-fil-A
• Discovery Grille
• Einstein's

You can pay through the app using Captains Cash, Dining Dollars, debit cards or credit cards.

We offer menu options that make it easy to eat well and in a safe environment. We recognize and accommodate food allergies, preferences and special dietary needs. If you find we are not addressing your specific needs, we will gladly meet one-on-one to find an acceptable solution.

First-year students are required to have a meal plan and may choose to stay on the automatically assigned 14-meal plan or select the Unlimited meal plan.

Upper-class students in suite-style units may choose the Unlimited, 14- or 10-meal plan.

Residents in apartment-style units with a kitchen in the unit may select any meal plan option, to include no meal plan. Community kitchens do not qualify for the no meal plan option.

Commuter students may select any meal plan option. All meal plans are non-transferrable.

The Unlimited meal plan allows you to enjoy the most flexibility with unlimited entry at Regattas and The Commons during operating hours. There is no counting meals on this plan, as you may have a quick snack between classes up to several meals per day.

Meal plans may not be shared

These meal plans allow for a set number of meals per week, either 14 or 10, at Regattas and The Commons, during operating hours. Meals are reset weekly prior to Sunday brunch and do not carry over from one week to the next.

The 80 Block meal plan allows for greater flexibility, as you may use these meals without weekly restrictions at Regattas and The Commons, during operating hours. The 80 Block meal plan expires at the end of the semester.

Fall 2023 meal plans begin on August 19 at dinner and end on the last day of exams.

To change a meal plan, you must go in person to the University Housing office located in Christopher Newport Hall Suite 300, or email from your CNU email address to housingadmin@cnu.edu.

All changes to meal plans must be made by 5 p.m. the first Friday of classes.

Dining Dollars are non-taxable dollars assigned to each meal plan and may be used at any on-campus dining location. They do not carry over from fall to spring. Dining Dollars amounts vary by meal plan as follows:

• Unlimited meal plan: $100 in Dining Dollars/semester
• 14-meal plan: $125 in Dining Dollars/semester
• 10-meal plan: $215 in Dining Dollars/semester
• 80 Block meal plan: $175 in Dining Dollars/semester

Students will receive $50 of their Dining Dollars the first week of classes. Remaining amounts will be added the second week.

Unlimited meal plan: $100
10-meal plan: $215
14-meal plan: $125
80 Block meal plan: $175