Policies
& Procedures
Residential Dining Services Meal Plan Terms and Conditions
All meal plan privileges are non-transferable in part or in whole. All meal plans and their usage are subject to change.
Meal plan participants are required to verify their identity at the point of purchase by presenting a valid RamCard, CSU-issued conference card, or digital equivalent to verify account and meal plan status. RDS reserves the right to deny access if identity credentials are not presented and/or are determined to be invalid. A service charge may be assessed when meal plan holders are unable to provide proper credentials and continue to access the dining location utilizing their meal plan.
Meal plan holders who allow another person to use their RamCard, or other valid credentials, may have their card confiscated at entry and may be required to obtain a replacement card at their own expense.
Disciplinary action may be recommended for students if terms and conditions are violated.
ON CAMPUS RESIDENCE HALL STUDENT MEAL PLANS
Meal plans are required as part of the room and board contract for all students living in on-campus residence halls.
Residence hall meal plan holders will select one of these meal plans: Any 19 + Add On, Any 19, or Any 15. Students who do not select a meal plan will automatically be placed on the Any 15 plan. Residence hall meal plan holders who have obtained thirty (30) post-high school credits are eligible for the Any 10 meal plan.
Hall students who are approved through the Meal Plan Exemption process may be placed on the Exemption Plan as determined by University Housing and Residential Dining Services.
As part of the residence hall student meal plans, every meal plan holder will receive $200 in RamCash (billed separately) and 10 Bonus Meals at the start of fall and spring semesters. RamCash can be used at any location on campus that accepts RamCash. Bonus Meals are valid at Dining Center locations in RDS and not at Marketplace, Express, and Café locations. Bonus Meals may be used for guests. Guests eating in Dining Center locations must be sponsored as a guest of a residence hall meal plan holder to gain access.
All residence hall meal plans allot a specific number of meals to use per week based on which meal plan is chosen. Weekly meal allotments are valid from 12:00 am on Saturday mornings through 11:59 pm Friday nights. All unused meals are forfeited at 11:59 pm on Fridays and do not transfer to the following week. Four separate meals periods are defined each day. Meal plan holders may use up to two meals per meal period.
Meal plan changes that result in a reduction in cost are permitted on or before September 5, 2023 for fall semester and on or before January 31, 2024 for spring semester. Meal plan changes that increase cost are permitted at any time. Meal plans changes are limited to no more once in a 7 day period.
Residence hall meal plan holders who are ill and incapable to physically go to a dining center may request others to pick up meals for them and authorize the use of their meal plan. To do so, holders must complete the Sick Meal Request form and follow the submission requirements as described in the form. The completed form must be presented at the entrance.
OFF-CAMPUS STUDENT MEAL PLANS
Students who do not live in on-campus residence halls are eligible to purchase off-campus meal plans. Meal plans are sold in blocks of 5 meals and are available for purchase at myramcard.colostate.edu.
Off-campus student meal plans are valid from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. All unused meals are forfeited after June 30th.
Refunds may be requested by contacting the RDS Administration office at 970-491-4754 or rds@colostate.edu . All refunds are subject to a $25.00 administration fee. Refunds must be requested by June 30th.
FACULTY AND STAFF MEAL PLANS
Current faculty and staff at Colorado State University working at the Fort Collins campus are eligible to purchase meals at the dining centers and online at a discounted rate. Faculty and staff are required to present university employee credentials when purchasing meals at the door. Eligibility is verified when purchasing meals online. Meal plans for faculty and staff are available for purchase at myramcard.colostate.edu.
Faculty and staff meal plans are valid from July 1 of the current year, through June 30 of the following year. All unused meals are forfeited after June 30.
Refunds of faculty and staff meals may be requested by contacting the RDS Administration office or visiting myramcard.colostate.edu. All refunds are subject to a $25.00 administration fee. Refunds must be requested by June 30 the year the meals were purchased.
OTHER PLANS
Meals coordinated with Rams Against Hunger through the SliCE Office and are not eligible for refunds to the participating students.
Student Organizations and Athletic meals are not refundable to the participating students.
Advertising
Advertisements of any kind are not permitted in any dining center, dining center entrance, or retail location. Any advertisements found in these areas will be taken down and recycled. If you wish to post in common areas or residence halls, please refer to the Residence Hall Advertising Policy: housing.colostate.edu/halls/policies/
Attire
Outside Food
Service Animals in the Dining Centers
Skateboards & Longboards
Smoking
To-Go & One Bite Rule
Catering Services
Catering
Guarantees & Cancellations
- Catering orders are due 30 days prior to the first day of your event. This order will be considered a minimum guarantee and must include menu selections, attendee count, and dietary needs.
- Confirmation of final menu selections and attendee counts are due to your Event Manager 14 days prior to your scheduled event. Any changes after the 14-day guarantee are subject to approval and additional charges may be applied.
- Events canceled within 7-days of the event may be billed in full.
- Organizer(s) or client(s) accept responsibility for additional charges when canceling orders, such as, non-refundable deposits on rental items and non-returnable special order foods.
- By ordering from Catering by HDS, you acknowledge and agree to abide by our policies.
Pricing Guidelines
- Prices are valid through December 2024. All prices and menu selections are subject to change.
- Final billing will be based on the guaranteed number or the number served, whichever is greater.
- There is no charge for children under 5 years. Children 5 and over will be charged full price.
- Linen tablecloths are provided for all buffet & beverage tables. Linens for guest dining tables are available at an additional cost.
- All Colorado State University Departments and recognized student groups are tax and gratuity-exempt. Other organizations with tax exempt status are required to provide their tax identification number. Giving staff cash gratuity at the end of the event is at the customer’s discretion. Gratuity and applicable sales tax will be added to all other groups. Contact your Catering Coordinator for the gratuity rate.
- Buffet Service:
- Prices quoted for self-service buffets are for one hour of service. For extended times, an additional charge of $20 per 15 minutes per attendant will be added.
- Pricing reflects a minimum of 25 guests. For buffets with less than 25 guests, an additional $3 per person will be incurred.
- Options ordered from this menu include on-site banquet staff to be present to replenish items and provide other support in relation to the catering service.
- Catering by HDS offers a Budget-Friendly Express Menu that features individually packaged items as well as platters – with no staff needed on-site. Please reach out to the Catering Coordinator for this menu.
- In accordance with CSU sustainability efforts, catering food picked up at Edward’s Event Center loading dock will not incur a catering charge. Please contact your Catering Coordinator to make arrangements.
- Main Campus Catering Fees start at $35 per catering and will be subject to increase depending on type of event, amount of equipment needed, and distance from the Edwards Kitchen.
- Catering Events located in the Edwards Event Center or the Ingersoll Event Center will not incur the Main Campus Catering Fee as they are considered on-site events.
- Off-Campus Catering fee starts at $70. This will be subject to increase depending on the type of event, amount of equipment needed, and distance from the Edwards Kitchen.
- The cost of renting and transporting special equipment will be included in the final bill.
- Prices listed do not include any applicable sales tax.
- Contact your Event Manager for all other non-food related event logistics, which includes room reservations, audio-visual needs, and/or tables for seating during outdoor events.
Safety Regulations
- To comply with food safety regulations, all leftover foods remain the property of CSU and may not be taken from the event. Leftover food is donated through the Ram Food Recovery Program to support members of the campus community who are experiencing food insecurity while also reducing food waste.
- No outside food and beverages may be brought into catered spaces without the permission of Catering.
- Catering does not assume responsibility for lost or damaged merchandise, or any articles left on the premises. Loss or damage to CSU property during an event will be added to the final bill.
- During severe weather events, Catering by HDS reserves the right to stop service of outdoor catered events for the safety of guests and employees.
Other
- Housing and Dining: For inquiries regarding space reservation and room set up, contact our Guest Services Manager at https://hdsstaff.colostate.edu/units/conference-event-services/space reservation/
- All other inquiries seeking space reservation and room set-up contact Conference and Event Services at https://ces.colostate.edu/contact-us/
- For assistance with audio visual needs, contact Tech Services at (970) 491-4734.
- All prices are based on a minimum of 20 guests per catered event. Any less then 20 will incur a fee of 3 dollars per person.
- No vehicles are available to be loaned or rented from RDS Catering.
- Outside food and beverages may not be served in Housing & Dining Services reservable spaces unless otherwise approved by RDS Catering, who has the right of first refusal.
- Commercial beverage vendors, under the sponsorship of a recognized student organization or department, are permitted to give away only those products that are permitted under contracts with CSU in non-retail areas. As University-recognized organizations, student organizations are considered part of CSU for this purpose.
- Off-site events only include compostable items for food consumption. Catering does offer non-compostable items for rent, and if you are interested please work with your Catering coordinator.
- In the event that Catering utilizes a commissary kitchen, Catering agrees to fully clean the facility and vacate it on the same condition as it was found.
- Catering does not offer ware washing, and in the event that a client wishes to have this service please work with your catering coordinator to both check availability and make arrangements.
Allergen Information
- Please be aware that Catering by HDS handles and prepares foods that contain egg, dairy, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, peanut, tree nut products, and other potential allergens in our facilities. Although Catering by HDS does serve foods that are gluten-free, we are not a 100% gluten-free establishment.
- Each item that is Vegan-Friendly is marked with (V) and items that are Gluten Friendly are marked with (GF).
- Catering by HDS strives to provide our customers with the most accurate, current nutrition and allergen information present in our menu items on campus. However, ingredients and nutritional content may vary. Manufacturers may change their product formulation or consistency without our knowledge and product availability may fluctuate. While we make every reasonable effort to identify ingredients and prevent cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee the information for all menu items. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the customer to determine whether or not to question ingredients or eat the foods they select. Particularly for those individuals with sensitive food allergies, we want to inform you of this risk so you can make dining decisions based on your individual needs and with appropriate caution.
- Our catering facility comprehensively handles various foods and we are not gluten-free, nut-free, etc. We offer gluten-friendly, and other allergen “friendly” options. If you or one of your conference attendees has a food allergy, celiac disease, or other medically necessary dietary needs, please contact your Event Manager to inform the Catering Coordinator as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations.
Express Catering
Guarantees & Cancellations
The Express menu provides individually packaged items and plattered options with utensils and other disposables delivered right to your meeting space, making it an excellent choice for events where no staff is needed on site.
This sustainable option combines recyclable and compostable materials making clean-up for your event easy.
Catering orders can be placed as early as possible, and final numbers are due 4 business days prior to the first day of your event. This order will be considered a minimum guarantee and must include menu selections, attendee count, and dietary needs.
Events canceled within 48 hours of the event may be billed in full.
Organizer(s) or client(s) accept responsibility for additional charges when canceling orders, such as, non-refundable deposits on rental items and non-returnable special order foods.
By ordering from Catering by HDS, you acknowledge and agree to abide by our policies.
Pricing Guidelines
The prices are valid through December 2024, and do not include any applicable sales tax. All prices and menu selections are subject to change.
Prices reflect picking up orders at the Edwards Event Center loading dock. Work with the Catering Coordinator to determine drop off availability and applicable charges.
Main Campus Catering Fees start at $35 per catering and will be subject to increase depending on type of event, amount of equipment needed, and distance from the Edwards Kitchen.
In accordance with CSU sustainability efforts, catering Events located in the Edwards Event Center or the Ingersoll Event Center will not incur the Main Campus Catering Fee as they are considered on-site events.
The cost of renting special equipment (Coolers, Camgo Boxes, table linens, etc.) will be included in the final bill and must be returned to the Edwards Back Dock by 1:00pm the next day, unless prior arrangements are made with Catering Coordinator.
Contact your Event Manager for all other non-food related event logistics, which includes room reservations, audio-visual needs, and/or tables for seating during outdoor events.
Safety Regulations
No outside food and beverages may be brought into catered spaces without the permission of Catering.
Catering does not assume responsibility for lost or damaged merchandise or any articles left at the premises. Loss or damage to CSU property during an event will be added to the final bill.
During severe weather events, Catering reserves the right to stop catered events for the safety of guests and employees.
We place great importance on both the quality of our food and the safety of our customers. Therefore, for items that are either delivered or picked up, we recommend immediate consumption. If you have purchased food in advance for later consumption, please ensure that it is stored at the appropriate temperatures until you are ready to enjoy it.
We are not able to guarantee the food safety after drop off or pick up.
The intent of the guidance is to provide the best practices for the prevention of biological, physical, and chemical contamination as well as the growth of harmful bacteria and/or formation of toxins within the food being transported.
Allergen Information
Please be aware that Catering by HDS handles and prepares egg, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, peanut, tree nut products, and other potential allergens in our facilities. Although Catering by HDS does serve foods that are gluten-free, we are not a 100% gluten-free establishment.
Each item that is Vegan-Friendly is marked with (V) and items that are Gluten-Friendly are marked with (GF)
Catering by HDS strives to provide our customers with the most accurate, current nutrition and allergen information present in our menu items on campus. However, ingredients and nutritional content may vary. Manufacturers may change their product formulation or consistency without our knowledge and product availability may fluctuate. While we make every reasonable effort to identify ingredients and prevent cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee the information for all menu items. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the customer to determine whether or not to question ingredients or eat the foods they select. Particularly for those individuals with sensitive food allergies, we want to inform you of this risk so you can make dining decisions based on your individual needs and with appropriate caution.
Our catering facility comprehensively handles various foods and we are not gluten free, nut free, etc. We offer gluten friendly or any other allergen “friendly” options. If you or one of your conference attendees has a food allergy, celiac disease, or other medically necessary dietary needs, please contact your Event Manager to inform the Catering Coordinator as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations.
Care Crates
- Catering by HDS offers, beautifully packaged Care Crates that make great, encouraging gifts for on campus college students.
- Crates are delivered directly to students’ residence hall front desk. (Currently Catering by HDS only serves the on-campus community, for off campus inquiries, please contact hds_rdscatering@mail.colostate.edu)
- See website or menu for crate fulfillment times.
- Items in Care Crates are subject to availability.
- Cancellations must be requested before order is confirmed for a full refund.
- Please send an email with any questions or concerns to hds_rdscatering@mail.colostate.edu or call and leave a message at 970-491-7710.