Dining at SAU
At Spring Arbor University, we offer a variety of fresh and delicious meal options to suit every taste. Whether you’re enjoying a meal at the Dining Commons, grabbing a quick bite at the Cougar Den, or fueling up with your favorite coffee at Arbor Cafe or Sacred Grounds, you’ll find spaces to connect with friends and experience the warmth of our campus community. Our dining services are designed to nourish both body and spirit, supporting you as you grow and thrive here at SAU.
Meal Options
Find out more about meal options, dining hours, and even see today's menus on the Chartwells website, our campus food service provider.
The Dining Commons, commonly referred to as the DC, is our main dining facility. Located at the center of campus in the Kresge Student Center, the DC offers 3 entrees, a hibachi grill option, a salad bar, a sandwich bar, a soup bar and a dessert section. The DC always has options for those with food sensitivities and allergies. The DC is one of the best places on campus to share a good meal and connect with your friends.
The Cougar Den, named after our mascot, is a to-go dining option located in the lower level of the Kresge Student Center. Each day, the Cougar Den offers a “create your own” meal. First choose an entrée (think burgers, pizza and quesadillas), then choose your side: fries, chips or fruit. The Cougar Den also offers fresh salad and sandwich wraps every day as well as appetizers. The Cougar Den participates with the meal exchange program.
Sacred Grounds is our coffee shop located in the heart of campus, the White Library. Sacred Grounds is open five days a week and offers you an option to get your caffeine, tea or smoothie fix.
The Arbor Cafe is a new favorite campus coffee hot spot, located at the Arbor Church. The Arbor Cafe offers both early morning and late-night hours so you can get your caffeine fix when you need it most.
Meal Plans
All meal plans include Cougar Cash, which may be used to treat a friend to a meal in the Dining Commons or Cougar Den, grab a snack or meal in the Cougar Den or Bytes Cooler, or make purchases at Arbor Café or Ada's Kitchen.
All residential students will automatically be opted into the 200 block plan, with the option to change your meal plan on or before the first day of the semester. View current plan pricing and make changes to your meal plan on the SAU Portal by clicking on 'Students' tab and selecting the yellow house icon.
Residential meal requirements:
- Freshman living on campus will have the option to select the Arbor All-Access plan, Arbor 200 block or Arbor 150 block.
- Upperclassman will have the option to select any of our meal plan offerings.
- Seniors will have the option to select any meal plans available, however no meal plan is required.
Approved commuters will have the option to purchase a commuter block plan through Chartwells dining website here: https://dineoncampus.com/sau/purchase-a-meal-plan or request to purchase a residential meal plan, however, no meal plan is required as an approved commuter.
Plan Summary
2026-2027
| Plan # | Meals Per Week | Cougar Cash | Pricing (2026-2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arbor All-Access Plan *includes 5 guest passes | $50 |
$3,300 per semester |
| #2 | Arbor 200 Block Plan | $250 |
$3,300 per semester |
| #3 | Arbor 150 Block Plan | $400 |
$3,300 per semester |
| #4 | Cougar 120 Block Premium Plan | $400 |
$2,900 per semester |
| #5 | Cougar 120 Block Starter Plan | $100 |
$2,600 per semester |
| #6 | Cougar 80 Block Premium Plan | $400 |
$2,165.33 per semester |
| #7 | Cougar 80 Bock Starter Plan | $100 |
$1,865.33 per semester |