FEAST Frequently Asked Questions

Faculty members who supervise TFs or PTAIs during the current term are eligible to enroll in the Free Eating Attracts Students & Teachers (FEAST) meal program, offering faculty up to four meal swipes per student to host them to lunch. Below are commonly asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enroll in the FEAST meal program?

At the beginning of each term, a message is sent out to qualifying faculty members to enroll in the meal program.

If I miss the deadline to enroll, can I still request meal swipes?

Facilitating swipes is a large task that involves coordinating with many operational units. It is much more efficient to process swipes at one time, and for this reason we will not allow enrollments after the deadline.

How many swipes do I get?

FEAST participants receive four swipes per TF per term.

Who should I contact with questions about the FEAST meal program?

Write to the Teaching Fellow Program at teaching.fellows@yale.edu for FEAST assistance.

How can I monitor the number of remaining swipes?

You can ask a dining hall desk attendant for the number of remaining "meal board" swipes on your ID.

Can swipes be used during all mealtimes?

No. The meal swipes can only be used during lunchtime hours.

Residential Dining Halls: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Commons: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Retail Locations: 11:00am – 3:00pm ( Steep, Café Med)

Can swipes be used on the weekends?

No. The meal program swipes are only redeemable Monday - Friday during lunch.

Will any unused swipes roll over to the next term?

No. All swipes will expire on the last day of the term.

Which locations redeem swipes?

The meal program swipes can be used at:

Café Med (Medical area)
Steep Café (Science Hill)
Slifka Center for Jewish Life
Schwarzman Center Commons (Excludes Elm, The Bow Wow, The Well, and Ivy)
West Campus
Residential college dining hall where you have ID access.

How do I gain access to a residential college dining hall?

If you are a fellow of a college, your ID should allow you access. If you do not have affiliation with a college, present your ID to a student entering or exiting the college gate and explain you are hosting a teaching fellow to lunch and do not have access, but are permitted to eat in the dining hall.

How do swipes work at Commons dining hall with the kiosks?

When hosting students at Commons dining hall, each swipe kiosk must be used at the different food stations for each student.

Are meal swipes at Café Med and Steep Café fixed, i.e., is there a spending limit?

Café Med and Steep Café have a swipe equivalent of $10. Patrons can get a lunch or $10 worth of items at these locations.

Am I eligible to host a student who will teach with me during the summer or the next term?

No. The meal swipes are intended for students with TF appointments during the current fall or spring terms of the academic year.

Are part-time acting instructors (PTAIs) or associate in teaching (ATs) eligible for the FEAST meal program?

No. Only supervising faculty members of PTAIs, AT, or TFs are eligible for the FEAST meal program. GSAS Ph.D. students can enroll in the Meals for Mentors (M4M) program.

Are faculty members part of a meal plan?

The benefit is only offered to ladder faculty and full-time instructional faculty who hold multi-year appointments in the FAS with at least 50% teaching effort per year. If their current appointment meets all those criteria, please have them reach out to the FAS Dean’s office so they may be added.