Dining FAQ
Please see the Residential Meal Plan Information page for more detailed information on meal plans and other dining information. Your dining plan account information is encoded directly onto your University of Chicago ID Card. Simply present your Chicago Card to the Campus Dining Services cashier for swiping.
Can I change my meal plan?
First year, second year, and new transfer students may not change from the Unlimited Residential Meal Plan. Third and fourth year students (not including new transfer students) are permitted to be on a grandfathered moderate or minimum meal plan and may upgrade their meal plan at any time during the academic year (e.g. from a Moderate to the Unlimited). Once a meal plan has been upgraded, it cannot be reduced during the course of that quarter. Please note that switching meal plan options within the same level plan (e.g. from a Moderate A to a Moderate B) within a quarter is not permitted unless the student is making a room change where a change is permitted. Changing meal plan options within the same level plan can raise the total quarterly cost.
- First year, second year, and new transfer students remain on the Unlimited Residential Meal Plan.
- Grandfathered third and fourth year student meal plan changes are permitted:
- Through the first week of classes in Autumn Quarter for Autumn Quarter.
- Up until the last day of classes in Autumn Quarter for Winter and Spring Quarters.
- Up until the last day of classes in Winter Quarter for Spring Quarter.
Note that grandfathered third and fourth year residents of Burton-Judson, Max Palevsky, Pierce and South Campus are required to take at least a Moderate meal plan.
What are Flex Dollars?
Flex dollars are a purchasing media which can be used in any of the dining halls and in the retail operations of Hutch Commons, the C-shop, the Maroon Market and the South Campus Cafe and Convenience Store. They operate like cash - having a dollar for dollar value and declining in a dollar and cent formation. Flex Dollars can be used to purchase "all-you-can-eat" meals in the three dining commons: South Campus Dining Hall, Pierce, or Bartlett. Students with a meal plan receive a 5% discount on purchases made with Flex Dollars at the Maroon Market, and 10% at Hutchinson Commons and the Reynolds Club C-Store. There is no Flex Dollar discount at the South Campus Cafe and Convenience Store. Students without a meal plan do not receive a Flex discount at these retail locations. However, any student who purchases additional Flex Dollars can receive Bonus Flex:
Purchase $375-$499 in Flex Dollars = Receive $25 Bonus Flex
Purchase $500-$749 in Flex Dollars = Receive $50 Bonus Flex
Purchase $750 or more in Flex Dollars = Receive $75 Bonus Flex
Can I donate a portion of my meal plan to a cause or convert it to a cash value?
No. The dining plan assumes a level of participation based on the number of visits that students typically go to the dining commons during a quarter. This level of participation is factored into the calculation when determining the price of the meal plan. In addition, Campus Dining Services is involved in a number of community outreach initiatives that is incorporated into the overall cost of the dining program.
For grandfathered meal plan holders, do unused Meals carry over to the following quarter?
No. Plan to use your meals each quarter.
Do unused Flex Dollars carry over to the following quarter?
Flex dollars are allocated on a quarterly basis and any unused amount will carry over from one quarter to the next within an academic year as long as you remain a registered student. Flex dollar balances remaining at the end of the academic year are not refundable and do not carry forward into the next academic year. Students who have a change of student status to that of being on a leave of absence, or withdrawing, will not be able to access their Flex dollars and any Flex dollar balance is not refundable.
Can I treat a friend by using my meal plan?
Yes. You can use up to 5 guest swipes per quarter and treat a friend to a meal with you in South Campus Dining Commons, Pierce or Bartlett. If you take a guest into the dining hall with you, you have to be with your guest(s) and personally present your card to the cashier to swipe them through the line. You may not transfer your Chicago card to another student in order for that student to access to your meal plan.
What do I do when my Flex Dollar account runs low?
Flex dollars can be purchased at the following locations:
- Online at www.uchicago.campusdish.com with a credit card.
- Office of Undergraduate Student Housing by charging to your Bursar bill.
- Campus Dining office located in Bartlett with cash, check, or by charging to your Bursar bill
I thought I had more Flex Dollars, but when they swipe my card, the card reader says that I don't have any. What can I do?
If your student status has changed to that of being on a leave of absence or withdrawing from the University, you will not be able to access your Flex Dollars, and any balance is not refundable. If you are still a registered student, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing (housesystem@uchicago.edu) for assistance.
I live off-campus, can I have a meal plan?
Any registered undergraduate or graduate student is eligible to purchase the Unlimited Residential Meal Plan. Off-campus students may purchase this meal plan in the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing anytime during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30A-5P). We are located in room 180 of the Parking Structure, at 5525 S. Ellis. Charges for the board contract will be placed on the student's Bursar bill.
May I eat in a dining commons where my House Tables are not located?
In the interest of developing strong House communities, during Orientation Week students are limited to eating in the dining commons where their House Tables are located.
I have a class or work conflict that will take me away from campus and I can not make it back to the dining commons when it is open. Can I still get a meal with my board plan?
These situations should be rare since we offer continuous dining. However, in a situation where it is not possible to take a meal in the dining commons while they are open, you can arrange to get a bag meal from Campus Dining Services for lunch or dinner. The bag meal is a simple meal typically consisting of a sandwich, piece of fruit, dessert and beverage. To make this request you may pick up a Bag Meal Form at the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing (5525 S Ellis, room 180), complete it, have your RH sign it and provide their contact information, and then submit it to the Location Manager of your home dining commons 24 hours prior to pick-up. Bag meals can be arranged as a one-time event or on a recurring basis. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing with any questions at housesystem@uchicago.edu.
I have a severe food allergy. How can I still participate in the residential dining program of the House System?
If you have questions about how to manage your food allergies, Campus Dining Services and the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing are committed to working with you to meet your needs. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing at housesystem@uchicago.edu with questions.
For medical or religious reasons, I believe that I need to be exempt from the board plan requirement. How do I go about making this request?
Participation in the Commons dining experience is one of the fundamental cornerstones of community development among House residents. For this reason, it is rare that students are excused from the Board requirement. Petitions requesting exemption from the board requirement will be considered only for medical or religious reasons and granted only when the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing has determined that a student’s needs can not be reasonably met by Campus Dining Services. There is a form for students to complete that can be picked up in the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing (5525 S. Ellis Ave., Room 180). The form requires that the student have their RH(s) review their request and sign the form to indicate that they have had the opportunity to read the request. In the rare event that a petition for release from the board requirement is considered likely, it will only be considered in those cases where the student can be assigned to a House with compatible cooking facilities (e.g. the House kitchens in Max Palevsky, Burton-Judson, Pierce and South Campus are insufficient). Students who live in Burton-Judson, Max Palevsky, Pierce or South Campus will not be assigned to or will be required to move to another hall if there petition is to be granted.
What happens to my meal plan and/or Flex Dollars if I take a leave of absence or withdraw and leave during a quarter?
If you check out of your residence hall room prior to Finals Week, you will receive a pro-rated credit for the number of days remaining in the quarter. The pro-rate takes into account the number of days that have passed in the quarter, and the number of Flex Dollars that you could have used up until that point in time and compares that amount to what you actually used. If you used more Flex Dollars than the pro-rated amount, you will be charged for what you used.
What if I have a question that is not answered here?
Please see the Residential Meal Plan Information page for more detailed information. If you have additional questions, please email us at housesystem@uchicago.edu or call us at 773-702-7366.
