Resident Dining
Frequently Asked Questions About Meal Plans
Am I required to purchase a meal plan?
All students living in traditional undergraduate housing are required to select a meal plan. (Students living in on-campus apartments are not required to have a meal plan.) They may select from three available plans.
What kind of meal plans are being offered?
Meal plan prices reflect updated food and utility costs.
$2,076 Ultimate Plan
- Unlimited access during operating hours to resident dining units.
- 35 flex passes
- 500 points
$1,980 Value Plan
- Unlimited access during operating hours to resident dining units.
- 40 flex passes
- 200 points
$1,879 Custom Plan
- Unlimited access during operating hours to resident dining units.
- 75 flex passes
- No points are attached to this plan.
Meal plans are based on the semester and all students living in traditional undergraduate housing are required to purchase a resident meal plan. Meal plans are active only when school is in session. Flex passes can be used for guest meals or can be used for value meals at Dining’s Grab & Go’s. Students living off campus or in the university apartment complexes can purchase a Community Plan, which is a block of any twenty five meals, for $202.00. Community Plans roll-over from semester to semester and are refundable upon request when the student leaves the university. A separate, non-resident points account can also be purchased by all students. These points can be used at all dining facilities and at all retail operations. These points roll-over from semester to semester and can also be refunded upon request when the student leaves the university. A student who is on the resident meal plan can set up a bag meal account if they have a class or work conflict. This can be accomplished by proving validation and completing a request form identifying bag meal dates. These forms are available in the Dining Services office.
My meal plan comes with a certain number of "points". What are "points" and how are they used?
A specified number of “points” comes with some of the meal plan options. These provide added flexibility to your plan. They may be used at all Retail Operations (Bookworm’s, Cafe Co-op, Chem Cafe, Lu’s Cafe, Union Street Market, Up & Atom or Wilbur’s) and to purchase snacks. They can also be used to purchase guest meals in the dining units or to purchase items from our bakery such as cakes, cookies, pies, and fruit baskets for special occasions. If you choose a meal plan with no points, you may purchase a separate point plan or you may also choose to open a Husky Bucks debit plan. These special points may be used at dining units, the UConn Co-Op Bookstore and many other places. Call the One Card office at 486-3129 for more information or www.onecard.uconn.edu.
Please explain the difference between Flex passes and points.
All on-campus students are required to purchase one of the meal plans for the semester except those living in graduate housing or apartments. Flex Passes are included with each of the 3 Resident Meal Plans (Ultimate Plan, Value Plan, Custom Plan). Points are included with just the Ultimate and Value Plans.
Flex passes can be used to either swipe in a guest at any of the dining room locations (Whitney, Buckley, South, McMahon, Putnam, Northwest, North, and Gelfenbien) or to purchase a value meal (sandwich, soda, fruit or dessert combo) at one of the Grab & Go’s (Millie & Maude’s in South, North Grab & Go in North, Off The Eaten Path in Gelfenbien, The Cup Under Putnam in Putnam, West Side Wraps in Northwest). To reiterate, Flex Passes can only be used in the dining rooms or at the Grab-n-Go’s. Flex Passes are deducted from your particular meal plan balance as they are used. Unused Flex Passes do not rollover from semester to semester.
Meal Plan Points differ from Flex Passes in that Points that come with your particular meal plan are accepted at the UC Cafes (Wilbur’s, Lu’s, Chem, Up & Atom, and Bookworm’s), Café Co-op, Union Street Marketplace, the UConn Bakery and the Grab & Go’s. Meal Plan Points are also accepted at all of the dining room locations. Please keep in mind that the guest meal price of a particular meal will be charged, with dinner costing more than breakfast, lunch or brunch. (See meal cash prices for the semester listed in UCuisine or on-line at http://www.dining.uconn.edu/meal_plans.html.)
Residential Meal Plan Points are deducted from your particular meal plan balance as they are used. Unused Meal Plan Points do not rollover from semester to semester.
Can I use my cash points at non-Dining Services locations?
The cash points associated with the meal plan can only be used at Retail Ops, unlike Husky Bucks, which can be used at any of the dining units or any Retail Ops location (Chem Cafe, Bookworms, etc). The quick service restaurants in the Student Union are not operated by Dining Services and are not part of the meal plan.
How do I add points to my card?
You may add points to your card at the Dining Services’ office. You may pay by cash or check. There is no minimum purchase for additional points.
Where can I eat with my meal plan and how do I gain access?
Students on a meal plan may eat in any of our residence dining facilities through flex passes or points during normal meal hours. You must have your University ID card in order to eat. You will give it to the operator at the entrance of the dining unit. They will swipe it through a machine in order to recognize if you have a valid account.
I live off campus, what options are available to me?
Commuter students may purchase a meal plan by coming to the Dining Services’ office and selecting the option that is best for them.
VALUE MEAL QUESTION:
At Grab & Go's, why can't I get a bottled beverage and/or a bag of chips as part of my meal?
The selection of value meals’ ingredients are designed to utilize items that are prepared by Dining Services. This allows us to create a balanced selection at a reasonable price point.
VALUE MEAL QUESTION:
Why can't I get 2 sandwiches as my value meal? I don't want the other items.
Value meals are designed to meet a targeted price point. Variations in selections will impact our raw food cost target.
VALUE MEAL QUESTION:
What if I don't want all the options included in my value meal? Do I get credit (of some form) back?
No, value meals are packaged to provide an inexpensive menu that has value and is portable. If you want to select a part of a value meal this can be purchased a la carte through the use of points or Husky Bucks.
Why am I only allowed a beverage or pastry or one piece of fruit, or one ice cream treat as a take-out from the Dining Unit?
All residence dining halls are all-you-care-to-eat facilities. Allowing the items listed above as take- out is a way to meet your need for an easy to carry snack and still control costs. Uncontrolled take-out would lead to a much more expensive meal plan as well as food safety issues.
What if I can't get to a dining facility for a certain meal?
If you are unable to get to the dining units due to a class, lab, internship, job or other commitments, you may get a bag meal to take with you. Bag lunches may be picked up during the breakfast meal period and bag dinners may be picked up during the breakfast or lunch meal period.
How do I bring a guest in for a meal?
All meal plans allow for you to bring guests. This is done by swiping one of your flex passes or using your Community Plan meals. (Community Plan meals are purchased in blocks of 25 meals for $202.00.)
How can I find out what is on the menu?
You can find out what is on the menu in several ways. Our website, www.dining.uconn.edu, is a good place to visit to check out the menu as well as www.students.uconn.edu. We also have a menu line, 486-FOOD (3663), where you can dial in to hear the menu for the day. Also look for UCuisine, our semester menu booklet, available in your dining unit. We also offer podcasting, via our website, where you can download the menus for the semester.
Can my meal plan be changed?
Plan changes for Fall 2007 are allowed until Friday, September 14, 2007. To do this you must come to the Dining Services’ office in the Wilbur Cross Building, Room 203, or call 486-3128. Payment for more expensive plans is required at the time you make the change and will take effect immediately. Payment may be made in cash, charge card (MC, Discover), or a check made out to the University of Connecticut.
What does my ID do?
All students are issued a University ID card at the One Card office. This card is an identification card as well as a meal card, a debit card (Husky Bucks), a library card, a residence hall access card, and an access card to events and facilities on campus. As you can see, it is very important to keep with you at all times. Please note that your ID belongs to you. If someone else uses your ID, it will be confiscated.
What do I do if I lose my ID card?
You must have an ID card to gain entrance to a Dining Unit. If you have lost your ID card and would like to utilize your meal plan, call the One Card office (located on the 2nd floor of Wilbur Cross) at 486-3129 to have it deactivated. You will need a replacement card before eating your next meal. Replacement IDs cost $15.
Nutritional Information
The Department of Dining Services analyzes and provides students and other customers with nutritional information about meals served in the dining units. We also provide recipes upon request.
Dietary Restrictions
The Department of Dining Services will work with students who have short term dietary restrictions to help meet their needs with the food products available to them. However, students who have long term dietary restrictions, or who feel they require meal plan exemptions, should contact Amy Pumerantz, Health Services’ Nutritionist at 486-0771.
Special Services
If students need special service due to scheduled field trips or off-campus internships, they should see the Dining Unit Manager during the first week of classes.
Choices:
Kosher:Gelfenbein Commons dining offers a Kosher venue, called “NOSH.” Kosher meals are available Sunday brunch to Friday lunch. Friday dinner and Saturday meals are available through Hillel House. Please call Hillel House at 429-9007 for more information. Kosher meals are made available to everyone.
“Halal” or Muslim: Gelfenbein Commons dining also offers a Muslim, Halal venue. Muslim meals are available Monday through Friday: lunch from 11:00am - 2:00pm and dinner from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Please call 426-0703 for more information. Halal meals are made available to everyone.
Backpack Policy
The Department of Dining Services does not allow backpacks, large bags, parcels, etc. within the dining area. However, you may check your laptop bags and/or valuables with the validine operator. Fill out a baggage ID tag for each item that you will be storing while you are in the dining room. Keep the receipt(s) that you are given. Upon returning to collect your things, you must show your photo ID before receiving them. You will not be allowed to pick up anyone else’s items except your own. You may bring your laptop computer without the cases into the dining room. You may also utilize lockers if they are available in your area. If you do not have your own lock one can be provided for you to use. Dining Services shares no liability in the storage of laptop computers, knapsacks, and other bags with valuables. Store them at their own risk.
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