Meal Plans

1. Is my first-year student required to have a meal plan?
   Yes, all first-year freshman students living on campus are required to participate in the residential dining program. Upperclassman living in College Inn, Honors Hall, Legends Hall, Santa Fe Square, or Mozart Square may select any meal plan.
   
   
2. How do I exempt my student from a meal plan?
   There are no exemptions for freshman. Upperclassman may transfer to a hall that allows them to select an optional meal plan: College Inn, Honors Hall, Legends Hall, Santa Fe Square or Mozart Square.
   
   
3. Can students choose the meal plan they would like to purchase?
   Yes, residents click here. Commuters click here.
   
   
4. What is the difference between the 5 and 7 day meal plans?
   The 5 day meal plan allows all-you-care-to-eat access to the dining halls Monday-Friday. The 7 day plan covers the entire week and pays for itself even if you only dine on campus one weekend per month.
   
   
5. What if my student misses a meal because of a class?
   We do not close between meals. You can come before class or after class...or before and after class. It is pretty hard to miss a meal.
   
   
6. Can my student choose any five days with a 5 Day plan?
   No, the 5 Day plan is Monday through Friday only, with access to all five dining halls on those days.
   
   
7. If I live off-campus can I get a meal plan?
   Yes, we have a variety of off-campus (Commuter) meal plans. Our off-campus meal plans save you money, time and your parking spot!
   
   
8. I am a commuter student do I need a meal plan?
   Only if you want to save money! With a commuter meal plan you can eat in any of our all-you-care-to eat dining halls for less than $5. A typical ‘fast-food” burger meal costs around $7 (burger, fries and a soda).
   
   
9. Where can I buy an off-campus (commuter) meal plan?
   You can purchase online, OR visit us at the dining office in Crumley Hall room 132.
   
   

Meal Plans + Flex Dollars

10. What are Flex dollars?
    Flex dollars are a spending privilege that add retail variety to the residential meal plans we offer.
    
    
11. How do Flex dollars work?
    Flex dollars work like a debit card; each time a purchase is made, the money is subtracted from your flex account, and your new total will print at the bottom of your receipt. One Flex dollar has the buying power of $1 and can be used to purchase food in any dining location on campus.
    
    
12. What is the difference between the Basic 5 or 7 day meal plan and the Value 5 or 7 Day meal plan?
    Basic 5 Day meal plan gives your student unlimited access to all five dining halls Monday thru Friday plus $50 Flex.
    
    Basic 7 Day meal plan gives your student unlimited access to all five dining halls seven days plus $75 Flex.
    
    Value 5 Day meal plan is $90 more than the Basic 5 and gives your student the same unlimited access to all five dining halls Monday thru Friday plus $150 Flex.
    
    Value 7 Day meal plan is $90 more than the Basic 7 and gives your student the same unlimited access to all five dining halls seven days a week plus $175 Flex.
    
    Flex Dollars are a spending privilege that add retail variety to the residential meal plans we offer. They work like a debit card; each time a purchase is made, the money is subtracted from your flex account, and your new total prints at the bottom of your receipt. One Flex dollar has the buying power of $1 and can be used to purchase food in any dining location on campus. Flex expires every semester and is non-refundable.
    
    
13. What is the benefit of choosing the Value meal plan over the Basic meal plan?
    The Value meal plans only charge $90 more than the Basic meal plans and gives your student additional Flex dollars.
    
    
14. What if I have the Basic 7 Day and want the Value 7 Day? How do I change?
    If you have already been assigned a room in a residence hall then you will need to email housing at: housinginfo@unt.edu, and let them know that you would like to upgrade to the Value plan.
    If you have not yet been assigned you can log onto your e-housing account or come visit housing in Crumley Hall.
    
    
15. If I change my meal plan, what happens to my Flex dollars?
    Used Flex dollar totals will be calculated and adjustments will be applied to the new meal plan.
    
    
16. Where can I use my Flex $?
    At any dining location on campus except Lee's Grilled Cheese and The Angry Friar.
    
    
17. Can my student use their flex on the weekends? Where?
    Yes, they can use their Flex dollars on the weekend at Kerr dining hall and at the Corner Store in the Union.
    
    
18. Am I charged tax at the register when I use my Flex dollars?
    No, tax is charged at time of purchase through housing or dining.
    
    
19. Do unused Flex dollars roll over from semester to semester?
    No, Flex dollars are simply a spending privilege that comes with your mandatory meal plan every semester. Flex Dollars are not refundable and do not roll-over from one semester to the next.
    
    
20. What happens when my student runs out of Flex, can I add more? How?
    Once Flex runs out you will want to add money to a Declining Balance account. A Declining Balance is an account that allows you to add money that will roll over to the next semester, where Flex expires every semester and is non-refundable. You can add the DB online here or you can call us at 940-565-2462.
    
    
21. What is the difference between Flex and Declining Balance?
    Flex is part of a mandatory meal plan that gives you retail purchasing power anywhere on campus and expires at the end of the semester. Declining Balance is a separate, optional account that gives you the ability to have cash without carrying cash, budget for food and it never expires!
    
    

Declining Balance

22. What is a Declining Balance plan?
    The Declining Balance (DB) plan allows students to eat in any of our dining locations on campus. You may purchase Declining Balance in any amount from $25 and up; we use $300, $400 and $500 as examples since they are most popular. This is a good choice to add onto any meal plan if you wish to dine more often in the Campus Chat Food Court in the Union or any of our other dining locations on campus.
    
    
23. Where can I use Flex and Declining Balance dollars?
    You can use the two plans at any dining location on campus except Lee's Grilled Cheese and The Angry Friar.
    
    

Commuter Meal Plans

24. Where can I buy an off-campus (commuter) meal plan?
    You can purchase online OR you may visit us at the dining office in Crumley Hall, Room 132.
    
    
25. Why do we have so many Commuter Meal Plans?
    Some students want great value and traditional style meal plans provide just that. The 8’s Enough and the 1-A-Day are traditional style meal plans. Other students want great flexibility and the block-style meal plans, The Commuter 160, 120 and 80, provide just that.
    
    
26. What are the key differences between traditional style meal plans and block style meal plans?
    Traditional style meal plans provide the greatest value and peace of mind. The cost per meal is the lowest and you never run out of meals before the end of the semester. On the other hand, the meals do not roll over and there is no cash refund for “unused” meals.
    Block style meal plans provide the greatest flexibility. They can be rolled over from semester to semester and the “unused” meals can be refunded. However, Block style plans do not offer the same value per meal as the traditional style plans and it is possible to “run out” of meals before the end of the semester.
    
    
27. Can I use my meal plan for a guest?
    If you have a traditional style meal plan, then it is for your use only. Guests would not be allowed entry.
    If you have a block style meal plan, then you may treat a guest as often as you like.
    
    

Commuter 160, 120, 80

28. What do the numbers in the commuter meal plans stand for?
    The numbers following the commuter meal plans stand for the number of meals you get per semester.
    
    
29. If I don’t use all my meals in one semester, will they roll over to the next semester?
    Yes, the Commuter 160, 120, and 80 meal plans roll over from semester to semester and can even be reimbursed if they are not used.
    
    

8's Enough

30. What does 8’s Enough stand for?
    8’s Enough stands for the number of meals allowed per week in the cafeterias. This plan allows any 8 meals per week, Sunday through Saturday. Meals do not roll over from week to week.
    
    

1-A-Day

31. What is the 1-A-Day?
    This plan allows one meal per day Monday through Friday. The meals do not roll over from day to day. “Missed meals” cannot be made up. This plan is a great value if you know you will be on campus Monday through Friday.
    
    

Nutrition

32. What if my student is on a special diet?
    Our dining halls feature a variety of foods with something for everyone. We provide nutritional information on our website that allows the student to make choices that fit their special needs. For those with more serious dietary concerns we suggest you see a dietitian. There is a dietitian available to students at the UNT Health Center here on campus.
    
    
33. What kind of food is served in the dining halls?
    Parents will be delighted to know that all our dining halls serve a wide variety of healthy made-from-scratch meals. Our cafeteria managers work hard to create menus that are exciting and new. There is a little bit of something for everyone’s tastes from incredible salad bars to wonderful hot entrees. There is an emphasis on healthy in all of our locations, including vegetarian options, but you can always find a burger or pizza if you have a craving for that.
    
    We invite parents to make suggestions for recipes that will be used in our dining halls via our ‘Tastes from Home’ program. Just visit our ‘Tastes from Home’ page and fill out the online form to submit a recipe. Our culinary staff will review all recipes and add the winners' recipe to our menus.
    
    
34. What if I have a medical condition?
    Each case will be evaluated independently by the committee. Please click here for more information.
    
    

Miscellaneous

35. Where can we eat if there is a University closure due to inclement weather?
    In case of inclement weather, Kerr and Victory will be open.
    
    
36. What are the hours of retail locations?
    Retail hours vary, please click here.
    
    
37. How much would it cost to eat at a dining hall without a meal plan?
    
    

    	Door price w/o Meal Plan	Door price+tax	Price per meal w/ meal plan
    Breakfast	$6.75	$7.31	Under $5!
    Lunch	$6.75	$7.31
    Dinner	$6.74	$7.31

    
    
38. Can I take food out of the Cafeteria?
    No. The cafeterias are designed to be environmentally and economically sustainable. Take-out service increases costs upwards of 30% (and your price) and generates an enormous amount of additional waste on campus.
    
    
39. Do you have an installment plan?
    Yes, we do. Please visit our office in Crumley Hall, #132 to set up an installment plan for the following meal plans: Basic 5 or 7 Day or a Value 5 or 7 Day meal plan.
    
    
40. If I withdrawal from school, will I get my money back for my meal plan?
    Yes, the unused portion of your meal plan will be reimbursed.
    
    
41. Where can students eat?
    Everywhere we serve food. For more information on hours and locations visit our locations page on this website.
    
    
42. Do you have care packs available that I can send to my student?
    Sometimes your student will feel homesick or just need a little love from home. For those times where you want to let your student know you are thinking of him/her you can order a College Care Pack right from our website.
    
    
43. Who does my student call if he/she has a question?
    Contact Dining Services at 940-565-2462 or stop by the office in Crumley Hall #132. There is also an online form available from the contact us page on our website.
    
    
44. My student has a lot of classes at Discovery Park can the meal plan be used there?
    Yes, the Flex portion of their meal plan can be used at Discovery Park. We also have a special meal plan for Discovery Park students. Freshmen and anyone living in a hall that requires a mandatory meal plan should contact the dining office prior to the second Friday of the new semester to convert to this plan. All others can contact the dining office to purchase this plan.
    
    

Just for Fun

45. Where can I get a 'We're All Corn' t-shirt?
    You can download the graphic here.