2023-24 Meal Plan Policies
Terms and Conditions
Academic year 2023-24
Meal plan selections may be made on the Housing & Residence Life website through the Housing Application or on Banner Self Service under the Student Account/Student Services tab through the Meal Plan Selection Form.
When selecting a meal plan, remember to:
- Carefully read the terms and conditions of the Contract for Meal Plans.
- Complete the Meal Plan section of the Housing Application if living on campus or the Meal Plan Selection form if living off-campus.
- Classification and meal plan eligibility is as defined by the University and Housing and Residence Life.
Contract Terms and Conditions for Meal Plans for Academic Year Fall 2023- Spring 2024
Key concepts and definitions
Meals: Meals allow student entrance into a dining hall when the resident dining locations are open (see below for effective dates and dining hall closures). Meals expire at the end of the semester.
Declining balance: Declining balance funds may be used at any dining location on campus. These funds roll over from semester to semester and expire at the end of the academic year in which it was purchased.
Meal plans: Meal plans are available only to UNC Charlotte students registered for courses in the semester for which the meal plan is purchased. These plans have a predesignated quantity of meals and/or declining balance funds billed to a student’s Student Account.
First day of meal service: The first day of meal service refers to the first-day students may use their meal swipes at the resident dining halls.
Sales taxes: North Carolina tax law requires the meal portion of a meal plan to be subject to sales tax; the associated Declining Balance portion of the meal plan is subject to sales tax at the point of sale.
Student meal plans
The University offers a variety of meal plans to meet the diverse dining needs of students.
Daily Plan: The Daily Plan provides students unlimited meals to be used at our resident dining hall locations, five (5) guest swipes to be used at the dining halls at the cardholders’ discretion, and Declining Balance funds to use at any on-campus dining location.
Block Plans: Block plans provide students with a specific quantity of meals to use in our resident dining hall locations that decline upon use and funds in their declining balance to use at any on-campus dining location or off-campus partner.
Declining Balance Plans: Declining Balance Plans refers to a meal plan consisting solely of declining balance funds. Declining Balance plans are used primarily for retail food purchases on campus, although declining balance may also be used to purchase meals at on-campus resident dining halls.
Meal plan eligibility
First-year students living on campus
All first-year students living on campus must purchase the Daily Plan each semester of occupancy, regardless of their housing assignment.
- Students who enroll with college credit are considered first-year or freshman applicants if they have not taken any college courses since graduating high school, as defined by the Office of Admissions.
- Summer credits taken between graduating high school and entering into UNC Charlotte do not change this designation.
- Any student considered a first-year student in the fall will continue with that designation for the academic year.
Upper-class students assigned to “required” housing
All upper-class students (sophomores, juniors, seniors) who are assigned “required meal plan” housing accommodations (those in the towers – Holshouser, Sanford and Scott Halls – and in the suites – Belk, Hawthorn, Holshouser, Hunt, Laurel, Levine, Lynch, Miltimore, Oak, Wallis and Witherspoon Halls) are required each semester to purchase one of the Meal Plans offered to them. These students are able to choose from The Daily Plan or one of the Block Plans.
During the student’s period of occupancy, UNC Charlotte will provide meals according to the plan selected. A student in “required meal plan” housing (as indicated in the previous paragraph) will need to select a Meal Plan during the housing selection process. The student will be charged each semester for a Meal Plan selection. Non-use of a Meal Plan by a student in “required” housing does not nullify the requirement to purchase a plan each semester, nor does it negate the charge for an unused plan. If a plan is not selected or if an incorrect plan is requested, an eligible plan will be assigned.
Upper-class students assigned to “non-required” housing
Upper-class students assigned to “non-required meal plan” housing (those in the apartments in Belk, Elm, Levine, Martin, Miltimore, Pine, Wallis, and Witherspoon Halls or Greek Village) may choose from any of the Meal Plans offered. These students may choose The Daily Plan, one of the Block Plans, one of the Declining Balance plans, or may opt-out of a Meal Plan purchase.
Commuters
Commuters, regardless of their class status, may choose from any of the meal plans offered. These students may choose The Daily Plan, one of our Block plans, one of our Declining Balance plans, or may opt-out of a meal plan purchase.
International students
International students should request information regarding their meal plan options through the Office of International Programs before the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding meals plans for these students may also be directed to the Meal Plans & 49er Card Office at 49ercard@charlotte.edu.
Renewal for all plans
Meal plans purchased in the fall semester will automatically be renewed for the spring semester for all students unless changed or canceled by the student. Only students currently enrolled at UNC Charlotte may purchase a meal plan.
Effective dates and dining hall closures
Meal plan purchases are effective on the first meal service date of each semester as posted on the Auxiliary Services website.
Resident dining halls will be closed or have reduced hours during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Meal plan prices reflect these closures. Declining Balance funds can be used throughout campus at the University dining locations open during these breaks. For up-to-date hours of operation visit, the dine on campus webpage.
Fall Semester
- Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 12:00 PM (noon): Last day to make full value changes to a meal plan
- Wednesday, August 16, 2023: First day of meal service
- Friday, September 8, 2023, at 12:00 PM (noon): Last day to make prorated changes to a meal plan
Fall Break
- October 23-24, 2023 (residential dining halls will be open)
Thanksgiving Break
- November 22-26, 2023 (all residential dining halls closed)
Last day to use a meal plan
- Thursday, December 14, 2023
Winter Break
- December 15, 2023 – January 4, 2024 (all residential dining halls closed)
*Dates are subject to change based on the academic and board calendar
Spring Semester
- Thursday, January 4, 2024, 12:00 PM (noon): Last day to make full value changes to a meal plan
- Friday, January 5, 2024: First day of meal service
- Friday, January 26, 2024, at 12:00 PM (noon): Last day to make prorated changes to a meal plan
Spring Break
- February 26 – March 2, 2024 (all residential dining halls closed)
Last day to use a meal plan
- Thursday, May 9, 2024
*Dates are subject to change based on the academic and board calendar
Changes and cancellations
Changes or cancellations requested prior to the Friday before the first day of meal service for the semester:
If approved, the original plan will be removed and refunded in its entirety, and the new plan (if any) billed at its original rate.
Changes or cancellations requested after the Friday before the first day of meal service for the semester:
Students can request a change to their meal plan through the housing change period (approximately the third Friday of meal service) unless there is a change to the academic calendar. For the most up-to-date meal plan change information, including dates, please visit the Auxiliary Services website.
University Dining has the right in its sole discretion to provide amended meal plan options in the event that the schedule for in-person instruction changes.
Students’ meal plan changes or cancellations are prorated (as described below) to each semester’s first meal service date and are subject to a $25 Meal Plan Processing Charge, whether the student has used the meal plan or not. After the scheduled two-day room change period, no other meal plan changes or cancellations may be made for the current semester. This also applies to students who have moved from required housing to apartments or have moved off campus, unless the student has requested a cancellation due to withdrawal from the University.
All meal plan changes and cancellation requests can be submitted online, via Banner Self Service, by completing the Meal Plan Selection form under the Student Account/Student Services link. Any questions may be directed to the Meal Plans and 49er Card Office, located in room 127 Popp Martin Student Union, or at (704) 687-7337.
Meal plan changes or cancellation requests are accepted Mondays beginning at 8:00 AM through Friday at 12:00 PM (noon). All changes and cancellations will be updated each Monday morning for the previous week’s submissions.
If changing between The Daily Plan, 160 Block, or the 100 Block plan
The meal portion of the original plan is refunded in its entirety, and the new meal portion is billed accordingly. The meal usage will transfer to the new plan. The original Declining Balance portion of these plans will remain with the student.
If changing from the Daily or a Block plan to a Declining Balance plan
A prorated refund of the meal portion of the meal plan will be issued. If the Daily Plan is the original plan, then proration is determined based on time. If a block plan is canceled, then proration is based on usage.
DB use from the original plan will transfer to the new Declining Balance plan.
If canceling the Daily Plan, 160 Block, or the 100 Block plan
A prorated refund of the meal portion of the meal plan will be issued. Proration is determined based on time if the Daily Plan is canceled and usage if a block plan is canceled. The original Declining Balance portion of these plans will remain with the student and cannot be canceled.
If canceling a Declining Balance Plan
The remaining balance will be refunded to the student.
Appeals
Dining appeals are available for students who have experienced an extenuating circumstance where having or using a meal plan has become impacted. To begin the appeal process, a student must submit a first-level appeal through the Office of Student Assistance and Support Services.
Withdrawing
Once a request for cancellation due to a withdrawal from the University has been reviewed and validated, the student will be financially responsible for the daily prorated dining charge for their meal plan. The meal plan charge will be prorated through the week of the last use of the plan or through the effective date of withdrawal from the University, whichever date is later, and a prorated amount will be credited to the student’s account. This cancellation will also incur a $150.00 withdrawal charge, which will be applied to the student’s account. There are no cancellations or refunds permitted for students who withdraw within the last four (4) weeks of classes, based on the last date of the semester. If a student is released from their dining contract due to withdrawal from the University but re-enrolls later for the initially withdrawn term, the student will again become financially responsible for the originally contracted dining plan.
The cancellation terms above do not apply to students who have been granted a withdrawal with extenuating circumstances from the Dean of Students Office and are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Optional Dining Account
An Optional Dining Account (ODA) may be used to supplement a meal plan. Funds for this account are not billable through Student Accounts but can be deposited separately through the 49er Card website, at the Meal Plans and 49er Card Office (located in Room 127, Student Union) using cash, check or credit/debit card. This account may be used for food purchased in University dining locations, South Village, Social 704, concessions, and convenience store locations. The Optional Dining Account carries over indefinitely as long as the student is enrolled at the University.
Disclosure Terms & Conditions for Optional Dining Account
- The Optional Dining Account is a non-required account of pre-deposited funds accessed by the Cardholder for the sole and exclusive use for purchases at any Dining Service location. This account should not be confused with the 49er Account. Funds are placed on the 49er Card either its physical or digital counterpart.
- Deposits to Optional Dining Accounts can be made in the 49er Card Office located in the Popp Martin Student Union. A minimum deposit of $5.00 (no maximum limit) may be made by check or credit card.
- If the Cardholder’s deposit check is returned for non-payment, a $25.00 charge will be assessed on the Cardholder’s account, and the account will be automatically suspended. The account will not be reactivated until the NSF check is reconciled and all appropriate bank NSF fees have been reimbursed to the Meal Plans and 49er Card Office.
- Deposits may also be made at the 49er Card website
- There is no daily limit on the number of purchases made and debited to the account provided funds are available. The Cardholder understands and agrees that the 49er Card is not a credit card, nor can it be used to obtain cash or cash advances from the account.
- Balances of account may be obtained at any Dining Services point-of-sale location or the 49er Card e-commerce website.
- Upon separation from the University, any remaining monies over $10 are refundable by completing the 49er Acct/ODA Refund form.
- Account Inactivity – Optional Dining Accounts that are inactive for a period of six (6) months will be assessed a $1.00 per month inactivity charge for each inactive month after that.