Frequently Asked Questions

The University of Maine requires all residential students, except those residing in DTAV or Patch, to purchase a meal plan to ensure that our students are eating, living, and learning in healthful ways. In a typical year, our dining locations are designed to enhance the social atmosphere of a college campus and offer comfortable seating, Wi-Fi and TVs for students to utilize to work or hang out with their peers.

First or second-year students can choose from our unlimited meal plans. Unlimited dining meal plans are designed for resident students to enjoy the convenience of swiping in and out of the dining halls as frequently as needed to maintain their dietary needs. No need to worry about running out of swipes or funds! Our two residential dining halls (Hilltop Dining and York Dining) offer hours of operation 7 days a week, a variety of menu choices, and late night service. Stop in for a full meal, a snack, or a cup of coffee.

Upperclass resident students are welcome to participate in our unlimited dining plans, but we recognize that they often need more flexibility in relation to their course work or internship programs. The Jr/Sr 120 and Senior Flex plans offer fewer meal swipes and more Meal Plan Dollars for students who need nutritious options they can eat on the go.

Graduate students residing off campus can choose any available meal plan, as they have access to kitchen space to supplement their meals with their own groceries and cooking.

Commuter meal plans are designed for customers that are living in apartments (DTAV, Patch, or off campus) that have kitchen spaces and can supplement meals with their own cooking. They offer a smaller amount of meal swipes for students that are looking for a break from cooking or want to stop in to dine with the convenience of staying on campus. The dining funds portions (Meal Plan Dollars) are frequently used to pick up items at Hilltop Market and the Bear’s Den. Many UMaine faculty and staff purchase commuter meal plans because of the extensive options available in our dining halls.

Your meal plan for the fall semester begins on the Friday of move-in week in August. Spring semester meal plans are active the Sunday prior to classes resuming.

Deciding on a meal plan depends on your preference. Our unlimited plans are our best value, because of the numerous meal and snack choices offered in the dining halls. For example:

Basic Unlimited: You enjoy eating in the dining hall and do not need to stock your room with pantry items.

Unlimited Flex or Unlimited Flex Plus: You enjoy taking food to go and would like to purchase food to keep in your room from the Hilltop Market or retail outlets.

Dining Funds (Meal Plan Dollars) can always be added to a meal plan at any time during the semester.

Students may change their meal plans once during the first six weeks of each semester by logging into myHousing. If you need modification to your meal plan for dietary reasons, contact UMaine Dining’s Dietitian directly. Those with commuter meal plans need to fill out an exception form to change their meal plan.

Meals are swipes are unlimited usage and do not roll over. If your meal plan has Dining Funds (Meal Plan Dollars) and you have funds left over from the fall semester, they will automatically roll over to spring semester. Any Dining Funds (Meal Plan Dollars) from spring semester that remain on your MaineCard will be forfeited on Commencement day each May.

Meal plans are not transferable between students. The meal plan is only for the student to whom it was issued. Keep your MaineCard secure at all times to prevent theft or unauthorized use. Misuse of MaineCards will result in disciplinary measures.

Yes, family members or friends can come into our dining halls by paying the at the door rate with cash or credit. Students are not able to use their meal swipes to grant access for a family member or friends, but you can utilize guest meals if your plan includes this option.

For many meal plans there is a mix of to-go meals and meal exchanges available.

Get Well Meals are available to students who are not able to come into the dining hall due to an injury, or illness that may be easily spread to other students. This program allows students to designate a representative to pick up the food from a particular dining hall. Nutrition is an important part of the healing process, and students can pick from entrees, beverages, vegetables, starches, and soups that are available that day. This program is limited to students who have a residential meal plan. If you need help navigating campus due to an injury or disability, please contact Student Accessibility Services.

Black Bear Bucks, Meal Plan Dollars, cash, credit or debit are not accepted for payment for this program.

Meal Plan Dollars are for use exclusively at our on campus dining locations and offer a 5% discount off the price. In addition, by using Meal Plan Dollars, you do not pay food sales tax (a savings of about 8 percent of total bill) at any of our on-campus locations such as the Bear’s Den, Hilltop Market, Quick Byte, and Union Central. Meal Plan Dollars are non-refundable but carry over from the fall to the spring semester and expire the day after commencement. They can be charged to your Student Account. You may open an account by visiting theMaineCard Service Centerin Room 103L, Hilltop. You may load additional Meal Plan Dollars into your account at any time in increments of $25 or more.

Black Bear Bucks can be used on campus (Dining, Bookstore, MaineBound Adventure Center, and more) and at specific off campus merchants. They offer a 5% discount at all on-campus dining locations. When using Black Bear Bucks you pay no food sales tax (a savings of about 8% of total bill) at any of our on-campus dining locations. Black Bear Bucks do not expire and can be refunded when you are no longer associated with the University. Black Bear Bucks cannot be charged to a Student Account. You may open an account by visiting theMaineCard online card officeor theMaineCard Service Centerin Room 103L Hilltop. You or a guest may add Black Bear Bucks to an existing account at any time using the online card office.

We have several dining options for guests with food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions. To ensure you get the most out of your dining experience, we ask that you contact our Registered Dietitian to schedule a free consultation. (Krista Niezelski, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.) Krista is here to help! She is able to meet with students that have meal plans to discuss how to safely dine with specific dietary needs. Whether you have a food intolerance, allergies, or ethical dietary considerations, we will work with you.

No, you are able to visit any of our resident dining facilities. Dining halls are open to all meal plan holders and to the public, who can pay our at the door rate.

Black Bear Bucks and Meal Plan Dollars are able to be used at UMaine Dining run concession services. This excludes booths operated by outside vendors. Cash and credit are also accepted.