Dining Services | University of Maryland

FAQs

NRO stands for "New Resident Orientation". Its purpose is to provide meals for incoming on-campus students during their orientation period. Students admitted to the University who have accepted housing with Resident Life are automatically enrolled in this event. The student meal plans do not provide food for these additional resident days. The NRO charge allows the student to buy meals in the Dining Halls and the Welcome Picnic before the regular meal plan begins.
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What happens to unused NRO points?

For the NRO Meal Plans, unused points roll over into the Terp Bucks portion of the Fall Semester Meal Plan.
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How and when can I change my meal plan?

Meal plan options may be changed each semester through the second week of classes. Requests should be made in writing, through email, or in person at the Contract Office in the South Campus Dining Hall. Please provide your name, student ID number and name of meal plan you want.
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I just moved off-campus, how do I cancel my meal plan?

You must request cancellation in writing. Once we verify the cancellation of your housing contract, we will cancel your meal plan. Please provide your name, student ID number and reason for cancellation.
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When will my meal plan account be available online?

You can view meal plans points for the current semester. If you try to view meal plan points and you do not have an active meal plan for the current semester the Web site will state that you are not currently registered for a meal plan. As soon as your meal plan is live, your balance will appear.
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What is budgeting and why do I need "focus dates?"

Budgeting is a system designed by University of Maryland students for two reasons:

1. Students wanted to know how many points they should be spending per week
2. A small percentage of students were saving their entire semester's points and using them all during the last weeks of the semester

Resident Points only are subject to the budgeting system. Focus dates are designed to help you budget your Resident Points throughout the semester; they remind students what their Resident Point balance should be. Focus Dates and Maximum Account balances are posted in the dining rooms and online. Any Resident Points above the maximum account balance allowed at a focus date are forfeit.
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Who is required to have a meal plan?

Students living in traditional housing (a dorm room without a private kitchen) are required to have a meal plan. This requirement stems from on-campus residence status; not class standing, proximity to permanent residence, dietary preferences or other circumstances.
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What are the exemptions to this policy?

The primary exemption is release from your traditional residence hall contract (either moving to a resident apartment or complete cancellation of the contract). Your key must be returned before Resident Life will officially cancel your housing contract. To cancel your meal plan, bring your receipt of cancellation with you to the Contract Office at the South Campus Dining Hall.

The second reason for exemptions includes medical or religious reasons. In either case, the student will need to meet with Dining Services Advisors for proper evaluation and any adjustment will be made based on their recommendation. Related documentation must be provided by the student. Back to top

What do I do if I do not fit any of the applicable exemptions?

You can still meet with the Dining Services Advisors. Bring documentation to this meeting. Most times, we discover that the student's dietary needs can be satisfied by our meal plans. These advisors will take the time to understand your situation and will research and evaluate your request. We ask that requests be reasonable and have a sound basis.
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Why do I have to purchase a meal plan if I reside in traditional or suites (no kitchens) housing?

Meal plans are required for all students who reside in traditional halls or suites by the Department of Resident Life policy. Traditional halls and suites are not equipped for student to cook their own meals, remove the food waste, or maintain sanitary conditions.
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Can I bring guests to the dining rooms?

Yes, as long as you accompany them.
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How do I pay for my meal plan?

You will receive an invoice from the Bursar's office indicating the amount of room and board due. You can send your payment directly to the Bursar's office.
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Where is the Contract Office and how do I contact them?

Mailing Address:
Contract Office
1109 South Campus Dining Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742
Phone: 301-314-8069
Fax: 301-314-9234
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Can I add money to my meal plan account?

Yes, but money remaining in these accounts at the close of the semester is non-refundable. Terrapin Express is accepted at all of our dining locations and those point roll over to the next semester.
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Why do I have to pay a facilities fee?

Part of this fee is placed into the capital fund as mandated by the University of Maryland. The remainder of this fee is used to maintain facilities and services. Dining Services is a self-support department of the university and does not receive funding from the University of Maryland or State of Maryland.
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Why is the facilities fee higher for the Gold Star Plan?

When university students designed this plan, they chose the higher facilities fee in order to receive increased flexibility in spending points. This plan provides fewer Resident Points than the other options and more Terp Bucks than the Red Plan, which allows greater flexibility. The decrease in Resident Points and increase in Terp Bucks is offset by a higher facilities fee.
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The Red Plan has more Resident Points than the other two plans, how does that work with the budgeting system?

Red Plan students start the semester with the same number of resident points as students on other plans. We add the additional points to your account in the middle of the semester so that you are not penalized early in the semester and have more points available to you toward the end of the semester. Once you receive the added points, you are not subject to focus dates that semester.
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I heard that after two consecutive semesters on a meal plan, that I can opt out of budgeting, how do I do that?

Submit a written statement that you have completed two semesters on a meal plan and that you would like to opt out of the budgeting system. Once we receive your request and verify the number of semesters on a meal plan, we will disable the budgeting system for your account.
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Why is there a cap under the RHA Budget Your Points (BYP) program?

When the program was revised, there were concerns that some students would have so many points at the end of the semester that they would feel compelled to spend them all, causing longer lines, staffing and supply issues. The cap was proposed by RHA to help curb those concerns.
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I tried to apply online for the RHA Budget Your Points program and was rejected. Why?

There may be several reasons. First, you may not qualify. Second, you may not have had Meal Plan for two full semesters (students who came in after the first week of the Meal Plan fall into this category). Third, the semesters must be consecutive. If you were rejected and you believe that you should not have been, email us before the deadline and we will check your official records.
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What are the benefits of Terrapin Express and how do I open and maintain an account?

Terrapin Express is a wonderful alternative to carrying cash. It is an on-campus pre-paid debit card accessed by your university ID card. You can open this account at the Contract Office or McKeldin library, and you can add money to it by calling or stopping by the Contract Office during business hours. You can use Terrapin Express at dining locations and non-dining locations across campus, including WAM labs for pay for print and the Library to photocopy. For a complete listing of participating locations, go to Terrapin Express locations.
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How do I check my Terrapin Express balance?

There are three ways to check your balance: ask any Dining Services cashier for a receipt, call the contract office or go to Check Your Balance on our website.
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Can I transfer funds from my meal plan to Terrapin Express?

Meal plan points cannot be transferred to Terrapin Express.
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What if I have special dietary needs?

Dietary concerns can be addressed by our Quality Coordinator and Dietitian at 301-314-8058 or through email, nutrition@dining.umd.edu. Vegan and vegetarian options are available in both dining rooms, including the vegan station "Sprouts" in the Diner. Halal meats are available once a week at The Diner, and a full kosher meal plan is offered through Hillel.
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Can you add the choice of barbecue potato chips to your dining room sandwich lines?

Frito Lay does not sell barbecue potato chips in bulk and therefore, we cannot add them to our dining room sandwich lines. We cannot change chip suppliers based on our current contract. Individual bags of Frito Lay BBQ Chips are available in the convenience shops.
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Is the garden burger vegan?

The veggie burger cooked in the Grill area of both dining rooms is produced by Morningstar and is vegetarian only. The flame-grilled burger available at Sprouts in The Diner is produced by Gardenburger and is vegan.
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Does Footnotes Café offer soymilk products for the espresso drinks?

Yes, soymilk is available at Footnotes Café for espresso drinks.
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Are the vegetables for the value meal menus prepared with butter or another ingredient that would make them non-vegan? These items are not identified separately as vegan.

We only identify the main entree items and some side items as vegan or vegetarian since all of the vegetables for the value menu are prepared steamed without any additional ingredients. If a menu item does have something added to it, we do identify that within the name of the item, for example, "Buttered Cabbage." When we advertise that something is "buttered", we are using 100% vegetable margarine not dairy butter.
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How do I order a bakery cake?

You can place your order for a decorated cake or a gourmet bakery cake at one of eight campus locations: the Commons Shop, North Campus Shop, The Union Shop, Rudy´s Café, Applause Café, E&M Deli, Footnotes Café, and The Dairy. A fax order form and menu are available online through our Pick it up at the Shop program.
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What services are provided for Moslem students? Does the university provide Halal food?

Halal meats are available every Wednesday at The Diner for dinner. Currently, we receive very few requests annually for Halal foods. Both dining rooms also offer a selection of vegetarian and vegan foods on a daily basis to meet most dietary restrictions.
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What is a value meal?

Value meals are moderately priced daily specials available for lunch and dinner in The Diner and South Campus Dining Room. These meals are bundled to provide culinary interest, variety, and selection. Monthly menus may be viewed online at Value Meals or in our dining rooms.
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I want a Kosher Meal Plan; how do I get one? Do I still have to buy a University Meal Plan?

Contact the Hillel Center and sign a meal plan contract with them to receive a Kosher Meal Plan. Students planning on living in traditional on-campus housing still select one of our meal plan options. Before the semester begins, Hillel will send us a list of students who have contracted for a Full Kosher Meal Plan. We then cancel the contracts and credit the accounts of students who are using the Hillel as their full-time dining room.
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Will my Kosher Meal Plan work outside of Hillel?

The Kosher Meal Plan is only good at the Hillel Center.
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Are there meal plans available during the winter session or the summer sessions?

Yes. An Apartment Meal Plan purchased in the Fall Semester is available during Winter Term. An Apartment Meal Plan purchased in the Spring Semester is available during both Summer Terms. If you are not eligible for an Apartment Meal plan, we suggest that you activate your Terrapin Express account and use that account to eat on campus during winter and summer.
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Do I have to specify which point account to use when I pay at a dining location?

No. When an ID card is swiped through the system, the register system will query for payment method in the following order: Resident Points, Terp Bucks and finally Terrapin Express. The system will always accept payment from Resident Points first if the funds are available. As long as payment is accepted through the card system, we do not generally notify customers from which account the payment was accepted.
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What happens if I lose my ID card?

Call the lost card telephone line, 301.314.8064, to report the lost card and to have your dining account frozen. Replace your card by going to the Mitchell building during business hours. Once replaced, please call our Contract Office to reactivate your meal plan account.
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What are Terrapin Treats?

Terrapin Treats are care packages assembled on campus and sent to you by someone who loves you. There are monthly packages as well as a Birthday Celebration treat. The packages will be delivered to the convenience store nearest your residence hall, and you will be notified of its arrival.
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Why do you not provide recyclable carryout containers?

Our campus uses so many carryout containers in a year that no supplier is willing to guarantee to supply as many as we need. Because the sizes that are available in recyclable carryout do not match the foam carryout containers and because the containers function differently, we cannot go back and forth based on availability. Finally, when they are available, each container costs about four times as much as the foam containers we currently supply.
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FAQs

New Resident Orientation Questions

Meal Plan Questions

Meal Plan Budgeting/Focus Date Questions

Terrapin Express Questions

Food and Beverage Questions

Hillel Questions

General Questions