Dining Definitions

Meal Zones

The dining day is divided into four meal zones. Meal zones include:

There are a total of twenty-six meals offered during a standard week. This is important to the weekly meal plan participants as they are restricted to one meal per zone. Block plans do not limit the number of meals you can eat each day or week. The menu offering is tied to the meal zone.

Transfer Meals

Transfer meals are provided as an option to eating in Riverside Commons. Transfer options are restricted to the designated hours, locations and venues indentified in the Standard Hours of service. The Transfer Program is designed to provide students with a convient grab and go alternative to Riverside Commons. Transfer meals provide a bundled meal option including an entree, side and beverage, but do not permit unlimited selection from the entire menu.

Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars are placed in a debit account for each Meal Plan participant on a standard meal plan. Dining Dollars cannot be purchased independently, taken as cash or transferred to others. Dining Dollars do not carry over to the following term. Students are allowed to use Dining Dollars for the purchase of food and beverage items at any dining venue in University Center. Purchases made with Dining Dollars will recieve a 10% discount on food/beverage items and are exempted from sales tax, resulting in even more savings. Dining Dollars may also be used to eat during break periods in which there is no meal plan service available.

Managing your account

All meal plan transactions are accessed through your UWRF ID. Your UWRF ID is required for all dining services transcations. All participants may monitor their own meal plan, Dining Dollar and Falcon Dollar transactions through the Card Office.

Nutrition and Wellness

Nutrition and wellness is very important to the Dining Services Office. While there are a variety of menu options avilable for each meal, it is the responsibilty of the individual to manage their personal diet. Dining Services will offer general nutritional information throughout the term, in addition, weekly menus are posted online and will include nutritional information. This nutritional information will also be avilable in Riverside Commons.

Dietary requirements and preferences are common for many. These requirments and preferences take many forms and Dining Services is happy to assist you in meeting your dietary obligations. If you have special dietary requirements or concerns please contact Dining Services.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a priority for Dining Services. We are actively pursing many practices to enchance our sustainability standards. Many are back of the house and not visible to the guest, including programs to reduce water consumption and energy use, others are more visible to the public. We always welcome your recommendations for enhancing our sustainibility efforts.

One of our more visible and signficant sustainability initiatives is trayless dining. The primary goal of trayless dining is to significantly reduce food waste. Trayless is a national trend that has documented more than 40% reduction in food waste.

Dining Services is proud to once again sponsor a Mug Refill program this fall. UWRF mugs are availble for sale for the discounted price of $2.00 to all students the first week of classes.

Watch for additional sustanability initiaves being planned for the school year.

Block Plans

Block Plans include a set number of meals per term without any limitations on the number of meals a student can eat each day or week. There are a total of twenty-six meals offered during a standard serving week. Transfer options are available at designated retail venues during lunch, dinner and late night. Meals not used at the end of the term cannot be redeemed.

Continuous Dining

Our program offers continuous dining, allowing participants to dine in Riverside Commons from the moment it opens to the moment it closes. Your meal plan selection will determine the limitations on the number of meals you can eat each meal period and week.

Guest Meals

Where Weekly Plans include only 5 Guest Meals for the term, Block Plans allow unlimited use of meals for a guest if so desired. These may only be used in Riverside Commons in the company of the meal plan participant. Guest Meals may not be used for Premium/Theme or Special Event meals, including within Riverside Commons. Guest meals may be used at all-campus picnics where the events serve as the primary dining option for meal plan participants. Guest Meals expire at the end of each term.

Late Night Transfer

All meal plans include the opportunity to use Late Night Transfer which allows you to purchase food using meal credits when standard dining hours have passed!

Mandatory Meal Plan Policy

All students residing in the residence halls (with the exception of South Fork Suites residents) are required to select a meal plan as a part of their room and board. Students may choose from any of the meals plans offered, with the exception of the 60+ Block Plan which is restricted to students who have earned 60 or more credits, South Fork Suites residents, and commuter students. There are a few exceptions to this policy. More information about meal plans can be found in the University Dining Services contract.

If you are a commuter, you are not required to be on a meal plan. However, many commuters find our meal plans appealing.

Meal Plan Exemptions

Meal Plan Exemption Requests may be submitted to the Director of University Dining Services in the University Center as outlined in the Dining Contract. Exemptions to the mandatory meal plan policy will not be granted for employment reasons, class schedule conflicts, or for financial reasons. Exemptions are considered for medical reasons only. Exemption request forms must be submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the beginning of the term. Exemption Request Forms are available at the University Dining Services Office in University Center. We anticipate that our extensive hours of operation and variety of services will accommodate your schedule and dietary needs.

Meal Period

The time frame for specific meal service for those on a meal plan. Weekly meal plans allow one meal to be eaten during a meal period. Block plans do not limit the number of meals you can eat each day or week. Meal periods include breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night on Monday – Thursday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday, and brunch, dinner and late night on Saturday – Sunday.

Meal Plan Change Period

You will have the option of changing from one meal plan to another one time during each term. This Meal Plan Change Period is advertised with the term calendar. All meal plan changes are prorated at the time of this change.

Meal Plan Week

The meal plan week applies to weekly plans. The meal plan week runs Sunday morning through Saturday evening.

Retail Venues

Retail venues offer dining to any UWRF student, faculty, staff or guest. There are several dining venues to choose from. All student meal plans provide a variety of “transfer opportunities” at retail dining venues.

Riverside Commons

The primary residential dining facility is at Riverside Commons which offers an all-you-care-to-eat environment and continuous dining. All food must be consumed in Riverside Commons. At Riverside Commons you can look forward to special theme meals in celebration of holidays, special events, picnics, including a student favorite – the Chancellor's Late Night Breakfast.

Sack Meals

Sack meals may be arranged when meal times conflict with your class schedule, work, or other campus activities. To participate in the sack meal program, you are required to complete the Sack Meal Request Form. The form must be submitted no later than the day prior to the intended missed meal. Sack meals are discontinued if you fail to pick up the meal two consecutive times without proper notification. Sack meal request forms are also available at the University Dining Services Office in University Center.

Sick Trays

If you are ill, you may arrange a sick tray with the approval of your Hall Manager and/or the Health Nurse. To obtain a sick tray, a Sick Tray Request Form (accompanied by your student ID) must be completed and delivered to a Dining Services Manager in University Center at least one hour before the serving time ends for a particular meal period. The Dining Service personnel are not responsible for delivery of your sick tray. Therefore, you should make arrangements for someone to deliver your meal.

Weekly Plans

Weekly meal plans include a set number of meals per week that allows one meal to be eaten during a meal period. Meal periods include breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night on Monday through Friday, and brunch, dinner and late night on Saturday and Sunday. Weekly plans run Sunday morning through Saturday evening and you can choose any of the twenty-six meals offered up to the selected meal plan limit. Transfer options are available daily at designated retail venues during lunch and late night. Weekly plans include 5 Guest Meals per term. Unused meals do not carry over to future weeks.