Residential dining at the UW is refreshingly different from the traditional meal plan programs you may find at other schools. We call it a “dining plan” and it works like a prepaid debit card that you can use anytime at HFS dining locations on campus. Students who live in most nine-month residences are required to have a dining plan and may choose from one of several dining plan levels.
If you live in a 12-month apartment or are on campus during the summer, Interim housing, you will have different dining plan levels available to you.
How your dining plan works
Your Dining Plan works like a prepaid debit card. You choose the dining plan level that meets your lifestyle needs and the total amount you pay for your dining plan level is loaded into your dining plan at the beginning of each quarter/period.
Each time you make a purchase, the amount of your purchase is deducted from your dining plan balance. Your remaining balance is always displayed on the cash register when you make a purchase, so you can keep track of your balance throughout the quarter on the spot. You can also manage your plan online.
Where your dining plan is accepted
You can use your dining plan at any HFS location and most vending machines. There are no set meal periods. If the place is open, you can eat there and use your dining plan to pay.
With a number of locations on campus, from our District Market grocery stores to our numerous restaurants, cafés and even a food court, great food is never more than a two-minute walk away!
Dining plan balance
Your unused balance will carry forward to the next quarter. In addition, the next quarter's dining level allotment will be added to your PlN. If you are assigned to a dining required area, you may not opt out of the quarterly dining distribution. Dining funds are nonrefundable and nontransferable. We recommend you monitor and adjust your dining plan level each quarter to avoid having balance left over at the end of the year.
If you move out before the end of the agreement period, any balance remaining on your plan will be available for you to use until the end of your agreement period.
Special dietary needs
UW Dining provides many options in our venues for customers who choose to eat a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-sensitive diet. More importantly, we strive to ensure that residents with any special dietary needs are able to dine safely in our facilities. If you have any challenges navigating our menu offerings, or are in need of additional support, please schedule a dining consultation with your Nutrition & Systems Manager, Jessica Deer, MS, RDN, at jtdeer@uw.edu or 206-685-3847.
Please note that having a special dietary need does not waive the dining plan requirement for residence hall residents.
Dining plan FAQ
What if I run out of money before the end of the quarter?
If you think you may run out of dining money before the end of the quarter, you can add money to your Husky Card Account to use for dining. Husky Meal discounts (available to residents on Level 1–Level 6) will not apply to these purchases.
What happens to my dining plan if I move out of the residence halls before the end of the agreement period?
If you move out of the residence halls before the end of the agreement period, any balance remaining on your dining plan will be available for you to use until the end of your agreement period.
Am I limited by meal periods or times of day I can eat in dining locations on campus?
No. If the dining location is open, you can eat there and use your dining plan to pay.
Are the funds in my dining plan refundable?
Any funds left in your dining plan at the end of your residence hall agreement period are non-refundable. However, funds left in your dining plan at the end of the quarter are rolled over to the next quarter until the end of your agreement period.
Can I use my dining plan for laundry, copy services or parking on campus?
No, the dining plan is for purchases at HFS Dining locations only. Your Husky Card Account is another debit account available on your Husky Card that can be used for these services.
Can I transfer dining plan funds to my Husky Card Account?
No, dining plan funds cannot be transferred to your Husky Card Account. However, you can add money to your Husky Card Account at any time.