Dining Info

Students and parents have many questions when it comes to what—and where—they can eat. These FAQs will help you get started. Click the links to jump to the answers, or to a category of questions. If you have a question you don’t see here, contact us.

Meal Plans

Why are residential students required to purchase a meal plan?

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. Return to top

What meal plans are available to first and second-year resident students?

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. Return to top

Which meal plans are available to upperclass students?

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 dining funds for students who need nutritious options they can eat on the go. Return to top

Which meal plans are available to graduate students?

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. Return to top

Who can have a commuter meal plan?

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 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. Return to top

When does my meal plan start?

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. Return to top

Which meal plan is the best option for me?

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 can always be added to a meal plan at any time during the semester. Return to top

Can I change my meal plan?

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. Return to top

Will my meal plan roll over from semester to semester or year to year?

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

Can other people use my meal plan?

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. Return to top

Can I bring family members or friends to the dining hall?

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. Return to top

Do I have to eat in the dining hall, or can I take my food to go?

We’re happy to share that in the fall diners will be able to eat in the dining hall once more and go back through the line for multiple servings! For many meal plans there will also be a mix of to-go meals and meal exchanges. More information is coming! Return to top

What are Get Well Meals? What are they for?

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, Dining Funds, cash, credit or debit are not accepted for payment for this program. Return to top

Dining Funds & Black Bear Bucks

What are Dining Funds?

Dining funds are dollars that may be a part of your meal plan for food and beverage purchases on campus. If your meal plan does not have Dining Funds, you can add them to your account. They may also be added to your MaineCard if you do not have a meal plan. Dining Funds can be charged to your student account or paid for by credit/debit card at the time of purchase. Dining Funds roll over from fall semester to spring semester but do not roll over from spring to fall semester. Any balance is forfeited each May. You cannot use Dining Funds to purchase a meal for a friend or family member. Return to top

If meal plans are unlimited, what are Dining Funds used for?

Dining Funds are a declining balance on your MaineCard that are accepted at our retail establishments open throughout the day and late at night (The Bears Den, The Bears Den Café and Pub, Union Central, Quick Byte, Hilltop Market and concession services), and can be used to purchase food, beverages, and convenience items. Return to top

What are the differences between Dining Funds and Black Bear Bucks?

Black Bear Bucks is a declining balance account that is paid for at the time when the funds are added to your account and can be used anywhere on or off campus that you need funds (all dining facilities, Hilltop Market, Bookstore, laundry facilities, Maine Bound, and more). Black Bear Bucks roll over from year to year and you can use them to purchase a meal for a friend or family member. See all of the differences between Dining Funds and Black Bear Bucks. Return to top

Can I convert my meal swipes to Black Bear Bucks?

Meal swipes cannot be converted to Black Bear Bucks. Return to top

How do I check my balance?

Any cashier can swipe your card and give you your balance in person. You also can download the Transact e-Accounts app to quickly check balances, and add Dining Funds or Black Bear Bucks to your account, or get your balance at the online card office. Return to top

How do I add funds?

Add funds from the eAccounts icon link located on your MaineStreet portal, or download the eAccounts app to deposit funds quickly and securely to your Black Bear Bucks or Dining Funds accounts. Family members and friends can also make a guest deposit for you at the online card office as long as they know your MaineStreet ID. Any UMaine Dining cashier can add Black Bear Bucks and Dining Funds, or you can use the Fogler Library Value Transfer Station (cash only, located near the Circulation & Reserve desk located on the first floor). Return to top

Can I use my meal plan or Black Bear Bucks at other University of Maine campuses?

You can use Black Bear Bucks at any of the other 6 campuses (Augusta, Farmington, Fort Kent, Machias, Presque Isle, Southern Maine), but not dining swipes or your meal plan from UMaine Dining. Learn more about the OneCard system. Return to top

Nutrition

I have a special diet. What should I do?

Our dietitian Krista Niezelski 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. Contact Krista. Return to top

How do you accommodate allergies/intolerances?

Menu tags with allergen icons are available for each menu item to indicate if an allergen is present. Each dining facility has a “gluten-free zone” that has items from dedicated gluten-free facilities available to students. A separate microwave and toaster are also available at each gluten-free zone for safe use by students. Hilltop Dining offers an “Allergy Aware” menu at dinner 7 days a week, serving items without ingredients that contain the top 8 allergens (wheat, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, soy, eggs). Our registered dietitian, Krista Diezelski, is also able to provide counseling services to students with meal plans to help them find the safest dining options. Learn more about our allergy and intolerance services. Return to top

Do you offer vegan and vegetarian options?

Definitely. Each resident dining facility has a vegan or vegetarian hot entree, vegan veggie burgers, salad bars, and fruit and yogurt bars. Made-to-order or action stations (pasta, stir fry, etc) are also able to be customized to include vegan and vegetarian proteins in substitution of meat based options. Menu tags for each menu item clearly state if an item is vegan or vegetarian. Return to top

How do I know if something is vegetarian or vegan?

Every menu item will have a menu tag listing what the food is and if it is vegan or vegetarian. This icon will appear in the upper right hand side of the menu tag. A vegetarian item can include eggs, dairy, and honey but no animal meats. A vegan item means no eggs, dairy, honey, or other animal products are present. If no icon is present, that indicates an animal product is present in the ingredients. Return to top

General

Where can I eat? Am I restricted to one dining hall?

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. Return to top

What hours are dining locations open?

Find our hours listed here. Check our social media outlets for any changes in hours due to special circumstances. Return to top

What forms of payment are accepted at concession services?

Black Bear Bucks and Dining Funds are able to be used at UMaine Dining run concession services. This excludes booths operated by outside vendors. Cash and credit are also available. Return to top

Are there job opportunities available?

Yes! UMaine Dining hires students for all of our operations. We offer pay starting at $12.15 per hour, flexible scheduling to accommodate classes, and convenient locations. Learn more and apply. Return to top

What are the safety and sanitation standards for UMaine Dining?

All management team members are ServSafe Certified through the National Restaurant Association and front line employees are trained yearly on proper sanitation, food safety and general safety protocols. Our units are inspected and approved by the Maine State Health Inspector. We adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Maine State Food Code, the CDC and the FDA. Learn more about our safety and sanitation practices. Return to top

How does UMaine define local food?

UMaine defines locally sourced items as any food produced or harvested by a producer or processor within 175 miles of the University System’s seven primary campuses in Maine. Learn more about our commitment to local food. Return to top

What do you do with leftovers?

UMaine Dining partners with the Black Bear Exchange and the Green Campus Initiative, along with area food pantries to ensure that prepared food that is not consumed assists our community with the fight against food insecurity. Return to top

Where does food waste go?

UMaine Dining provides pre-consumer food waste to an on campus composting facility located off Rangeley Road. Waste is combined with horse bedding and wood chips from UMaine’s J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center. The Earth Flow In-Vessel composting system automates mixing, aeration, and moisture addition to rapidly compost about 1 ton of food waste per day. The compost is used all over campus; at Rogers Farm, at J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center, on gardens and campus landscaping, and in the UMaine Greens greenhouses. Get more information from the Office of Sustainability. Return to top