UMASS DINING CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE CENTER
UMass Dining is committed to the health & safety of our students, faculty and staff. We are following guidelines set by our local, state and national health officials; we routinely monitor our dining facilities; we have implemented additional sanitation measures to ensure customer safety; and we are in constant contact with the campus community.

HOURS OF OPERATION
The following locations are currently open and ready to serve you!

• Franklin Dining Commons
  • Regular Hours: Monday, 7AM-9PM; Tuesday-Thursday, 7AM-Midnight; Friday, 7AM-9PM, Saturday - Sunday, 9AM - 8PM
  • Closing for the semester on Saturday, October 10 at 8PM
• Blue Wall
  • Special Hours: Sunday, October 11- Monday, October 12, 7AM-9PM; Tuesday, October 13 - Thursday, October 15, 7AM-Midnight; Friday, October 16 - Sunday, October 18, 7AM-9PM
  • Regular Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11AM-9PM
  • Harvest Market: Monday-Sunday, 8AM-9PM
  • People's Organic: Monday-Friday, 7AM-3PM
• NEW! Worcester Commons
  • Opening Monday, October 19 at 7AM
  • Regular Hours: Monday, 7AM-9PM; Tuesday-Thursday, 7AM-Midnight; Friday, 7AM-9PM, Saturday - Sunday, 9AM - 8PM

LINKS

Off Campus Meal Plan Exception Form
Dining Services Staff Health & Safety Plan
Guest Safety Plan & Guideline
Nutrition Health & Safety Plan
Compliance Attestation

FAQ

Meal Plan pricing for Fall 2020.

Residential Options:

• Unlimited 500 Meal Plan (unlimited entry into dining commons plus $500 dining dollars) plus 15 guest meals - $3451.00/semester (+ 25 YCMP Exchange Swipes for Fall 2020 Only)
• Unlimited 250 Meal Plan (unlimited entry into dining commons plus $250 dining dollars) plus 15 guest meals - $3238.00/semester (+ 25 YCMP Exchange Swipes for Fall 2020 Only)
• Unlimited DC Meal Plan (unlimited entry into dining commons) - $2985.00/semester (+ 25 YCMP Exchange Swipes for Fall 2020 Only)
• DC Basic Meal Plan – 224 swipes/semester– which includes 15 guest swipes (+ 25 YCMP Exchange Swipes for Fall 2020 Only) $2933.50/semester
• YCMP Gold, Open to Juniors and Seniors Only (57+ completed Credits), Includes 100 DC/Retail Meals ($10.50/meal) - $1559.00/semester.  Dining Dollars not included
• YCMP Platinum, Open to Juniors and Seniors Only (57+ completed Credits), Includes 200 DC/Retail Meals ($10.50/meal) - $2863.00/semester. Dining Dollars not included

Commuter Options:

• YCMP Off-Campus - 155 DC/ Meal exchanges ($10.50/meal) plus $200 Dining Dollars - $1979.50/semester
• YCMP Off-Campus - 65 DC/Meal exchanges ($10.50/meal) plus $125 Dining Dollars - $904.00/semester
• YCMP on the GO - $800 Dining Dollars plus 5 DC meals - $800.00/semester

To view all Meal Plan Prices, please visit our meal plan page. https://umassdining.com/meal-plans

DC= Dining Commons (4 locations on campus)
Exchanges ($10.50 value per swipe) can be used at retail dining locations on campus (Roots, Blue Wall, Whitmore Café and many more locations.)
Dining dollars can be used on campus at any of the retail locations.

Are guests required to wear face coverings?
Yes, due to the Governor’s Order as of May 6th, all customers are required to wear a face covering, when not eating.

How can I select/change my meal plan?
You will be able to make a meal plan selection once fall semester bills are distributed. You will receive an email that your bill is ready for view from UMass Bursar’s Office. Log on to SPIRE and from main menu select finances> meal plan> fall/spring and you will see the options for meal plans that you are eligible for. If you are an off-campus student then you will also see an option for commuter meal plans and a no meal plan selection as well. SPIRE will update your bill the following day.

If a student is remote and living off campus, will they still be able to come to campus and use a meal plan to eat?
Students must be enrolled in an “in person” class to purchase a meal plan. If the student meets the aforementioned status, she/he has access to any meal plan offered by UMass Dining. To find out if your student is eligible, please contact our Meal Plan Office at [email protected].

Can an off campus student dine at the Blue Wall, Food Trucks and other Retail locations?
Students must be enrolled in an “in person” class to purchase a meal plan. If the student meets the aforementioned status, she/he has access to any meal plan offered by UMass Dining. To find out if your student is eligible, please contact our Meal Plan Office at [email protected].

Will meal plans change for the fall 2020?
To provide additional dining access, 25 YCMP swipes will be added to all Residential Meal Plans, excluding YCMP Gold and Platinum this fall. YCMP swipes can be used at any of our dining locations across campus. If the YCMP swipes are not used they will expire at the end of the fall semester.

Will students be allowed to dine together?
Yes. Massachusetts is now in Phase 3 of its reopening plan, students are allowed to eat indoors, up to 6 people at a table with tables 6 feet apart. We ask that students continue to follow the safe dining guidelines during their visit.

Are guests allowed in the Dining Commons this fall?
Students may use guest swipes on students with “in person” classes; both students must present a valid UMass ID.

Can students under junior standing (57 credits) who live off campus purchase an off campus meal plan?
Students must be enrolled in an “in person” class to purchase a meal plan. If the student meets the aforementioned status, she/he has access to any meal plan offered by UMass Dining.

Will pricing be adjusted since dining options are modified due to COVID-19 (E.g. dine-in / all you can eat vs. grab n’ go/to-go)?
Pricing will not be reduced due to COVID-19 and students are encouraged to choose the meal plan that best meets their needs. Students will enjoy Dining Commons as well a retail dining locations. The DCs will offer 10 different globally inspired menu items, vegan, and vegetarian, Kosher, Halal as well as allergen free; offered both dine in and to go.

If a residential student is exposed to COVID-19 and/or has to quarantine, how will they get meals? 
Students isolated or quarantined due to COVID would receive prepared meals delivered to their housing location. Additionally, if a student has an allergy and is quarantined/ isolated, dining services will provide meals that are in line with her/ his medical needs or dietary preferences.

How will a quarantine impact meal plan for off-campus students?
Dining services would work in collaboration with University Health Services, Off Campus Student Life to determine the best course of action for an off campus student quarantined due to COVID. 

For students with food allergies, will there be enough options available to make a meal plan worth the cost?
All locations will have a variety of options so that students with food allergies are able to dine comfortably and achieve a well-balanced diet. Every food item has a menu identifier that includes ingredients, allergens (top 8 plus corn and sesame), nutrition facts, and more. Students may view each item’s nutritional profile on site, the UMass Dining mobile app, or on our website. In addition, our mobile app and website includes allergen filters so students can view what items are safe for them to consume at a specific dining location. If students need further assistance, they may email our registered dietitians at [email protected].

If my student becomes ill with COVID-19, will they receive a refund for any unused meal plan?
We will accommodate refunds similar to a medical withdrawal as needed.

Will students be able to order meals in advance and pick up at certain locations?
Yes, UMass Dining partnered with GrubHub this fall to allow pre-orders from The Grill, Green Fields, Tamales. Students can download the GrubHub app, select UMass Amherst, order food from select locations and set a time for pick up.

How will meal plans work? Is a take-out/pre-packaged item considered a swipe? Does it include a beverage?
Meal plans would work similar to past semesters: information is available at https://umassdining.com/meal-plans. Students can use their meal swipes to enter the four Dining Commons or Dining Dollars and YCMP swipes to eat at the Retail cafes across campus. Grab and Go or DC take- out meals consist of an entrée, side, vegetable, snack, hand fruit, dessert and a beverage. Students can enter the DCs as many time per day they like but are asked to only take one meal at a time out.

Can students purchase meals for the day in one visit in order to reduce trips to dining areas?
Students can use 2 meal swipes per visit: a DC swipe will provide a student with entrée, side, vegetable, snack, hand fruit, dessert and a beverage. There are no limits on students using YCMP or Dining Dollars in Retail Locations.

I still have a meal plan charge on my account. When will this be removed?
The Bursar’s Office and the Meal Plan Office are working together to update student accounts.  We expect all meal plans for students with no face-to-face classes to be cancelled within 10-14 days.

I still have a housing and meal plan charge on my account. When will these be removed?
The Bursar’s Office is working with the Residential Life Office are working together to update student accounts.  We expect housing and meal plan charges for students with no face-to-face classes to be cancelled within 10-14 days.

Additional Information:

• Meal plans and dining dollars – please visit the UMass Dining website meal plan section: https://umassdining.com/meal-plans/residential-meal-plan. The webpage provides a definition of Residential and Retail meal swipes as well as Dining Dollars.
• Nutrition and Allergies: UMass Dining has two Registered Dietitians on staff that can meet with students for private consultations. All menu items are labeled in our dining locations; UMass Dining has an app, https://umassdining.com/mobile-application, available on both the android and Apple platforms, that allows students to look up every menu item, find ingredients and allergens—students can plan daily and weekly menus using the app. Additional information is available at the UMass Dining Nutrition webpage: https://umassdining.com/nutrition
• Health and safety: UMass Dining leadership worked in concert with the University to develop a plan to reopen its Award Winning program to UMass Amherst students. The plan incorporates health and safety, operations, meal plans, culinary and communications. Additional information will be available at the UMass Dining website, COVID 19 tab https://umassdining.com/coronavirus additional campus information is available at https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus
• Communication/ Information: Students and family members can stay connected with UMass Dining via our website (umassdining.com) or on our social media channels @UMassDining on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Tik Tok.