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!

• Blue Wall (Sunday – Friday, 8am – 9pm & Saturday, 8am – 7pm)

Dining Services will open the additional Retail Locations and all four Dining Commons beginning August 17th.

FACE COVERINGS
Due to the Governor’s Order as of May 6th, all customers are required to wear a face covering, when not eating.

Dining Services Staff Health & Safety Plan

Nutrition Health & Safety Plan

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 – 200 meals/semester– 9 exchanges ($10.50 value) plus 15 guest meals $2933.00/semester (+ 25 YCMP Exchange Swipes for Fall 2020 Only)
• 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.

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.

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.

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 living off campus have access to any meal plan offered by UMass Dining.

Are guests allowed in the Dining Commons this fall?
Guest swipes will be allowed only for UMass community members—guest must present a UMass ID to enter the Dining Commons.

Can students under junior standing (57 credits) who live off campus purchase an off campus meal plan?
Yes, UMass Students living off campus can purchase any university meal plan regardless of their year.

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 may change with our annual budget approval that is pending for FY 21, but will not be reduced due to COVID 19. Students will enjoy all Dining Commons as well as 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. Residential Meal Plans, excluding YCMP Gold and Platinum will receive 25 additional YCMP swipes to be used at our retail locations for no additional charge. Students will have the same variety and more accessibility this fall.

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 a certain location or get delivery?
Yes, UMass Dining is developing a mobile food ordering program set to roll out this fall. Students can 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.

My student canceled housing and will be studying remotely, do I have to cancel meal plan or will it automatically be credited? 
Once the decision is made to cancel residential campus living, Residential Life will update student profiles (approximately one week after deadline). Bursar bills will be distributed shortly after and you will be able to view your itemized bill to verify the meal plan update. If the meal plan remains on your bill once you see housing removed, please navigate to finances > fall/spring > meal plan and you can make the change on your own. SPIRE will update your bill the following day.

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.