Frequently Asked Questions About Meal Plans
What is UMKC Dining Services?
What are the options and costs for Residential Meals Plans? How do they work?
What are Flex Dollars?
I will be living in a residence hall. Am I required to purchase a meal plan?
How many meals are offered per week?
When can I use my meals? When is the UMKC Dining Hall open?
Can I take meals "to go" from the UMKC Dining Hall?
If I use all of my meals for the week, how can I purchase more? What happens to the
What is a "meal plan week"?
May I use my meals to purchase food/beverages from retail locations around campus?
If I use all my of my flex dollars for the semester how can I purchase more? What happens to any unspent flex dollars at the end of the semester?
May I change my meal plan after I selected a plan?
What if I leave UMKC, will I get my money back?
Is a meal plan required in the summer?
If I want to pay for guests at the UMKC Dining Hall, may I use my meals?
How/where do I find out how many meals I have left in the week? And how many flex dollars I have left?
Are vegetarian/vegan options available at every meal?
How do I know what ingredients are begin used in the food?
If I have special dietary needs can you accommodate my needs?
How can I contact UMKC Dining Services?
What is UMKC Dining Services?
UMKC Dining Services is a partnership between the University of Missouri - Kansas City and Sodexo, our contracted food service company. UMKC Dining Services exists to provide comprehensive dining services to the UMKC community.
What are the options and costs for Residential Meals Plans? How do they work?
You may visit the most up-to-date Residential Meal Plan options here.
What are Flex Dollars?
Flex dollars are a declining balance that can be spent at all UMKC Dining Services locations. Flex dollars must be spent during the semester of purchase as any remaining balance will not roll over to the next semester and will not be refunded. Flex dollars can be used at:
- UMKC Café - located in the Student Success Center
- Freshëns - located in the Student Success Center
- Smart Market - located in Oak St. Hall
- Einstein Bros. Bagels - located in Royal Hall
- Café à la Cart - located in Miller Nichols Library
- Hospital Hill Café - located in the Health Sciences Building
- Chick-fil-A - to be located in the new Student Union (beginning in late August of 2010)
- Baja Fresh - to be located in the new Student Union (beginning in late August of 2010)
- Sub Connection - to be located in the new Student Union (beginning in late August of 2010)
- Jazzman's Cafe - to be located in the new Student Union (beginning in late August of 2010)
I will be living in a residence hall. Am I required to purchase a meal plan?
Yes, students living in Johnson Residence Hall or Oak Street Residence Halls are required to purchase one of the five residential meal plans.
How many meals are offered per week?
The UMKC Dining Hall offers 19 meals per week: three meals/day Mon. - Fri. and two meals/day on the weekends.
When can I use my meals? When is the UMKC Dining Hall open?
The UMKC Dining Hall usually opens on the Friday before the first day of class and closes after dinner on the last day of exams during the Winter and Spring Semesters. The UMKC Dining Hall is closed during Winter, Fall and Spring Breaks. The UMKC Dining Hall is open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm Monday - Friday and 11:00 am - 7:00 pm Saturday - Sunday. For updated UMKC Dining Hall hours, please visit the locations and hours page.
Can I take meals "to go" from the UMKC Dining Hall?
Yes. Here are some guidelines for using the "to-go" option in the UMKC Dining Hall:
- Food and beverage may ONLY be removed from the Dining Hall as a "to go" meal (described here).
- If you would like to take your meal "to go", please advise the cashier when you enter, and you will be given one, large food container, one, large drink container and appropriate utensils. You can only take food out in these containers.
- You may fill the food container with any food items of your choice and the beverage container with any beverage, but the lids to both containers must be able to remain closed unaided.
- If you choose to take your meal "to go", you may not eat in the Dining Hall. If you eat inside the Dining Hall, you may not take your meal "to go". You cannot do both.
- Only one, "to go" meal is allowed per person per meal period.
If I use all of my meals for the week, how can I purchase more? What happens to the meals that I do not use in a week?
You cannot increase your number of meals per week by purchasing more meals but you can use your flex dollars to purchase a meal at a "gate" price. Meals that are not used are lost on a weekly basis and will not roll over to the next week.
What is a "meal plan week"?
The weekly period begins on Monday and ends on Sunday.
May I use my meals to purchase food/beverages from retail locations around campus?
No. Only flex dollars, cash, and credit cards can be used at retail locations.
If I use all my of my flex dollars for the semester how can I purchase more? What happens to any unspent flex dollars at the end of the semester?
Flex dollars can be added to meal plans at any time. Flex dollars can be purchased at the OneCard Office, located across the hall from the Information Desk on the second floor of the Student Success Center. Unspent flex dollars do not roll over to the next semester and will not be refunded.
May I change my meal plan after I selected a plan?
Prior to the start of the semester and semester breaks are the only periods in which resident meal plans can be changed. Meal Plans can be changed at the Residential Life Office.
What if I leave UMKC, will I get my money back?
If a student leaves UMKC, they will be refunded the remaining balance of their plan at a prorated amount, based on the remaining days in the semester.
Is a meal plan required in the summer?
No. Students will have the opportunity to purchase a Declining Balance Meal Plan option during the summer semester.
If I want to pay for guests at the UMKC Dining Hall, may I use my meals?
You may use your meals to pay for guests ONLY on the 360 and 320 Meal Plans. All other plans must use flex dollars to pay for guests.
How/where do I find out how many meals I have left in the week? And how many flex dollars I have left?
Cashiers at any UMKC Dining Services venues can provide that information or you are welcome to visit the UMKC Dining Services Office, located on the first floor of the Student Success Center across from Freshëns.
Are vegetarian/vegan options available at every meal?
Yes, vegetarian/vegan options are always available. Daily vegetarian/vegan items can be found on the menu and at the UMKC Dining Hall.
How do I know what ingredients are begin used in the food?
Nutritional and allergen information about food being served can be found in the dining area in informational binders near the entrance. Please ask a Dining Services staff member for assistance if you cannot find a particular menu item or if you need more detailed information.
If I have special dietary needs can you accommodate my needs?
For special dietary needs, please contact UMKC Dining Services office located on the first floor of the Student Success Center and schedule an appointment with General Manager John Woodside. Mr. Pisors will work with you on an individual basis to create a plan for you with the help of our local dietician.
How can I contact UMKC Dining Services?
Fill out a feedback form, call the office at (816) 235-1417, visit the office on the first floor of the Student Success Center or email the General Manager.
