Effective Date: July 1, 2025
This document outlines the terms and conditions governing the use, purchase and administration of all University of Waterloo Residence Meal Plans. By selecting or being assigned a Meal Plan, the student agrees to abide by these terms. University of Waterloo Residence Meal Plans are not associated with the affiliated university colleges’ meal plans.
1. DEFINITIONS
- Traditional Residence: Includes residences where students are required to purchase a Traditional Meal Plan: REV, V1 or CMH.
- Suite-Style Residence: Includes suite-style residences where students have the option to purchase a meal plan: MKV, Ebby/Beck Hall, Wellesley/Waterloo/Wilmot/Woolwich Court, Minota Hagey or Columbia Lake Village (CLV).
- Meal Plan: Refers to either the Traditional or Advantage Meal Plans offered by UW Food Services.
- Flex Dollars: Flex Dollars can be used anywhere that accepts WatCard as a form of payment, including Campus Housing laundry facilities, on-campus vending machines, W Print, W Store, and participating off-campus partner restaurants. If your Meal Plan Dollars are depleted, Flex Dollars will automatically be used at UW Food Services locations.
- Capital Improvement Charge: Non-refundable charge used for infrastructure improvements.
- Overhead Portion: Portion of the Meal Plan used to cover fixed operating costs associated with residence dining hall operations and to support the ongoing enhancement of Meal Plan programs.
2. TRADITIONAL MEAL PLAN TERMS & CONDITIONS
2.1 Students assigned to a Traditional Residence must purchase a Traditional Meal Plan for each academic term a student is enrolled in a Traditional Residence. Any carry-forward Meal Plan funds from the same academic term will retain their original tax-exemption and price reduction attributes during the term in which the new Meal Plan is purchased.
2.2 If an Advantage Meal Plan is selected and the student is placed in a Traditional Residence, the plan will automatically be converted to the Traditional 'B' Plan by default.
2.3 Students who do not select a Meal Plan will be automatically assigned to the Traditional 'B' Plan by default.
2.4 Activation of a residence Meal Plan constitutes acceptance of all terms and conditions outlined in the UW Food Services Meal Plan Terms and Conditions.
2.5 Once a Traditional meal plan is selected and purchased, cancellations are not permitted.
2.6 Students with medical dietary restrictions must complete the Accessible Housing Application for residence-assignment accommodation requests.
2.7 Traditional and Advantage 'A' Meal Plans are intended for personal use only and are tax-exempt in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. Sharing or misuse of your Meal Plan will be considered fraudulent (see Section 5 below).
2.8 The Capital Improvement Charge is non-refundable and is deducted at the start of each academic term.
2.9 Traditional Meal Plans include a non-refundable, non-prorated Overhead Portion, which is allocated to cover the fixed costs associated with operating residence dining facilities. This Overhead Portion is automatically deducted at the beginning of each academic term. As students make food purchases at UW Food Services locations, they receive a 50% reduction off the retail price. This reduction is intended to offset the Overhead Portion and ensure students receive the full value of their Meal Plan. The 50% retail price reduction at UW Food Services locations does not carry forward at the end of the academic term, even if the full meal plan balance has not been used.
2.10 All unused Meal Plan funds (excluding the Overhead Portion and Capital Improvement Charge) carry forward each term while the student remains enrolled at the University of Waterloo.
2.11 At the end of an academic term, when a Meal Plan holder vacates their residence room, any remaining Meal Plan funds (excluding the Overhead Portion and Capital Improvement Charge) will carry forward, as long as they remain enrolled at the University of Waterloo. However, funds carried forward will lose their tax-exempt status and associated price-reduction benefits.
2.12 Unused Meal Plan funds are refundable upon withdrawal from the University, graduation, or termination of affiliation with the University. Refund requests must be made through the WatCard Office using Refund Request Form. Funds that are not claimed will be forfeited.
3. ADVANTAGE MEAL PLAN TERMS & CONDITIONS
3.1 Advantage Meal Plans are optional and available to residents in Suite-Style Residences.
3.2 Advantage Meal Plans are non-cancellable after the first month in the academic term. Exceptions are granted only upon withdrawal from the University. A non-refundable Capital Improvement Charge applies to all Advantage Meal Plans.
3.3 Advantage 'A' Plans follow the same format as Traditional Meal Plans concerning pricing, Overhead Portion, carry-forward and taxation.
3.4 Students who have purchased an Advantage Meal Plan are not required to purchase a new plan in subsequent terms. However, if a new Meal Plan is purchased, carry-forward funds from the same academic term receive the applicable tax-exemption and price reduction attributes during the term of purchase.
3.5 At the end of an academic term, when a Meal Plan holder vacates their residence room, any remaining Meal Plan funds (excluding the Overhead Portion and Capital Improvement Charge) will carry forward, as long as they remain enrolled at the University of Waterloo. However, funds carried forward will lose their tax-exempt status and associated price-reduction benefits.
3.6 Unused Meal Plan funds are refundable upon withdrawal from the University, graduation, or termination of affiliation with the University. Refund requests must be made through the WatCard Office using Refund Request Form. Funds that are not claimed will be forfeited.
4. FLEX DOLLAR TERMS & CONDITIONS
4.1 Flex Dollars are included with select Meal Plans. Additional Flex Dollars can be added at any time, and in any amount, through the WatCard Office.
4.2 Flex Dollars can be used anywhere that accepts WatCard as a form of payment, including Campus Housing laundry facilities, on-campus vending machines, W Print, W Store, participating off-campus partner restaurants, and at UW Food Services dining locations.
4.3 Flex Dollars are not subject to the Overhead Portion.
4.4 Meal Plan tax-exemption and price reduction benefits do not apply to purchases made with Flex Dollars at UW Food Services locations.
4.5 At the end of the academic term, unused Flex Dollars carry forward, provided the student remains enrolled at the University of Waterloo.
4.6 Unused Flex dollar funds are refundable upon withdrawal from the University, graduation, or termination of affiliation with the University. Refund requests must be made through the WatCard Office using Refund Request Form. Funds that are not claimed will be forfeited.
5. FRAUDULENT USE
5.1 Fraudulent use of Meal Plans or Meal Plan funds, including unauthorized transfers or theft of food, may result in fines and disciplinary action, up to and including student academic discipline under University of Waterloo Policy 71.
6. REFUND POLICY
6.1 Refunds are only considered in cases of withdrawal from residence or withdrawal from the University, and must be requested via the WatCard Office.
6.2 Refunds may be issued when a student withdraws from residence during the term in which the Meal Plan was purchased. Refunds are not automatic and are subject to verification of the student’s withdrawal from residence and/or the University.
After verification of withdrawal, the refund would consist of the following:
- Meal Plan Portion: Any unused meal plan funds are refundable.
- Overhead Portion: Refundable on a pro-rated basis, according to the same pro-ration terms found in the student's residence contract.
- Capital Improvement Charge: Non-refundable under any circumstances.
- Flex Dollars: Any unused meal plan flex dollars are refundable.
