Gator Dining Services - Frequently Asked Questions WORD

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1	How do I purchase a Meal Plan?
	There are 5 easy ways to sign up for a Meal Plan: By Mail – 114 Rec Center Dining; Gainesville, FL 32611 By Phone – (352) 392-2491 Online – www.gatordining.com or www.gator1.ufl.edu By Fax – (352) 392-9787 Walk-in to the Business Office You may pay using a credit card (balance in full or a payment plan when purchasing a spring meal Plan), cash, check, or financial aid deferment. [close]
2	What is the credit card payment plan?
	The credit card payment plan breaks down the payments for a residential meal plan with eight installments. Payments for the fall meal plan will occur on 7/1/09, 8/1/09, 9/1/09 and 10/1/09. Payments for the spring meal plan will occur on 11/1/09, 12/1/09, 1/1/10 and 2/1/10. Call 352-392-2491 to arrange for this service. [close]
3	Does Gator Dining Services accept Financial Aid Deferment?
	Yes, you may defer payment of your All Campus Meal Plan or your Declining Balance Account (with a minimum balance request of $500) if the expected amount of your financial aid award is large enough to cover your meal plan PLUS the amount of your tuition, campus housing expenses (if applicable) and any bookstore deferment you may have chosen. If approved, Financial Aid will be automatically resubmitted in the spring semester for the same amount. Please contact Gator Dining Services for more information. [close]
4	What are the Meal Plan options?
	The All Campus Meal Plan is recommended for all resident students and is the most economical, flexible, and fun way to eat on campus. We offer a variety of options to fit your life-style. Choose from 7 days Unlimited, 5 days Unlimited, 14 meals per week or the all inclusive 7 days Unlimited Plus, we also offer a block plan which provides 150 meals for you to eat at any time during the semester. The meals are redeemable at Fresh Food Co., Gator Corner Dining Center, Home Zone and Orange and Brew in the Reitz Union. [close]
5	How do I choose the best Meal Plan for me?
	Whether you eat three square meals a day, snack often, or eat sporadically, there is a Meal Plan for you! Call (352) 392-2491 for an individual assessment and recommendation. [close]
6	Can I change my Meal Plan?
	A grace period is provided each semester during which you may transfer the prorated values of your Residential Meal Plan to a Delining Blance Account. Please note that if you have chosen a payment plan and your balance is not paid in full for that semester, a temporary hold may be placed on the portion of your Flex Bucks funds that have not yet been collected. Fall grace period: 8/16/09 - 8/28/09 at 5 pm; spring grace period: 1/3/10-1/8/10 at 5 pm. After the grace period you can still upgrade your Meal Plan, but cannot downgrade. [close]
7	Is there a two semester commitment for the Meal Plan?
	Yes. When you purchase a Meal Plan for the Fall semester (regardless of whether you convert it to Declining Balance or a fraternity/sorority meal plan during the grace period), you must purchase a Meal Plan for the Spring semester as well. You do not have to purchase the same plan you had for Fall; however, you can choose any meal option to fulfill that obligation. [close]
8	What are the door rates for the dining halls?
	$5.99 for breakfast, $7.99 for lunch and $8.99 for dinner. [close]
9	Can I bring guests to the dining halls?
	The Flex Bucks portion of a meal plan or a Declining Balance Account can be used to treat a guest to a dining facility; however, a meal from the Meal Plan can only be used by the individual with the Meal Plan. [close]
10	Can I take my meals to-go if I don’t feel like eating in the dining hall?
	Yes. Please tell the cashier you would like your meal to-go at the time of purchase. Unfortunately, you may not stay in the dining hall if you choose a meal to-go. The to-go box must be fully closed when you leave. The to-go option is a convenience for you. If you choose unlimited portions, you must dine-in. [close]
11	What is a Declining Balance Account?
	For the student living a distance from campus, the Declining Balance Account is a convenient alternative to the All Campus Meal Plan. The Declining Balance Account allows the student to deposit funds at any time. The account is accepted at all Gator Dining locations. There is no fee to establish the account and no minimum balance to maintain. Any unused balance carries forward from semester to semester and from year to year until you graduate or leave school. It’s fast – just scan and go. It’s convenient and safe – no need to carry cash on campus. It may also be used at any campus dining location and convenience store. [close]
12	What is the difference between Flex Bucks and Declining Balance?
	Both Flex Bucks and Declining Balance are accounts on your Gator 1 Card that work just like a debit account for food. They are accepted at all food locations on campus. Flex Bucks come with a Meal Plan while Declining Balance is maintained separately. Because Flex Bucks come with a Meal Plan, they expire at the end of the spring semester while Declining Balance will continue to rollover until you graduate, withdraw, or transfer from UF. [close]
13	What are the advantages of having a Meal Plan?
	The Meal Plan is the most convenient and economical way to eat on campus. Our two all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities are located near residential areas and provide not only great places to eat healthy, but also popular destinations for socializing and studying. There are a wide variety of Meal Plans to fit any student’s schedule and eating habits, plus each Meal Plan includes Flex Bucks for flexible dining at all locations on campus. [close]
14	Does my Meal Plan rollover at the end of the semester?
	Any unused meals at the end of the semester will not roll forward into the following semester; however, the Flex Bucks portion of the Meal Plan will rollover until the end of the spring semester if the account is in good standing. [close]
15	How do I add money to my dining account?
	If you are low on Flex Bucks, you can open a Declining Balance account to supplement your Meal Plan. Declining Balance customers can add money to their account at any point in the semester as well. Both of these options are able to be done over the phone, online at www.gator1.ufl.edu, or in person at the business office. Computer kiosks are conveniently located at select dining locations on campus for quick Declining Balance add-ons. [close]
16	Where is the Gator Dining Business Office?
	The Gator Dining Business Office is located in the Racquet Club Dining Center just north of the infirmary and across the street from Academic Advisement on Fletcher Drive. [close]
17	Why is my Meal Plan not showing up online?
	Although you may have already purchased a Meal Plan, it will not show up on Gator 1 Central until it is activated (at the beginning of the semester), regardless of what method you used to purchase it. [close]
18	If I join a fraternity or a sorority, what happens to my Meal Plan?
	View the Fraternity/Sorority Refund Policy. [close]
19	How do the dining halls accommodate special dietary needs?
	Whether for religious, personal, or health reasons, Gator Dining Services strives to accommodate a large range of special dietary needs. Many of the recipes at both dining halls can be made without certain ingredients upon request. In addition, both dining halls have permanent Vegan Corner stations that serve daily entrees. For more information and specific questions, please contact Gator Dining Nutritionist, Hannah Stahmer, at stahmer@ufl.edu. [close]
20	Do you offer a Kosher Meal Plan?
	Choose from either a block of 20, 40, 80 or 160 meals a semester at Café Olam in the UF Hillel building (Norman H. Lipoff Hall – adjacent to campus) or you can choose to upgrade any Gator Dining Meal Plan and get 40 extra meals per semester that can also be used at Café Olam. [close]
21	What is pro-ration?
	If you request to modify or cancel your meal plan under one of the three approved circumstances (transferring to Declining Balance during the grace period, joining a fraternity or sorority with a mandatory meal plan component, or graduating, withdrawing, or transferring from UF), then the remaining value of your meal plan will be prorated on a weekly basis (Wednesday through Tuesday), based on the number of weeks remaining in the semester. This method applies to all meal plans, including the 150 Blocks, regardless of how many meals have been eaten. In addition, a $30 administration fee will be assessed for refunds. [close]
22	When does the Meal Plan start and stop?
	The Meal Plan for the Summer B term will begin on June 22th and end on August 7th. The Meal Plan for the Fall semester will begin on August 16th and will end on December 18th at 4pm. [close]
23	Where can I eat on the Meal Plan?
	The meal portion of the Meal Plan can be used at both all-you-care-to-eat dining halls on campus as well as Home Zone in the Reitz Union food court and coming in Fall 2009 Orange and Brew. You can choose to dine-in or take a to-go box with you. Flex Bucks from the Meal Plan can be used at any of the 40+ dining locations on campus. [close]
24	What if I live off campus?
	Students who live off campus usually opt for a smaller Residential Meal Plan (150 Block), a Commuter Meal Plan (50 or 75 Block) or the Declining Balance option. [close]
25	Where are all dining locations on campus?
	Visit the Gator Dining Map at http://www.gatordining.com/Map.asp. [close]
26	When do the dining locations open and close?
	Visit http://www.gatordining.com/hours/. [close]
27	Is there a Faculty/Staff Meal Plan?
	Yes. For complete details and to sign up, please visit http://www.gatordining.com/FacultyStaff. [close]
28	Can anyone on campus purchase a Commuter Meal Plan?
	No. Commuter Meal Plans are exclusively offered to off campus students only. However, off campus students are able to purchase any of the Residential Meal Plans or Declining Balance. [close]