Policies & Forms

2009/10 Dining Plan Contracts

Your dining plan and food points plan are legal contracts between you and the University. Therefore, it is important to review the contract carefully and file it for future reference. For more information, please see the Dining Plan Change/Appeal Policy.

Adding Dining Points

Upward changes in Plan level are allowed anytime. Up to $1,500 in extra Dining Points may be added to your Dining Account per semester. These changes may be requested at the DukeCard Office (100 West Union Building, 684-5800). The additional Points may be charged to your Bursar account.

Reducing your Dining Points

Changing Your Fall Dining Plan

Once Dining Contracts are signed, they may be changed prior to June 5th using the Dining Plan Change Form.

On June 6th, all Dining Plan Contracts are loaded into the University Bursar’s billing system, and Dining Services’ staffing and operations plans are finalized for the coming academic year. After this date, Dining Plan choices are considered final and may only be reduced in level during the Dining Plan Change Period described below.

Changing Your Spring Dining Plan

If you need a lower Dining Plan in the Spring than the one you signed up for in Fall, you must change your Dining Plan during the Dining Plan Change Period. There is a $20 processing fee for downward plan level changes, but no fee for upward plan level changes. Don't miss the October 31th deadline!

  • How can you know in October whether you will need a smaller Dining Plan in the Spring? See the Points Usage Calculator.

The Dining Plan Change Period

Sometimes your schedule or eating habits may change, and you may need a different dining plan for the Spring Semester. For this reason, we provide an open change period during the Fall if you need to change your Spring Semester's Dining Plan level.

For Spring 2010, the open change period begins September 14th and ends October 31th. During this period Dining Plan levels for the upcoming Spring Semester may be changed without restriction by visiting the DukeCard Office. There is a $20 processing fee for downward Plan level changes, but no fee for upward Plan level changes. Don't miss the October deadline! We can't accept changes after this date.

Change Your Spring Semester Dining Plan If You Are

  • moving off campus
  • going abroad
  • moving to Central Campus
  • graduating in December
  • going part-time during the Spring Semester

Visit the DukeCard Office, 100 West Union Building, to change Dining Plans for Spring Semester.

Canceling your Dining Plan

Under certain circumstances you may cancel your Dining Plan and receive a refund or credit. These circumstances are normally limited to:

Academic Withdrawal

If you withdraw from enrollment or take a leave of absence, you may cancel your Dining Plan by presenting the DukeCard Office with certification from the Office of the University Registrar. There is a $30.00 cancellation fee to cover the costs of processing this transaction. If the DukeCard Office is notified prior to June 5th for Fall Semester or between September 14th and October 31th for Spring Semester, this fee will be waived.

Moving Out Of Residence Halls or to Central Campus

If you move out of the campus residence halls permanently or leave campus for a prolonged period elsewhere (eg. Semester at the Marine Lab, Semester in Europe program) you may cancel or reduce the level of your Dining Plan upon presentation of certification from the Office of Student Development at the DukeCard Office. There is a $30 fee for Dining Plan cancellations, but there is no charge for a reduction in Dining Plan level. The cancellation fee will be waived if you will be taking an official university leave for the upcoming semester and the DukeCard Office is notified of this intent prior to June 6th for Fall Semester or between September 14th and October 31th for Spring Semester.

Exemptions from the Dining Plan

A student who has a medical condition requiring a diet that cannot be met by Dining Services or whose religious beliefs impose dietary restrictions that cannot be met by Dining Services may request the cancellation or reduction in level of his or her Dining Plan.

Appealing for a Dining Plan Change

If you disagree with how Dining Services Administration enforces dining policies, you can appeal our decisions to the DUSDAC. DUSDAC, the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee, is a Duke Student Government committee that serves as a link between students and Dining Services. DUSDAC provides informed student feedback to Dining Services, working closely with Dining administration to help ensure that students enjoy an excellent dining experience.

Special Events on Points Policy

As part of its mission to serve the Duke community, Dining Services allows student organizations to use student dining plan food points to pay for group dining activities and to raise money for charity.