Frequently Asked Questions

Using your dining plan is easy peasy! Once you have gotten your student ID card, you can use your ID at any of the Chartwells' locations. The ID card will already be loaded with the plan amount you have chosen. All you have to do is swipe! For more information, you can click here.

As a first-year student living in Residence, having a mandatory dining plan serves several purposes that you'll come to appreciate:

  1. Convenience and Transition: Being new to University life, you're still adjusting to many aspects, including managing your meals. Having a dining plan readily available saves you the hassle of grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up, allowing you to focus more on your studies and social life.

  2. Community Building: The dining locations become a central meeting place on campus, where you'll have the chance to connect with fellow students. By requiring a dining plan, the university encourages you to mingle and build friendships, which is crucial for your sense of belonging here.

  3. Health and Nutrition: You'll be grateful that the dining plan ensures you have access to balanced and nutritious meals. It's reassuring to know that the university is looking out for your well-being by providing access to healthy food options, especially during this period of adjustment.

  4. Financial Planning: Including the cost of the dining plan in your overall tuition package makes budgeting much simpler. You don't have to worry about setting aside separate funds for food expenses, as it's all taken care of upfront.

Overall, while you might initially have reservations about the mandatory dining plan, you'll come to see it as a valuable part of your University experience, providing convenience, community, and peace of mind.

The dining plan offers a wide array of healthy food choices as well as popular choices throughout the day and evening. If you have any food allergies or specific dietary requirements (medical, cultural, religious, lifestyle, personal preference, other, etc.), please contact Chartwells with any questions related to your individual dietary needs.

No refund or reduction in the mandatory dining plan will be considered due to dietary restrictions.

Any funds remaining on your Base Dollars at the end of the Winter Term will be TRANSFERRED IN FULL to Flex Dollars after May 1. There will be no penalty or fee for this transfer. Funds remaining on your Flex Dollars will remain active and available for your use throughout your time at the University and will not expire. Dining Plans are not refundable or redeemable for cash while you are an active student at ULethbridge. If there are Flex Dollars remaining when you complete your time at the University, a refund will be issued.

You can add money to your Dining Plan at any time. Please visit one of the Self-service Cash Load Stations around campus or go online to MyFunds.

Chartwells operates six dining outlets located on campus:

1. Urban Market (main food outlet) in University Hall

2. Subway in University Hall

3. Carvery & Bakery in the Science & Academic Building

4. Starbucks in the Library Building

5. Booster Juice in 1st Choice Savings Centre

6. Tim Hortons in 1st Choice Savings Centre

Yes! Dining plans are available to students beyond their first year of residence. To purchase a dining plan, click here.

A processing fee of $75 will be charged for early withdrawals for reasons other than academic withdrawal. GST will be assessed on all Base Dollar purchases and deducted from the balance remaining for remittance to the Canadian Revenue Agency. Partial refunds may be issued to participants upon termination of the License Agreement with Housing Services. If you are a current first-year resident, you cannot withdraw from the Residence Dining Plan.

If you are not planning on returning to the University of Lethbridge for the Fall, please contact housing@uleth.ca after May 15 to request a dining plan refund.

If you are registered for University of Lethbridge Classes for the Fall, then your Dining Plan Base funds have already been transferred to Flex dollars and are not eligible for a refund.

Yes! You can certainly purchase a dining plan if you do not live in Residence. To do so, click here.

For all first-year students, there is an one time mandatory innovation fund fee. The Innovation Fund is used to enhance options within the dining plan food providers. For example: a smoothie machine in Urban Market.

Yes, there is! You can view our dining plan brochure below:

2024-2025 Dining Plan Brochure