Dining FAQs

A meal plan is required and included in the Room/Board Package pricing for all first-year housing students. First-year residential students are required to have a 300-block plan, which can be upgraded to the 300-block Platinum. 

Your meal plan and flex dollars will be loaded on your Mountain Lion ID card. 

Students living in upper-class-designated housing areas or off campus are not required to have a meal plan but are welcome to purchase any plan or Clyde's Cash. This can be done throughout the semester. 

No, meal plan holders may not give their Lion OneCard to another person to gain access. Meal plans are not transferable between students. If a meal plan holder gives their card to another person to gain access to a dining facility, the contract holder's card will be flagged/held and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The cash price of the meal will be placed on the holder's plan/account.

Based on your plan, there are guest meals available. Once you run out of guest meals, you can pay with dining dollars, Clyde's Cash, credit cards, or cash.

No, for your security, we will not manually type in an ID number without an ID present. If you are having issues with your Mobile ID, please contact Lion OneCard.

Typically, plans start at the dinner meal service on the first day of freshmen move-in in August. Meals end after lunch on Friday of finals week. Please check your email or the dining Instagram for updated information.

Mandatory meal plan holders can upgrade to 300 block Platinum within the first two weeks. 

Apartment residents or students living off campus, can change plans through the first two weeks of each semester. 

No, each block plan has a set number of meals per semester based on your plan. Plans expire at the end of the semester.

You may receive a prorated refund, based on the number of service days up until census, if approved by senior administration for authorized reasons.

Yes, we offer a variety of meal plans for off-campus students that can be purchased anytime during the semester. Meal plans will expire at the end of the semester and do not roll over. 

Clyde's Cash is another great alternative to a meal plan.

Retail Swipes allow students to use their meal plans at multiple venues across campus. The number of retail swipes is based on the meal plan held. Retail Swipes can be redeemed at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, all Big Cat Coffee locations, Mobile Ordering, and Hybl Cafe. 

Swipes have a $7.50 value. Students can order any UCCS-made item at approved locations and cover any overages with dining dollars, Clyde's Cash, credit, or debit. 

Swipes have the best value at all-you-care-to-eat locations; however, they can be used at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, all Big Cat Coffee locations, Mobile Ordering, and Hybl Cafe at a value of $7.50 per swipe.

No, you can use Retail Swipes instead of Meal Swipes during meal periods. Upon use, Retail Swipes are subtracted from your total meal swipe count. 

The Clyde's Cash program is a great way to pay for food on campus. Clyde's Cash is accepted at any on-campus Dining and Hospitality Services venues, like Café 65, Clyde's Gastropub, residential dining, Alpine Express, or any of our campus coffee shops.

Clyde's Cash expires when the holder is no longer associated with the University. Clyde's Cash can also be used for any overages on a Retail Swipe.

Some meal plans come with dining dollars that can be used at any dining location for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Dining dollars will roll over from the fall to the spring semester if you purchase a new meal plan for the spring semester, but they expire at the end of the academic school year. Make sure that you use them.

Dining Dollars can also be used for any overages on a Retail Swipe.

Yes, you can access our menus from our menus and location page. 

DHS is always looking for students who support our vision and mission. You can view positions and apply online at SEANs.

DHS has significant resources to meets the meal requirements of students. There are dietician services available at Student Health Services. You can learn more on our nutrition page. 

Yes, we have to-go boxes available upon request. 1 to-go box = 1 meal swipe. Students are not allowed to fill a plate and a to-go box. 

Please refer to our Instagram page for special events, specials, and holiday hours.

Thanksgiving - Closed Thursday & Friday

Winter Break - Dining halls closed and limited hours at Big Cat Coffee UC and Clyde's.

Spring Break - Limited hours

Refer to the Dining Instagram for Special hours during breaks. 

1) Download the Mobile App

• Google Play
• iOS

2) Fill out your profile.

Select UCCS as your school, and enter your info.

3) Use the app to order

Customize your experience and order in advance for pick-up

4) Earn rewards!

Accumulate points every time you order with Transact Mobile.

You can find step by step instructions on our main meal plan page.

Yes! You earn points every time you place an order through mobile ordering. We push out exclusive deals, such as double points, giveaways, and specialty items through the mobile app.