Campus Dining

FAQ

• When is my residential dining plan active?

  Residential dining plans are active only during academic semesters. For fall semester, plans are active from Monday, August 17, 2026, through Friday, December 11, 2026. Dining plans are not active during Thanksgiving week, Wednesday through Saturday. The Lodge Dining Center reopens for dinner the Sunday after Thanksgiving break.

• Can I use my residential dining plan during breaks?

  Residential dining plan access and Dining Dollars are not available during inactive plan periods, including Thanksgiving week and spring break. Some Campus Dining locations may still be open during these periods, and students may purchase food with an accepted payment method.

• What happens if I lose my Griz Card?

  To access your dining plan, Dining Dollars, or Bear Bucks, you will need your UM Griz Card digital credential or Griz Card ID. If your Griz Card is lost or stolen, report it right away online or by calling the Griz Card Center at (406) 243-6943 during business hours. Once reported missing, your Griz Card will be deactivated to help prevent unauthorized use of your door access, dining plan, Dining Dollars, Bear Bucks, and UMoney accounts. You are responsible for any activity associated with your Griz Card before it is reported lost or stolen.

• What are the dining plan options for off campus students and faculty or staff?

  Anyone with an active Griz Card, including students, faculty, staff, affiliates, retirees, and alumni, may purchase an Off-Campus Dining Plan. Off-Campus Dining Plans offer a set number of entries to The Lodge Dining Center during the academic year. Bear Bucks may also be added to your Griz Card for added flexibility at The Lodge Dining Center and most participating Campus Dining retail locations. For questions, contact the Campus Dining Main Office at (406) 243 6325 or angila.kress@mso.umt.edu

• Why am I required to purchase a residential dining plan if I live in a residence hall?

  All students living in an on-campus residence hall are required to purchase a residential dining plan. Residence halls are not designed to support regular cooking or food preparation, and residential dining plans help students access meals throughout the academic semester.

• How do I access my residential dining plan, Dining Dollars, and Bear Bucks?

  Your UM Griz Card digital credential or Griz Card ID is used to access your residential dining plan, Dining Dollars, and Bear Bucks. Your credential or card must be presented when entering The Lodge Dining Center or making a purchase with Dining Dollars or Bear Bucks.

• I have specialized dietary needs. Will my on campus residential dining plan accommodate these needs, and do I still have to purchase a dining plan if I live in a residence hall?

  Campus Dining accommodates most medical dietary restrictions. Registered dietitian services are available as part of your dining plan and can help you identify foods within Campus Dining locations that meet your dietary needs. All students living in a residence hall are required to purchase a residential dining plan.

• How often can I use my residential dining plan each week?

  The Maroon 7 Day Plan allows unlimited entries to The Lodge Dining Center during operating hours, seven days per week, during the current semester. The plan also includes five guest swipes and $300 in Dining Dollars.

  The Silver 5 Day Plan allows unlimited entries to The Lodge Dining Center during operating hours, Monday through Friday, during the current semester. The plan also includes five guest swipes and $100 in Dining Dollars.

• Can I host a guest with my residential dining plan?

  Yes. Each residential dining plan includes five guest swipes for use at The Lodge Dining Center. The dining plan holder must accompany their guest. After the five guest swipes are used, Dining Dollars may be used to host a guest. Guest meals may also be used during winter and spring breaks when The Lodge Dining Center is open. Dining plan swipes are nontransferable.

• Can I allow someone else to use my mobile credential or Griz Card to access my residential dining plan?

  No. Your UM Griz Card digital credential and Griz Card ID are nontransferable. The dining plan holder is the only person who may use their residential dining plan. Cards or credentials used by someone other than the cardholder may be confiscated or deactivated.

• Can I change or cancel my dining plan?

  If you move off-campus, you may cancel your residential dining plan and receive a prorated
  refund, on or before the 42nd day of the semester. Your residential dining plan will remain in
  effect until Campus Dining receives a confirmation email from UM Housing. A signed Check-Out
  Authorization Form will be emailed to Campus Dining Main Office, at which point your dining
  plan will become inactive. Once official notification is received, the refund, if applicable, will be
  processed and posted to your student account.
  One residential dining plan change is allowed on or before the 42nd day of the semester. If the
  plan change generates a refund, the refund will be credited to your student account. If the plan
  change generates an additional charge, your student account will be debited the additional
  amount.

  Refund dates and refund amounts

  Refund Date	% of Room & Board Refunded
  On or before the 7th day	100%
  On or before the 14th day	85%
  On or before the 21st day	80%
  On or before the 28th day	70%
  On or before the 35th day	50%
  On or before the 42nd day	25%
  On or after the 43rd day	0%

  Residential dining plan changes can be made any time on or before the 42nd day of the
  semester. To change your residential dining plan, email the Guest Experience Manager at
  angila.kress@mso.umt.edu and include your full name, student ID number (it starts with 790),
  phone number and dining plan selection. Verbal or in person requests will not be considered
  valid. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Campus Dining Main Office at
  (406) 243-6325 or stop by The Lodge Dining Center #101.

• Do my Dining Dollars or Bear Bucks roll over?

  Dining Dollars do not roll over. Dining Dollars are included with residential dining plans and are available only during the semester they are issued. At the end of the semester, unused Dining Dollars do not carry forward and are nonrefundable.

  Bear Bucks are separate from Dining Dollars. Bear Bucks are purchased separately and may carry forward between semesters and academic years, subject to account activity rules. Accounts with no deposits or purchases for nine consecutive months may be processed as unclaimed property in accordance with Montana law

• What happens if I run out of Off Campus Dining Plan entries, Dining Dollars, or Bear Bucks?

  If you run out of Off-Campus Dining Plan entries, Dining Dollars, or Bear Bucks, you may still purchase food at open Campus Dining locations with an accepted payment method.

  Off-Campus Dining Plan entries are sold in 25, 50, 75, or 100-entry plans. Bear Bucks may be purchased online or through the Campus Dining Main Office in The Lodge Dining Center, Room 101. Bear Bucks may be used at The Lodge Dining Center and most participating Campus Dining retail locations. Bear Bucks are not accepted at the Starbucks located in the Emma B. Lommasson Center.