Monday, October 6, 2008
Dining @ Maryland

Dining Plans

How Dining Plans Work

  • Students in traditional campus housing (with no private kitchen) are required by the university to have a dining plan.
  • New-to-housing students have a choice of three plans:
    • The Resident Dining Plan,
    • The Resident Dining Plan Plus, or
    • The Resident Dining Plan Red.
      The number of points in each plan is fixed and includes Resident Points and Terp Bucks.
  • Returning students who have been on a dining plan for two or more consecutive semesters can select one of the three Resident Dining Plans or may select one of six All-Campus Dining Plans. If they have selected a Resident Dining Plan, returning students have the option of “opting out” of the budgeting system.
  • Resident Points are the bulk of the dining plan and can be spent in the two main dining rooms and at Adele’s Restaurant at dinner. Terp Bucks are a smaller portion of the plan and add flexibility. They may be spent at 18 locations within Dining Services, including on-campus cafés and convenience shops.
  • Any student with a dining plan may purchase a Stamp Add-On Plan. This gives them points to spend in units that do not accept Resident Points or Terp Bucks.
  • Terrapin Express is a declining balance account accessed through your UM ID card. It is not a dining plan and does not substitute a dining plan. Terrapin Express provides flexibility and ease of access to many campus services including Dining Services.
  • You can combine plans and options for maximum flexibility. For example:
    • Add a Stamp Add-On Plan to a Resident Dining Plan or All-Campus Plan.
    • Enhance a Resident, All-Campus, or Apartment Dining Plan with a Terrapin Express account.
  • Students who do not live in traditional housing are not required to purchase a dining plan (students living in on-campus apartments, or any off-campus housing). To you, we offer the Apartment Dining Plan.
  • The university will include dining plans in the billing process. Dining Plans can be included in the Terrapin Payment Plan (monthly installments).