New Students & Parents

Retriever Dollars can be used all across campus to pay for tuition, food, textbooks, apparel, stamps, event tickets, as well as pay for printing services. This fund may also be used in all vending machines on campus and can even be used at select locations in the surrounding neighborhoods. Money added to Retriever Dollars may only be refunded at the conclusion of the Academic Year. Adding Retriever Dollars to a student’s account is easy! Simply open the GET portal, Under Parents, Guardians, or Other Relatives click the link, then enter the Students PIK (this is the same as their Campus ID number, for example: AB12345) and their Date of Birth, Click Continue, Verify the name of the student is at the top of the screen then follow the instructions on the screen.

Funds may be added with cash at the following locations on campus:

• Commons Information Center – Commons Building, Main Floor
• Student Business Services – Administration Building, 3rd Floor

Funds may be added by check here at the Retriever Card & Mail Services department. Hand-deliver the check during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:00PM) or mail the check to UMBC Retriever Card & Mail Services, 1000 Hilltop Circle, University Center 112, Baltimore MD 21250. Please note the desired account (Retriever Dollars) as well as the Campus ID number (For example: AB12345) on the memo line.

The Ultimate plan allows unlimited access to UMBC’s Dining Hall, True Grits. With this meal plan, you can go in and out of True Grits as many times as you wish in every meal period. But you are not restricted to eating at only this location. If you wish to dine at any retail location on campus, you are entitled to one meal per meal period. With this plan, your first action during a meal period determines how you can utilize the plan for the remainder of the meal period. For instance, if you go to True Grits for breakfast, you may return as often as you’d like within that meal period. However, you cannot go to a retail location in the same meal period if you’ve already spent a meal at the dining hall. The reverse is also true. If you spend a meal at a retail location during the breakfast period, you have used your equivalency for that period and must wait until the next meal period to use another meal.

The Flexible 14 meal plan allows up to 14 meals per week for every week of the semester. This meal plan also allows multiple meals at almost any dining location on campus (The only dining locations that do not allow multiple meals per meal period are the Retriever Markets located in the Commons and True Grits). Essentially, you could spend all 14 meals within one meal period, but then you would’ve exhausted all your meals for the week. Typically students choose this meal plan if their schedule conflicts with the one meal per meal period rule. Because of scheduling conflicts and extracurricular activities, some students find that it is necessary for them to eat at the beginning and end of the same meal period.

One of our newer meal plans, the Savvy 16 allows up to 16 meals per week for each week of the semester. Only one meal can be used per meal period at any dining location. This is an ideal plan for students desiring a higher count of meals per week and a larger allowance of Flex dollars for the semester. Any unused meals will expire on Monday morning and will not carry over into the next week. In addition to 16 weekly meals, this plan comes with $105 Flex to be used throughout the semester.

The Terrific 12 provides 12 meals per week for every week of the semester but only allows one meal per meal period at any location on campus. This is the most cost efficient meal plan available to mandatory (dormitory) students. This may be an ideal plan for those who will be using community kitchens to prepare meals or for those who may not intend to spend weekends on campus.

Super 225 Block provides 225 meals to be used throughout the entire semester. This meal plan does not reset weekly; the meals are allotted on a per semester rather than a weekly basis. However, this does not mean that any unused meals at the end of the semester will roll over into the next; all unused meals will expire. Having a block of meals versus recurring weekly plans can be beneficial for those who frequently travel off-campus during the weekends or otherwise find it difficult to eat a specified number of meals every week. The Super 225 averages out to approximately 15 meals per week and works similarly to The Ultimate in that you may use multiple meals per meal period at True Grits but only one meal per meal period at any other dining venue.

The 100 Block provides a block of 100 meals to be used throughout the semester. You may choose to have multiple meals per meal period at True Grits or one meal per meal period at any other dining location on campus. This plan is ideal for commuter students or apartment students who will prepare most meals themselves, but would still like the option to purchase a handful of meals on campus each week. If you purchase a 100 Block and find that sometime during the semester you’ve run out of meals, you can purchase another 100 Block – or any other meal plan of your choice.

Students living in a traditional residence hall (Chesapeake, Erickson, Harbor, Patapsco, Potomac, and Susquehanna) are not eligible to sign up for this plan.

The Mega 50 provides a block of 50 meals to be used throughout the semester. You may choose to have multiple meals per meal period at True Grits or one meal per meal period at any other dining location on campus. This plan is ideal for commuter students or apartment students who will prepare most meals themselves, but would still like the option to purchase a handful of meals on campus each week. If you purchase a Mega 50 Block and find that sometime during the semester you’ve run out of meals, you can purchase another Mega 50 – or any other meal plan of your choice.

Students living in a traditional residence hall (Chesapeake, Erickson, Harbor, Patapsco, Potomac, and Susquehanna) are not eligible to sign up for this plan.

The Mini 25 provides a block of 25 meals to be used throughout the semester. You may choose to have multiple meals per meal period at True Grits or one meal per meal period at any other dining location on campus. This plan is ideal for commuter students or apartment students who will prepare the majority of meals themselves but would like to occasionally purchases meals on campus throughout the semester. If you purchase a Mini 25 and find that sometime during the semester you’ve run out of meals, you can purchase another Mini 25 or any other meal plan of your choice.

Students living in a traditional residence hall (Chesapeake, Erickson, Harbor, Patapsco, Potomac, and Susquehanna) are not eligible to sign up for this plan.

Flex is a predetermined amount of money that comes with most meal plans. Each plan has a designated allotment of Flex that is available for use throughout the semester. Since Flex is part of the meal plan and is incorporated into the initial cost of the meal plan, additional Flex may not be added. Any unused Flex from the Fall Semester will carry over to the Spring Semester to be used. Any unused Flex at the end of the Spring Semester will expire. Flex can be used to make small food purchases at any dining location on campus, such as a cup of coffee or a piece of fruit. Flex can also be used as a declining balance if the total cost of your items exceeds the meal equivalency amount. A meal plan “swipe” will cover $8.90 of your purchase. Suppose your items total $9.90, then the meal plan will cover $8.90, leaving a balance of $1.00 to be paid. This remaining balance can be paid by Flex instead of by cash or credit card.

You can now purchase a $50 bundle of Flex Dollars separate from your Flex Dollars that come with your meal plan that can be used during the Fall and Spring Semesters. The cost of this bundle is $47.50. You can purchase a maximum of TWO bundles per semester. The Flex Bundle will be available for use during the Fall and Spring semesters only. You can use the Flex Bundle anywhere you currently are able to use your Flex Dollars that come with your meal plan. Any unused Flex from the bundle in the Fall Semester will roll over to the Spring Semester. Any unused Flex Dollars at the end of the Spring Semester will expire. Purchase a Flex Bundle here.

Hot Tip: When visiting True Grits dining hall, one meal swipe is all that’s required to enjoy the many selections at this all-you-care-to-eat establishment – no Flex needed! Most other dining locations offer ‘Meal Deals’ which are predetermined selections of food covered by a $8.90 Meal Equivalency (meal swipe).

Related Definitions: Meal Equivalency, Meal Deal

Some meal plans come with five free Guest Passes that can be used throughout the semester. These Guest Passes are not ‘extra’ meals for the student – they are meal “swipes” that the student can use to treat family and friends to breakfast, lunch/brunch, or dinner at True Grits dining hall. Guest Passes may not be used at any other location on campus. Additional passes cannot be purchased.

Hot Tip: Treat your family, friends, or significant other to a meal at True Grits without paying out-of-pocket!

Related Definitions: Meal Equivalency, Flex

Each day is broken down into four distinct Meal Periods: Breakfast, Lunch (or Brunch), Dinner, and Late Night. The hours for each of these Meal Periods are listed below. Some meal plans will provide the ability to use multiple meal equivalencies – or “swipes” – in a given Meal Period while other meal plans are limited to just one meal “swipe” per Meal Period. Some meal plans even combine these rules to allow multiple meal “swipes” at certain locations while restricting the user to just one “swipe” at other locations per Meal Period.

• Breakfast: 6:00AM – 10:59AM
• Lunch: 11:00AM – 3:59PM
• Dinner: 4:00PM – 7:59PM
• Late Night: 8:00PM – 1:59AM

Hot Tip: No meal plan will provide the ability to use multiple meal “swipes” at the Retriever Markets located in the Commons and True Grits. These are the only locations that are an exception to the multiple meals per Meal Period rule.

A Meal Equivalency is the same as a meal “swipe”. The Meal Equivalency value for the current Academic Year is $8.90. Meaning, each time a meal “swipe” is used, it covers $8.90 of the total cost of the items purchased. If the value of all items exceeds the equivalency amount of $8.90, then the remaining amount must be paid with either Flex, Retriever Dollars, cash, or credit card. Most dining locations offer Meal Deals which is a predetermined offering of items that equal a Meal Equivalency. If the items purchased do not deviate from the Meal Deal offerings, then one meal “swipe” will cover the entire cost and no additional payment is necessary.

The only location that does not adhere to the $8.90 Meal Equivalency is True Grits dining hall. One meal “swipe” at True Grits is equivalent to the door rate which is much higher than the $8.90 equivalency amount making True Grits the location providing the greatest value for each meal. True Grit’s door rates are below:

• Breakfast: $10.75+ tax
• Lunch: $15.75 + tax
• Dinner: $17.00 + tax

Hot Tip: Meal Deals are only applicable with a meal plan. For example, at Chick-fil-a, a Meal Deal may consist of an original chicken sandwich, regular-sized waffle fry, and regular-sized fountain beverage, all for one Meal Equivalency of $8.90. A person without a meal plan purchasing the exact same items is not entitled to a Meal Deal and therefore must pay the individual retail price for each item. In this example, that comes out to be $10.37 plus tax!

Related Definitions: Flex, Meal Deal

A Meal Deal is a predetermined offering of food that, when purchased with a meal plan, equals one Meal Equivalency (meal “swipe”) of $8.90. Meal Deals will always consist of an entrée, a choice of side, and a beverage. Most locations on campus offer Meal Deals – see the Meal Deal options at the various on-campus dining locations. If desired, additional items may be added to the purchase, however, any items outside of the Meal Deal must be paid for with Flex, Retriever Dollars, cash, or credit card.

Hot Tip: When visiting True Grits dining hall, one meal swipe is all that’s required to enjoy the many selections at this all-you-care-to-eat establishment – no Flex needed! Most other dining locations offer ‘Meal Deals’ which are predetermined selections of food covered by a $8.90 Meal Equivalency (meal swipe).

Related Definitions: Meal Equivalency, Flex