Question: "I signed up for the meal plan thinking I'd actually use it to its advantage, but realized I was wrong. How do I switch to a declining balance for next semester?” — Anonymous
Answer: On-campus dining at UF is super convenient and can be a great way to grab a bite between classes; however, it’s difficult to determine exactly how often you’ll use it until you’ve been around a bit. I signed up for a meal plan my freshman year too, only to find I would eat on campus eight times all semester.
Gator Dining Services offers “grace periods” for you to adjust your meal plan, but they only last a few days in the beginning of the semester. Next semester's "grace period" is from Jan. 4 to Jan. 7. By utilizing this grace period, you can set up a declining balance account, which I would highly recommend if you plan to eat on campus only every so often! Declining balance allows you to add money to an account that can then be used at any eatery on campus.
To make the most of your on campus dining plan, you can also sign-up for Gator Dining Services’ listserv to receive emails with the latest information and on-campus specials.
If you're stuck with your meal plan for the rest of the semester, I suggest indulging in ridiculous amounts of on-campus meals every time you have the opportunity and meeting other freshman who made the same mistake you did (this is a lesson we’ve all learned the hard way). Make the most of it while you can and switch to a declining balance in the future. If you still have concerns, reach out to Gator Dining Services at 352-392-2491.
Remember to submit any future questions to our question submission form, and we’ll do our best to post a response in an upcoming week’s blog.
