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All information below is for the 2023-24 academic year.
All residents living in University Residence Halls in the academic year are required to select a weekly dining plan. Your dining plan gives you a designated number of meals per week based on the plan you select. There are three options for you to choose from. Explore them and consider which option will fit your schedule and eating habits best. If you have questions or would like help finding the best fit for you, reach out to us at dining@housing.wisc.edu.
Dining Plan Options
- Meals Per Week – meals that a student is able to use during a calendar week that expire at the end of each week (only redeemable in Housing locations)
- Guest Meals – meals a student can use to bring a guest in to dine with them (redeemable only in Housing Dining locations)
- Meal Exchange – a meal a student can use at Flamingo Runs, The Bean & Creamery, Southeast Café, or Shake Smart for a set combination of items or at Babcock Dairy and Wisconsin Union locations for a $5 credit that counts as a meal swipe (only redeemable in these Housing Dining, Babcock, and Union locations). Check out the meal exchange menu.
- Dining Dollars – retail dollars that can be used at any campus food location, including any Housing Dining venue or Wisconsin Union location (5% discount on all purchases)
Dining Plan Rates
Dining plan rates are available on our Billing & Rates page.
What's on Your Wiscard
You will use your Wiscard, your UW-Madison issued student ID, to manage your weekly meals, exchange meals, dining dollars, and guest meals (if applicable with your plan). You will do this by swiping your card at check-out when prompted by the cashier. In addition, you can also use your Wiscard to access in-person services and purchase other non-food items on-campus and at other locations on-campus.
Your Wiscard contains three sets of funds that can be used in different ways:
Housing Meals
Can be used for meals at Housing Dining markets:
- Carson’s
- Four Lakes
- Gordon
- Liz’s
- Lowell
- Rheta’s
Includes:
- Weekly meals
- Meal exchanges*
- Guest meals
Details:
- Expire weekly (except guest meals)
- Best deal for meals
- Paid for in semesterly Housing bills
*Meal exchanges can be used at Flamingo Run, The Bean & Creamery, Southeast Café, Shake Smart, Babcock Dairy, and Wisconsin Union locations and will count against weekly meal count.
Dining Dollars
Can be used for food at any campus dining location:
- Housing Dining locations
- Housing Dining markets
- Flamingo Run
- The Bean & Creamery
- Starbucks (Smith Hall)
- Shake Smart
- Wisconsin Union locations
- Memorial Union
- Union South
- Badger Markets
- Other Union-owned cafes and delis
Details:
- Expire at end of academic year
- 5% discount on food purchases
- Paid for in semesterly Housing bills
Wiscard Account
Can be used for any purchases at campus locations accepting Wiscard:
- Food
- Groceries
- Laundry
- Copies
- Books
- Apparel
- Technology
- Recreation
- Event tickets
Details:
- Money carries over throughout time at UW-Madison
- 5% discount on food purchases
- Must deposit separately – can add money at any time
