Rooms and meal plans are billed per semester for 9-month contracts.
A meal plan is required as part of the housing contract, and may only be canceled by apartment residents who have full kitchens.
See below for details.
| Meal Plan Rates | Fall 2024 Cost | Spring 2025 Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Way Meal Plan – 10 Meals per week, $300 meal plan dollars per semester, plus 2 guest meals | $2,725.00 | $2,725.00 |
| Husky Drive Meal Plan – 14 Meals per week, $175 meal plan dollars per semester, plus 2 guest meals | $2,725.00 | $2,725.00 |
| All Access Meal Plan – Unlimited meals per week in Brooks Dining Hall or a meal each meal period at McGoldrick Center plus $100 in flex money plus 2 guest meals. Required for all first-year residents; cannot be changed the first semester. | $2,870.00 | $2,870.00 |
Residential Meal Plan Details
More information is at Dining Services.
Weekly meals can be used in Gorham at Brooks Dining Hall, and in Portland at the Mcgoldrick student center. Students wishing to use a residential weekly board meal swipe in Portland will be given a meal exchange, which consists of an entrée, 2 sides, and a beverage option. They will need to inform the cashier they are using a meal exchange, and not meal plan dollars, flex dollars, or Husky Bucks. Unused weekly meals do not carry over from week to week (example: if only 7 meals are used on a 10-meal plan one week, it resets to 10 meals for the next week, not 13 meals).
Even easier, download and use the Everyday App, it lists out exactly what a meal consists of, and can be ordered ahead.
Meal plan dollars may be used at any dining location, snack bar, or kiosk on any campus.
*Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors may change their meal plan at Dining Services during the first two weeks of each semester. After that, no other meal plan changes may be made for the semester. Apartment residents: Meal plans are assigned to apartment residents, but they are optional. Meal plans must be canceled in writing before the meal plan goes into effect at the start of the fall semester to receive a full refund. If the meal plan is canceled by apartment residents in the first two weeks of the Fall meal plan period, apartment residents will receive a 90% refund, and after the second week, their meal plans cannot be canceled. Failure to cancel prior to the deadline locks the student into the meal plan for that semester.
Cancellation Policy
If you request to withdraw from your room and meal plan but NOT classes:
All cancellations of the application/contract or housing and meal plan assignments must be made in writing (email is considered written notification) to Residential Life. If the cancellation is after the date of move-in, the written cancellation process includes completing any applicable check-out forms and move-out.
For incoming first-year students:
Withdrawing from the room and board contract before June 1st, 2024 will be at no cost. Withdrawing from the room and board plan after June 1, 2024 and prior to August 15, 2024 will result in a forfeit of the $75.00 deposit paid. For students with a Spring 2025 only housing contract, withdrawing before January 1, 2025 will be at no cost. For students with a Spring only housing contract, cancellation after January 1, 2025 but prior to January 11, 2025 will result in a forfeit of the $75.00 deposit paid.
For returning students:
Students who self selected a room during the annual room selection process, there is a $75 cancellation fee effective immediately if they cancel their room. If they are assigned a space manually by Residential Life, the student can cancel within 48 hours of the assignment email being sent at no penalty as long as they have not moved in or used their meal plan.
For returning USM students who are applying for housing after being off-campus, withdrawing from the room and board plan after June 1, 2024 and prior to August 15, 2024 will result in a $75 cancellation fee. For students with a Spring only housing contract, cancellation after January 1, 2025 but prior to January 11, 2025 will result in a $75 cancellation fee.
For both new and returning students:
Withdrawing from housing on or after August 15th, 2024 will incur a charge of 10% of the remaining academic year housing charges as of the date the written cancellation is received and/or the check-out process is completed. From August 15th until the day before the first day of classes, the fee would be 10% of the full room charge.
After the start of the semester, the fee will be a prorated charge for the time the room was occupied, plus 10% of the remaining academic year housing charges.
Residents removed from University housing for disciplinary reasons are ineligible for room refunds.
Board Cancellation:
Meal plan refunds will be based on the week of last meal eaten, meal plan dollar amount remaining, and proper room check-out. Failure to check-out properly will incur additional meal plan charges dating from week of the last meal eaten to the date Residential Life is notified of the resident’s departure. The provisions above hold true unless the student is released from the contract in writing by the Office of Residential Life. Meal plans for students assigned to apartments must be cancelled before the first day meal plans begin to receive a full credit. If the meal plan is cancelled in the first two weeks of the Fall board period, they will receive a 90% refund, and after the second week meal plans cannot be cancelled. If a student moves into an apartment after the first week, they have a one week window to cancel their meal plan. If meal plans are cancelled between Fall and Spring semester, any remaining meal plan dollars received as part of the Fall meal plan will be forfeited and will not carry over to Spring semester.
If you are withdrawing from your room and meal plans AND withdrawing from all classes:
RETURNING USM STUDENTS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: No initial $75.00 deposit required with the application.
Cancellations must be made in writing: E-mail usm.reslife@maine.edu, mail to Residential Life, 37 College Ave., Gorham, ME 04038, or faxed to 207-780-5597.
Meal Plan Refunds:
The meal plan will be prorated according to the date of the last meal eaten, the number of meal plan dollars used, and the week the meal plan is canceled. For more information, please contact us.