Dining FAQs

A meal plan is required and included in the Room/Board Package pricing for all first-year housing students. First-year residential students are required to have a 300-block plan, which can be upgraded to the 300-block Platinum. 

Your meal plan and flex dollars will be loaded on your Mountain Lion ID card. 

Students living in upper-class-designated housing areas are not required to have a meal plan but are welcome to purchase any plan or Clyde's Cash. This can be done throughout the semester. 

First-year students are required to hold the 300-block plan with the option to upgrade to the 300-block platinum plan.

Upper-class, commuter, faculty, and staff can choose any of our block plans. 

No, meal plan holders may not give their Lion OneCard to another person to gain access. Meal plans are not transferable between students. If a meal plan holder gives their card to another person to gain access into a dining facility, the contract holder's card will be flagged/held and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The cash price of the meal will be placed on the holder's plan/account.

Several meal plans have guest swipes for the semester. 

No, for your security, we will not manually type in an ID number without an ID present. If you are having issues with your Mobile ID, please contact Lion OneCard.

Typically, plans start at the dinner meal service on the first day of freshmen move-in in August. Meals end after brunch on the Saturday following final exam week. Please check your email or the dining Instagram for updated information.

Mandatory meal plan holders can upgrade to 300 block Platinum within the first two weeks. For Alpine Village, plans can be changed through the first two weeks of each semester. However, an optional meal plan or Clyde's Cash can be added anytime.

Each block plan has a set number of meals per semester based on your plan, the plan expires at the end of the semester. Flex dollars from your plan can rollover IF you purchase a new meal plan for the spring semester.

AT NO TIME may a meal plan holder use their Lion OneCard to allow another person to gain access. If a meal plan holder gives their card to another person to gain access to a dining facility, the contract holder's card will be flagged/held and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The cash price of the meal will be placed on the holder's plan/account.

There are guest meal swipes available on some meal plans. 

Based on your plan, there are guest meals available. Once you run out of guest meals, you can pay with Flex-dollars, Clyde's Cash, credit cards, or cash.

AT NO TIME may a meal plan holder give their Lion OneCard to another person to gain access. If a meal plan holder gives their card to another person to gain access to a dining facility, the contract holder's card will be flagged/held, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The cash price of the meal will be placed on the holder's plan/account.

You may receive a prorated refund, based on the number of service days up until census, if approved by senior administration for authorized reasons.

You may receive a prorated refund, based on the number of service days up until census, if approved by senior administration for authorized reasons.

Yes we offer a variety of meal plans for commuter students that can be purchased anytime during the semester. Meal plans will expire at the end of the semester and do not roll over. A list of different meal plans available for purchase can be found here. To purchase a meal plan click here. Clyde's Cash is another great alternative to a meal plan, Purchase $50 or more of Clyde's Cash and receive 10% in bonus cash! Clyde's Cash can be used at all dining and retail locations across campus and can also be loaded via the app or this website. Clyde's Cash does not expire and rolls over from semester to semester as long as you are an active student.

Meal Plan Purchases are non-refundable. For more information on meal plans, email lionone@uccs.edu.

Clyde's Cash purchases are non-refundable. For questions about your Clyde's Cash, email lionone@uccs.edu.

Retail Swipes allow students to use their meal plans at multiple venues across campus. The number of retail swipes is based on the meal plan held. Retail Swipes can be redeemed at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, all Big Cat Coffee locations, Mobile Ordering, and Hybl Cafe. 

Swipes have a $7.50 value. Students can order any UCCS-made item at approved locations and cover any overages with flex dollars, Clyde's Cash, credit, or debit. 

Swipes have the best value at all-you-care-to-eat locations; however, they can be used at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, all Big Cat Coffee locations, Mobile Ordering, and Hybl Cafe at a value of $7.50 per swipe.

No, you can use Retail Swipes instead of Meal Swipes during meal periods. Upon use, Retail Swipes are subtracted from your total meal swipe count. 

The Clyde's Cash program is a great way to pay for food on campus. Clyde's Cash is accepted at any on-campus Dining and Hospitality Services venues, like Café 65, Clyde's Gastropub, residential dining, Alpine Express, or any of our campus coffee shops.

Clyde's Cash offers 10% bonus cash on purchases of $50 or more. It expires when the holder is no longer associated with the University. Clyde's Cash can also be used for any overages on a Retail Swipe.

Some meal plans come with flex dollars that can be used at any dining location for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Flex dollars will roll over from the fall to the spring semester if you purchase a new meal plan for the spring semester, but they expire at the end of the academic school year and can only be purchased with a meal plan. Make sure that you use them.

Flex Dollars can also be used for any overages on a Retail Swipe.

Yes, you can access our menus from our menus and location page. 

DHS is always looking for students who support our vision and mission. You can view positions and apply online at SEANs.

DHS has significant resources to meets the meal requirements of students. There are dietician services available at Student Health Services. You can learn more on our nutrition page. 

Yes, we have to-go boxes available upon request. 1 to-go box = 1 meal swipe. Students are not allowed to fill a plate and a to-go box. 

Please refer to our Instagram page for special events, specials, and holiday hours

Thanksgiving - Closed Thursday & Friday

Winter Break - Dining halls closed and limited hours at Big Cat Coffee UC and Clyde's.

Spring Break - Limited hours

Refer to the Dining Instagram for Special hours during breaks. 

1) Download the Mobile App

• Google Play
• iOS

2) Fill out your profile.

Select UCCS as your school, and enter your info.

3) Use the app to order

Customize your experience and order in advance for pick-up

4) Earn rewards!

Accumulate points every time you order with Transact Mobile.

You can find step by step instructions on our main meal plan page.

Yes! You earn points every time you place an order through mobile ordering. We push out exclusive deals, such as double points, giveaways, and specialty items through the mobile app. 

All You Care to Eat

Unlimited food options during mealtimes. See our dining hours.

Guest Meals

Meal Plan holders will have a set number of guest meals based on their plans; these guest meals allow plan holders to bring in friends or family for a meal.

Flex Dollars

Flex dollars are part of some meal plans; they can be spent like cash at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, Big Cat Coffee, and Hybl Cafe. If you purchase a meal plan for spring, Flex dollars roll over from fall to springbut expire at the end of the spring semester.

Retail Swipe

You can use one dining meal at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, Hybl Cafe, or Big Cat Coffee up to a $7.50 limit. The number of meal equivalencies is based on individual meal plans.

Flex Rollover

Flex dollars roll over from fall to spring but expire at the end of the spring semester. *Flex dollars only rollover if you purchase a meal plan for the spring semester. 

Mobile Ordering

Transact is our mobile ordering platform. You can order from any Big Cat Coffee locations, Cafe '65, and Alpine Express.

Clyde's Cash

Clyde's Cash is similar to flex dollars; it can be spent like cash at Cafe '65, Alpine Express, Big Cat Coffee, and the residence hall. However, Clyde's cash does not expire; it works if you are associated with the university as a faculty, staff, or student.

Off-Campus Students

Students who do not live in UCCS-owned dorms or apartments. This includes West Edge, The Lookout on Cragmor, The Lodges, Resort at University Park, Green Leaf Rockrimmon Apartments, Lion Village Student Housing, Advenir at The Village, Rosemont at Shadow Mountain Apartments, Union Heights Apartments, and Highland Park.