What is a Meal Plan?
A Meal Plan unlocks delicious meals, coffee, snacks, and more, our 19 locations across campus. Your Meal Plan includes Meal Swipes, Meal Exchange, and Dining Dollars, conveniently loaded onto your Cat Card. No need to carry additional cards or cash!
Meal Swipes
Meal Swipes give you access to any of our all-you-care-to-eat dining halls, including the Catamount Cafe and The Lodge at Brown. You are also able to use your meal swipes at Blue Ridge Burger and 1889 Bistro, where you are able to get an entree, side, dessert and drink. Meal swipes that come with the Block meal plans expire at the end of the semester in which they are purchased.
Declining Balance
Declining Balance
Declining Balance dollars may be used at any Western Carolina University Dining location. Visit the location page for location information, including dining hall menus and hours of operation. Unused Declining Balance dollars carry over from the fall to spring semester and then expire at the end of the academic semester.
Declining Balance running low? No problem! You and always add more on G.E.T. or here! Declining Balance online.
Meal Exchange
Meal Exchange can be used at most of our retail locations here on campus. An Exchange meal includes typically one entrée and one fountain beverage. Click here to see the full meal exchange menu on our campus. The Unlimited Premium plan allows for one meal exchange per day. All Block plans can use their block meals as a meal swipe or a meal exchange.Meal Plan Benefits
With your meal plan, you receive many benefits and perks, including:
- Quality food made fresh by our culinary team, with a variety of menu options personalized the way you like.
- Healthy choices available all across campus.
- Special events with themed meals and exclusive offers for meal plan members.
- Casual atmosphere with TVs, music, and lounge-style seating—perfect for studying or hanging out with friends.
To-go meals: Simply request a reusable OZZI to-go box from the cashier, they will help you through the process to get one in at any of our dining halls.
Key Dates
Spring 2024
- First day of classes: January 16th, 2024
- Last day to change meal plan: January 19th, 2024
- Advising Day: February 20th, 2024
- Spring Break: March 4th, 2023 - March 8th, 2024
- Second Spring Break: March 27th, 2024 - March 29th, 2024
- Last day of classes: May 3rd, 2024
- Meal Plan end date: May 11th, 2024
Summer 2024
- First day of classes: June 3rd, 2024
- First 4.5-week term classes end: July 3rd, 2024
- Independance Day: July 4th, 2024
- Second 4.5-week classes begin: July 5th, 2024.
- Last day of classes: Aug 6th, 2024
Fall 2024
- First day of class: Aug. 19, 2024
- Last day to change meal plan: Aug. 23rd, 2024
- Labor Day - no classes: Sept. 2nd, 2024
- Fall Break: Oct. 14th, 2024 - Oct. 18th, 2024
- Advising Day - no classes: Oct. 29, 2024
- Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 27, 2024 - Nov. 29, 2024
- Last day of class: Dec. 6, 2024 - Dec. 13, 2024
- Meal plan end date: Dec.14, 2024
Spring 2025
- First day of class: Jan. 13, 2025
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 20, 2025
- Advising day: Feb. 25, 2025
- Spring break: Mar. 10, 2025 - Mar. 14, 2025
- Second spring break: Apr. 16, 2025 - Apr. 18, 2025
- Last day of class: May 2, 2025
- Meal plan end date: May 10, 2025
