Dining Accommodations
Reasonable dining accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities that impact their dietary needs. Accommodations are determined case-by-case and are intended to remove barriers to access.
The Process
To request an accommodation to your meal plan for a disability-related reason:
- Submit the Dining Accommodations Request Form: This form must be completed by your treating healthcare provider.
- Documentation Review: DS staff will review your submitted documentation, typically within 7 business days (may take longer during peak times). Insufficient or incomplete documentation may delay the review. If you haven’t received an update from us regarding your documentation review, feel free to contact our office.
- Dining Appointment and Interactive Process: Once review is complete, you’ll be notified via your Charlotte email about next steps. This may include meeting with the dietitian and Disability Services staff member to identify reasonable accommodations. If a meeting is required, we’ll include instructions on how to schedule it.
- To download the form and for information on submitting documentation, visit our Documentation page.
The University cannot approve dining or meal plan accommodations based on food preferences, the desire to prepare one’s own meals, or perceived food intolerances that are not medically verified as rising to the level of a disability.
Dining Options and Meal Plans
UNC Charlotte offers a variety of dining options and flexible meal plans that may meet your needs without needing accommodations.
Food Allergy Information
If you have allergies or sensitivities to certain foods, staff in the dining halls can prepare allergen-friendly meals using special cooking equipment to prevent contamination. Speak with a staff member in the dining halls if you have questions or concerns.
Additionally, Charlotte Dining Services has a registered dietitian on staff who:
- provides tours of the dining halls specific to students’ needs, and
- helps students with food allergies and students who are vegetarian/vegan navigate dining on campus.