VOTRE Carte uOttawa

To decide on a meal plan, first consider which residence you will be living in. For example, Brooks and Hyman Soloway are apartment-style residences, where preparing homemade meals is easier. When purchasing your meal plan, consider the number of meals you normally eat per week and how often you will be on campus during the session. Also, consult the meal plan calculator, which will give you a good idea of what you may need to cover you for the year.

Your meal plan can be used at any of the following locations on campus:

• Petit Café (Arts)
• L'Alibi (Fauteux)
• Café + (Tabaret)
• Second Cup (Morisset)
• Food court (UCU and SITE)
• Le Snack (Marion)
• Rez Café (Residence Complex - 90 Université)
• Starbucks (Desmarais)
• Écolo (Lamoureux)
• Tim Hortons (UCU)
• Upper Crust (UCU)
• Bento Sushi (UCU)
• Jazzy Restaurant (UCU)
• Quiznos Subs (UCU)
• Lees Café (200 Lees)
• Esculape (Roger-Guindon)

Note: Rez Café is for students who live in Marchand, Stanton and 90 University only. It's open 24 hours a day.

Also consult the map, for where your meal plan is accepted.

Meal plans offer tax savings for students. However, the University must follow the Canada Revenue Agency's guidelines, which regulate meal plans.

• a) The tax exempt portion of your meal plan is meant for the purchase of meals. Meal plans 1, 2, 3 and 4 offer a base amount for HST-exempt meals (a tax savings of 13%).
• b) The flex portion of your meal plan is for items that are taxable and cannot be sold with your basic meal plan. This include items such as non-meal products (pop, juice, candy, gum, chocolate bars), books, print and photocopies or any item available for purchase with your uOttawa card that is not a meal.( For more details on the Flex portion of meal plans)

As long as you're a student, funds in your flex account do not expire and carry over from one academic year to another. At anytime during the academic year, you can deposit funds or requests a reimbursement, flex dollars can be reimbursed at any time after completing a refund form and payment of a refund fee of $25.

No. There are no deadlines for purchasing a meal plan. However, most meal plans do have expiry dates and minimum spending requirements. See question 12.

Yes. Meal plan #1 is a session plan valid from September to December or January to April. To maintain your tax savings, you must spend at least $950 per session, regardless of the plan you choose.

Meal plans #2, 3 and 4 are meant to be used from September to April. To maintain your tax savings, you must spend at least $1,900 of the tax-exempt portion.

Yes. As soon as you are registered as a student you can purchase a meal plan. As soon as you receive your uOttawa card, your meal plan is automatically loaded onto it and ready to be used.

Once you've reached your threshold, you can purchase a new meal plan or top up your current plan in increments of $25 at anytime. Simply add the funds online via your meal plan account. However, while you can top up your meal plan, keep in mind the expiry date of the plan you've purchased.

Food Services provide a weekly menu page on its website. Weekly menus are also available at the food courts.

Both your meal plan and flex plan accounts can be easily managed online. You can also ask the cashier to provide you with a receipt anytime you purchase a meal.

Please consult the lost or stolen uOttawa card page for instructions on what to do if this happens.

If you have a September to December meal plan, it expires on December 22, 2011. All other meal plans expire on April 30, 2012.

Yes. The Canada Revenue Agency requires that you spend at least $950 per session. If you do not meet the $950 threshold, you are required to pay back the amount saved on tax. For example, if you only spend $800, you must pay back taxes on this used amount.

You may be eligible for a refund of any unused balance, less an administration fee of $25 and any taxes you are required to pay under the following circumstances:

• a) If you officially withdraw from the University or you are required to leave by the University and submit a refund form in person to the uOttawa card office along with proof of withdrawal (statement of studies) issued by the University Registrar's office before the deadline of April 30, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.; or
• b) If you submit a refund form in person to the uOttawa card office before the trial period deadlines of September 23, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. or January 27, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. (meal plan 1 only);
• c) (For the flex portion of your meal plan) After completing the refund form in person at the uOttawa card office and paying the $25 administration fee.

Yes. The exempt portion of your meal plan can be transferred into your flex account. You will need to complete a transfer form in person at the uOttawa card office. You will be required to repay the exempted taxes AND an administrative fee of $25 (this amount will be deducted from your transfer). No transfer form will be accepted after the dates mentioned below – no exceptions!

• a) For meal plan # 1 (Fall session), you can submit a transfer form in person between December 1 and December 22, 2011 at the uOttawa card office.
• b) For meal plans # 1 (Winter session), 2, 3 and 4, you can submit a transfer form in person between April 1 and April 30, 2012 at the uOttawa card office.