The Catholic University of America strongly believes in the benefits that a structured meal plan program has to offer to our students in terms of overall health and well-being, nutrition, and in the importance of the shared, communal experience of 'breaking bread' together.  

Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors living on campus are required to participate in a meal plan.


The Meal Plan Program is intentionally designed to provide a variety of food options to students who are living with food-related conditions. These include the top nine food allergies recognized by the FDA, celiac disease, Crohn's, etc. Explore meal plan options on the Dining Services website and view the CUA Dining Guide: Navigating Food Allergies and Special Diets on Campus.


CUA Dietician


The University has an on-site dietitian that is available to provide direct one-on-one advice on how best to navigate options provided through the meal plan program. This advice can support students choosing to adhere to a specific diet (ex: vegan or vegetarian) or assist them in understanding what foods/preparations may exacerbate conditions (ex: IBS or Celiac).

To receive dietician support or resources, please email cua-diningservices@cua.edu. 


Request Process

  

Requesting Accommodations

DSS supports students with food-related disabilities/conditions that generate:
  • substantial barriers presented by a communal dining experience, and/or 
  • substantial functional limitations to major life activities or health functions that may impact their participation in a meal plan program.

As with all Accommodation requests, students must follow the steps on How to Register. For dining requests, DSS will consult with Dining Services and the University Dietician to review the information provided. 


Supportive Documentation

All Accommodation Requests require supportive documentation from a qualified professional. For dining requests, students that indicate: 

  1. Food-related allergies must provide a comprehensive food allergy test report and the clinician's interpretation of the report.
  2. Following a specified diet must provide DSS with a comprehensive list of foods/ingredients that they must avoid and a list of foods/ingredients that they should consume to adhere to the parameters of a specified diet.

 

Consultation with Dietician

After submitting the required information to DSS, the student may be referred to the University’s Dietician for a consultation. This meeting helps assess the student’s dietary limitations in relation to the meal plan and allows the Dietician to provide guidance and recommendations, which are then shared with DSS for possible accommodations.

 

Intake Meeting with DSS

Once the previous steps are completed, the student will be invited to schedule a meeting with a DSS Staff Member. During the meeting, the student can share their experiences and clarify their needs, allowing DSS to better understand the request and the related disability. The goal is to help DSS make an informed decision, which will be communicated to the student and, if accommodations are approved, shared with Dining and Housing Services for implementation.

 

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Submitting a dining accommodation request does not exempt a student from meal plan requirements based on class year.

  • Personal preferences, like wanting to cook or control ingredients, are not valid reasons for a dining accommodation.

  • Approval for other accommodations (e.g., academic or housing) does not guarantee dining accommodations; each request is considered separately, even if submitted together.

  • Approved kitchen access in housing does not replace the required meal plan for on-campus students.

  • Approved dining accommodations can continue in future academic years if the student notifies DSS; reminders will be sent by DSS.

  • Students studying abroad with approved dining accommodations must notify DSS, which will coordinate with CUAbroad and the host institution.

 

 

 

Updated July 2025