Frequently Asked Questions

You can contact Student Financial Services by filling out the Contact Student Financial Services or by emailing them directly at finances@uwm.edu.

We love to hear student suggestions for new or returning menu items, as they help us consistently improve the student dining experience. If you have an idea for a menu suggestion, feel free to fill out our Contact form.

If at any time an issue arises with one of our menu items—for example, a temperature or ingredient concern, or an object such as a soda fountain not dispensing properly—we encourage student diners to let onsite staff or Café managers know right away so that the problem can be addressed as quickly as possible. We also encourage student diners to fill out our Contact form so that we can launch a proper investigation. We ask that you include what location you were dining at, and approximately what day and time you were there, so that our Team is working with the most accurate information available to properly investigate the situation. After the investigation, we will get back to you and let you know our assessment and findings.

Yes! Please contact the Panther Card Office at pcardofc@uwm.edu or stop in their office in the UWM Student Union (room E151) for dining gift card inquiries. Additionally, Grind gift cards can be purchased at the Union, Library, and LEC Grind locations.

Visitors have a few options for purchasing food. The first would be to utilize personal funds (debit card, credit card, or cash) and pay at any of our on-campus food outlets. The second would be to purchase individual dining cards for each student, called Panther Passports. For this option, you can reach out to Assessment Coordinator for Retail Operations Amber McKinney at mckinne7@uwm.edu. If you would prefer to place a catering order, please contact 20|20 Catering at 2020-catering@uwm.edu.

Thank you for your interest! Visit our Employment page to see what types of roles are available for UWM Dining & Retail Services. Then, download the Handshake App and filter your search for on-campus employment to see what positions are currently available.

Yes! You can reach out to our 20|20 Catering professionals at 2020-catering@uwm.edu for more information about catering for your event.

Yes! UWM’s Gasthaus, located in the basement of the UWM Student Union, has five big flat-screen TVs, and is also in close proximity to the Union’s bowling alley, gaming area, pool hall, and e-sports arena! Enjoy a range of unique, custom-crafted food and drinks while watching your favorite programming!

According to the Family Educations Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college students are considered responsible adults and are allowed to determine who will receive information about them. Your child may give permission for a third party (you) to access his/her records, including dining plan information, by filling out a FERPA Student Consent Form, or by providing PAWS access by establishing a Designate Account. While our Dining Team is more than happy to help you and your child work through any issues you may come across, we must abide by FERPA’s policies regarding student records.

You can follow us on Facebook at UWM Dining & Retail Services and Instagram at uwmdining.

Yes! Our Retail Dining locations accept both cash and credit/debit cards, though we recommend you take advantage of our Flex Dining Program for maximum savings!

There are a few different ways to make food and dining purchases. Students using their own personal funds can pay with cash or debit/credit cards at the registers. If a student is using their Dining Dollars, they can either scan the code on their UWM GET Mobile App or swipe their Panther Card ID at the register. Visitors also have the option of using cash/debit/credit card as payment, or they can use a Panther Passport.

UWM operates on a “swipe” meal plan system. One swipe of a residential student’s Panther Card ID allows for entry into a Residential Dining Café. Students can then take as much or a little food as they like with each swipe. Meal swipes can be used as desired by students throughout the semester, at any time the Residential Dining Cafés are open.

Checking your meal swipe balance regularly is important for budgeting your swipes. You can check your meal swipe balance at the register every time you swipe. If you need an update outside of a meal purchase, you can contact the Panther Card Office to confirm your current balance. 

Students on the “225” or “Supplemental” plans should practice good semester-long swipe management habits. Any time you do not use a meal swipe, you are able to “bank” that swipe for later use. For instance, if you’re planning a camping trip with your friends, visiting someone at another campus, attending a conference with a student organization, or are going home for the weekend, these choices all factor into how you budget your swipes.

How you budget your meal swipes ultimately depends on what meal plan you have, as well as what a typical week looks like for you. If you still find that you are running low on swipes, you may need to consider adjusting your swipe habits.

If you have the “4-a-Day” plan, you have enough swipes to use for each mealtime every day the Cafés are open. However, these swipes don’t “bank,” so you need to use them or lose them.

Below are two examples of how a typical UWM Housing Resident may choose to use their meal swipes throughout the week.

Example A (15 Meal Swipes/Week)

Example B (10 Meal Swipes/Week)

Yes. You can purchase additional swipes in groups of 10 for $100 at the Panther Card Office in the UWM Student Union. These extra swipes will be added to your Panther Card.

Yes. If you are on the “225” Plan, you have the option to upgrade to the “4-a-Day” Plan, which provides up to 4 swipes per day. Contact the Panther Card Office or University Housing to request an upgrade.

Your swipe balance is shown at the register each time you use a swipe. If you need an update outside of a meal purchase, you can contact the Panther Card Office to confirm your current balance.

While Dining Dollars are solely used for food and non-alcoholic beverage purchases, Panther Cash can be used for a variety of goods and services. Panther Cash can be used for:

• Food/restaurant services (subject to tax)
• Laundry
• WEPA on-campus printing
• Any Housing main desk service or items
• All Student Union services (cinema, marketing services, Craft center, Info desk tickets and other items, Rec Center services)
• E-campus on-line book/course materials
• Any vending service
• SARUP Lab printing
• Panther Shop
• Tech Store/Tech Store Repair

The biggest difference between Panther Cash and Dining Dollars, besides their different uses, is that Panther Cash is taxable, while Dining Dollars are tax-exempt.*

*Valid for on-campus food purchase and UWM convenience store qualifying grocery items.

When students are making purchases at a location that accepts Dining Dollars, the registers are programmed to use Dining Dollars first. If your Dining Dollar balance is $0, the register will automatically roll over to Panther Cash. If students are making a purchase at a location that does not accept Dining Dollars, Panther Cash will automatically be presented for payment. This is an automated process, and students cannot select which method of tender is used.

Panther Cash rolls over from term to term and year to year, so long as you are a University Student and/or University Employee. Upon separation from the University, as well as the Panther Cash account being unused for 12 months, an abandonment fee will be applied annually until the Panther Cash account reaches a zero balance. Negative balances will be applied to the cardholder’s student PAWS account. All funds remaining after 7 years will be retained by the University.

You can use Panther Cash by either swiping your PantherCard ID or scanning the barcode in the UWM GET Mobile App at participating locations.

(Note: If Dining Dollars are accepted at a location, the system will always deduct from Dining Dollars first before using Panther Cash).

You can find your Dining Dollars, as well as purchase additional Dining Dollars, through the UWM GET Mobile App.**

**If you are a Residential Dining Plan Holder, you should already have a set amount of Dining Dollars available for use based on your Residential Dining Package.

Dining Dollars can be scanned directly via the UWM GET Mobile App using the barcode provided in the App. You can also use your Dining Dollars by swiping your Panther Card ID (at participating locations).

Dining Dollars can be used at UWM on-campus food outlets, restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores, as well as participating Taste MKE locations.

No, Dining Dollars cannot be used in the Residential Dining Cafés. The Residential Dining Cafés are only for residential students on a Residential Dining Plan and their accompanying guests.

Yes! Flex Dining balances carry forward from term to term and year to year for all current students.

UWM Dining & Retail Services is overseen by the Director of Dining. Currently, the Interim Director of Dining and Retail Services is Joie
Schoonover. She can be contacted by email at schoonojo@uwm.edu or by phone at 414-251-8709.

If you are looking for a specific member of the Dining Team, you can search the Staff Directory page on the Dining website.

There are two Residential Dining Plans available to all student diners.

• The “225” Plan ($2,270/semester) will meet the needs of the majority of University Housing Residents. This plan allots residential students 225 meal swipes per semester. On average, college and university students (including those at UWM) eat an average of 2.1 meals/day, or 225/semester.
  • Swipes can be used as desired by the student throughout the semester, though they cannot be used within 60 minutes of each other.
  • Swipes can include as much or as little food as students like, at any time the Cafés are open.
  • Unused swipes “reset” at the end of each term and do not carry over.
  • Students on the “225” Plan will receive 200 Dining Dollars and 7 Dining Guest Meals per semester.
• The “4-a-Day” Plan ($2,550/semester) will meet the needs of students requiring a higher daily caloric load. This plan allots residential students 4 meals/swipes per day.
  • Swipes can use 4 meal swipes per day, though they cannot use them within 60 minutes of each other.
  • Swipes can include as much or as little food as students like, at any time the Cafés are open.
  • Swipes “reset” at the end of each day and do not roll over.
  • Students on the “4-a-Day” Plan will receive 300 Dining Dollars and 10 Dining Guest Meals per semester.

Additionally, students living in Sandburg Hall East Tower, Cambridge Commons’ Upgraded Suites, or RiverView Hall have the option of a reduced dining plan. This plan allots residential students 110 meal swipes per semester.

• The “Supplemental” Plan ($1,398/semester) will meet the needs of students who wish to cook most of their own meals but would like the option of grabbing the occasional snack or meal when they do not feel like cooking.
  • Swipes can be used as desired by the student throughout the semester, though they cannot be used within 60 minutes of each other.
  • Swipes can include as much or as little food as students like, at any time the Cafés are open.
  • Unused swipes “reset” at the end of each term and do not carry over.
  • Students on the “Supplemental” Plan will receive $100 Dining Dollars and 4 Dining Guest Meals per semester.

All UWM student residents living in University Housing (Sandburg Hall, Cambridge Commons, and RiverView Hall) are required to participate in a UWM Residential Dining Plan. This is a consistent standard among colleges and universities in Wisconsin and nationally.

We understand that many students were disappointed to learn that we would be moving away from our Anytime Dining model. Anytime Dining has been a challenge for many, on both sides of the Café service counter. Not only have students felt the food has not been satisfactory, but the “anytime, anywhere, as much as you want” concept has proven wasteful and has diminished the variety and quality of food. Unfortunately, the intent to provide greater food availability throughout the whole school year for all our residential students has become operationally and financially unsustainable.

The new 2025/2026 meal plan model is one step to reduce food waste and direct resources to improve food variety and quality. We are continuing to honor UWM’s commitment to student access anytime we are open and providing as much food as students desire at any meal. At the same time, this plan will implement structures that reduce waste significantly and provide control over costs. This, with several accountability and efficiency measures being implemented behind the scenes, will result in higher quality products with increased options and availability.

Please know that UWM Dining & Retail Services has not been waiting until the new meal plan is in effect to make improvements. Changes have been made throughout UWM Dining & Retail Services, and the Spring 2025 Residential Menus are an excellent example of that. We understand some of the new changes, such as requiring all residential housing students to participate in a dining plan, can affect choices of where to live. We ask that you give us the opportunity to make these changes and improve the student dining experience for all our University Housing Residents.

Residential Dining Plans are only to be used by residential students and their accompanying guests via Dining Guest Meals within the Residential Dining Halls in either Sandburg Hall or Cambridge Commons. Students who would like additional dining options can take advantage of our other UWM on-campus food outlets, restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores.

Both Residential Dining Cafés will have similar or equivalent hours/menu selections. Each of the Residential Dining Cafés will offer a few different service methods to help get the various food selections to you. While staff will work to make sure the food offered at the Cafés is similar or equivalent, the different sized spaces will make service methods different.

Methods:

• Methods
  • Self-Service – Buffet style.
  • Grab & Go – Prepared foods, ready for purchase.
  • Build Your Own – Combination of hot service/served and self-service.
  • Hot Service/Served – Kitchen staff serves the hot entrée.
• Stations
  • The Residential Dining Halls will have a variety of stations to help Plan Holders and their guests find their favorite foods. These stations will stay consistent, although specific menu selections may vary. Below is an example of the foods that may be offered throughout the day:
    • All Day Stations
      • Waffles
      • Cereal
      • Fruit Bars
      • Bakery
    • Breakfast Station
      • Eggs
      • Meat
      • Potatoes
      • Sandwiches
    • Lunch Station
      • Sloppy Joes
      • Sesame Chicken
      • Stir Fry
      • Tacos
    • Dinner Station
      • Grill Hot Service & Toppings
      • Build Your Own Deli & Toppings
      • Soups
      • Salad Bar
    • Late Night Station
      • Burritos/Nachos
      • Bibimbap
      • Bahn Mi
      • Wings

The daily menus for each location will be available on the UWM Dining & Retail Services website. These listings will include the times that each featured entrée will be available and what service method of the items will be. You will also see a link to our NetNutrition page, which will allow you to search for menu items based on your individual nutritional needs.

If you are a residential student, all you need to do in either Residential Dining Hall is swipe your Panther Card ID for entry. Then, you can bring your food items up to the register and swipe your Panther Card again. This will verify that you are a Residential Dining Plan Holder, and you will be able to partake in your Residential Dining Plan.

No. All Grind locations are considered Retail Dining. Therefore, students may use Dining Dollars, Panther Cash, cash, or debit/credit cards for these locations.

Yes. All food served in the Residential Dining Halls will be served in disposable containers that can be used to carry food away. Students’ own containers are not allowed in the food service areas, but there is no restriction or penalty for students who bring their own containers to the Residential Dining Hall dining areas.

For an up-to-date list of Residential Dining operating hours, please visit our Residential Dining Halls webpage.

All UWM student residents living in University Housing (Sandburg Hall, Cambridge Commons, and RiverView Hall) are required to participate in a UWM Residential Dining Plan. This is a consistent standard among colleges and universities in Wisconsin and nationally. The only UWM building that is exempt from a Residential Dining Plan is Kenilworth Square Apartments.

Students can view what dining plan they’re on via the UWM Housing Portal. They can find this information under the ‘Housing Contract’ tab.

The Residential Dining Cafés are reserved solely for University Housing Residents and their accompanying guests. This means that only residential students can utilize the Residential Dining Cafés. If a residential student wants to invite friends or family to dine with them, they must use a Dining Guest Meal for them to enter the Residential Dining Cafés. Students who are not Residential Dining Plan Holders must take advantage of our other UWM on-campus food outlets, restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores.

Yes. University Housing Residents can change their dining plan after the semester begins. However, each semester has deadline dates for plan downgrades (which you can find on the Dining Plan Change Form on the UWM Housing website) after which you may only upgrade to a plan with more swipes, Dining Dollars, or Dining Guest Meals (for example, moving from the “225” Plan to the “4-a-Day” Plan). You cannot switch to a smaller plan after the deadlines.

Students can submit a request via the Dining Plan Change Form on the UWM Housing website.

When processed in PAWS, Housing will credit the unused days and swipes from your original plan, apply charges for the remaining days and swipes of the new plan, and adjust your Dining Dollars and Dining Guest Meals accordingly.

Remember, your Housing Contract covers the full academic year. If you change your plan in the Fall, it will automatically reset to your original choice in the Spring. To keep your new plan for Spring, you’ll need to submit the Dining Plan Change Form again.

Any remaining Dining Dollars and Dining Guest Meals will carry forward as is, with no change. You will then receive the Spring allocation of Dining Dollars and Dining Guest Meals at the beginning of the semester based on the new dining plan you have chosen.

If you are looking to cancel or appeal the charges of your Residential Dining Plan, please Contact us with more information and we will respond with a step-by-step process tailored to your specific reasoning.

Yes. Just use your UWM GET Mobile App ID to scan your access on your smartphone. Then, you can go to the Panther Card Office during their open hours and get a new ID printed.

Yes! Trays are once again available in our Residential Dining Cafés. For the past few years, trays were removed due to challenges with cost, replacement, and waste. Now that each visit to the dining service area requires a swipe—whether you’re grabbing a full meal or just a piece of fruit—we’ve brought trays back to make it easier for students to carry everything they need in a single trip.

There can be a few reasons why students find food unavailable when they enter the service area in the Residential Dining Cafés. It may be due to menu scheduling delays in replenishing a popular item on the service line, or the consequence of industry-wide supply chain issues.

Menu Scheduling

For our primary entrée stations, the menu changes throughout the day, sometimes shifting as many as three separate times. While our staff works to minimize the downtime on any line, it is essential that we clean and refresh these stations during transition. It is entirely possible for a student diner to come at one of these times. Our suggestion is to review the menus and scroll down to the individual stations to see the entrées and service times that best accommodate their preferences and schedules.

Replenishing

From sauces, soups and bakery items to smoked meats and entrées, most of the foods served in the Residential Dining Cafés are proudly prepared in our kitchens, from scratch. While we do a great deal of preparation in advance, there are times when the popularity of an item takes us by surprise, and more product is needed before the final cooking steps are completed. In these circumstances, we ask for our student diners’ patience while we quickly finish and replenish the item.

Supply Chain

Sometimes, we will not have items due to shortages in our supply chain. While we take special measures to work around these issues, not every challenge can be resolved. We have begun posting signs on items that are unavailable because of supply chain issues, citing an anticipated delivery date provided by the supplier, when applicable. If an item is unavailable and there is not a sign indicating that it is a manufacturing issue, we may have it available, so please ask for assistance from a staff member or Café manager.

UWM Dining & Retail Services does not offer special meal options for students who are not feeling well. However, our partners in University Housing can be a great resource for residential students. It is worth reaching out to your Resident Advisor or contacting other University Housing support if you are really feeling unwell. Additionally, it may be appropriate for you to ask a friend or roommate to grab something for you while they are stopping in the Café.

Flex Dining is smart, flexible, and convenient. Available to all UWM students and faculty members, Flex Dining utilizes Dining Dollars to make purchases at UWM food outlets or Taste MKE locations.**** By using Dining Dollars, students receive tax-free purchasing and a 5% discount, for a total savings of 13.4% (at on-campus locations only).

Activate your account today by adding as little as $150 through the UWM GET Mobile App. The full value of your deposit will be credited as spendable dollars into your account. Dining Dollars can be added in any amount over $10.00.****

****Flex Dining/Dining Dollar accounts are already active on all Residential Dining Plans. Food and non-alcoholic beverages bought by students from a University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee food outlet(s) are eligible for exemption from WI/Milw. sales tax (rate as of Aug./2026). A flat fee of $2 will be charged by the UWM GET Mobile App.