New Student Orientation
Camups Dining Quick Guide
Work hard. Play. Refuel.
UNM Food is proud to offer a wide selection of locations, menus, and meal plan options to satisfy your cravings! Here's a short guide to making timely and important decisions about your meal plan.
- Consider your eating habits, housing assignment, and class schedule (the locations you will be near during the day) to determine the best plan for you.
Freshmen living on central campus in Residence Life and Student Housing or Casas del Rio are required to purchase a Full Access Meal Plan. To learn more about the freshman meal plan requirement, see the terms & conditions.
Meal Plan charges will be posted to your bursar account one week before the start of the semester, and your selection will be active the first day housing is open.
Welcome New Lobos! We look forward to welcoming you to campus.
Connect with UNM Food during New Student Orientation at these presentations and events. Our team is happy to assist you with your dining experience during NSO and answer any questions that you may have as you plan for the Fall semester.
| Connect with UNM Food during NSO | |||||
NSO Session Type | Day of NSO | Event | Time | Location | Attendees |
| In Person | Day 1 | Meal Plan Presentation | 5:20 PM | Woodward Hall 101 | Students |
| In Person | Day 1 | Dinner | 6:30 PM | La Posada Dining Hall | Students |
| In Person | Day 1 | Family Connection Social | 4:30 PM | University Club | Parents & Families |
| In Person | Day 2 | Breakfast & Dining Hall Tours | 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | La Posada Dining Hall | Students, Parents, and Families |
| In Person | Day 2 | Discover UNM Fair | 9:50 AM - 10:55 AM | Upper Union Plaza | Students |
| In Person | Day 2 | Lobo Lunch | 12:20 PM - 1:20 PM | SUB Ballrooms | Students, Parents, and Families |
| To-Go | Day 1 | Meal Plan Presentation | 5:00 PM | Virtual Session | Students |
Quick Guide to Dining + Meal Plans
Welcome to your new kitchen! La Posada is home to your favorite cuisine and most loved options. Our chefs are passionate, creative, and dedicated to enhancing the food experience. La Posada Dining Hall includes featured stations devoted to meeting your dietary needs and preferences. Explore the cutting-edge features of our dining hall below:
- Ten all you care to eat food stations and hundreds of recipes.
- Menus, nutritional, and ingredient information are available online.
- Dietary accommodations and allergen avoidance:
- Root: features plant-based entrees and dessert options every service to keep you fueled and satisfied.
- True Balance: True Balance is a collection of specially
selected recipes and ingredients made without eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish,
shellfish, soy, wheat, and gluten.
UNM offers a variety of dining options and locations throughout campus. Select from a variety of markets, local, and national brands, including:
Through combinations of Unlimited Dining, Meal Exchange, and Dining Dollars, Lobos can choose the right meal plan for their unique needs.
Unlimited LaPo+
Included in Full Access Plans
Enjoy unlimited visits to La Posada, our all-you-care-to-eat dining hall, and La Ventana, a convenient satellite dining location in the Student Union Building, with our Full Access Meal Plans.
*Please note: Meal Plans are subject to a 30-minute timeout between uses.
Meal Exchange
Included in Full Access and Community Plans
Meal Exchange are credits loaded onto your LoboCard, that allow you to purchase eligible meal exchange menu items at select dining locations around central campus. Each use deducts one Meal Exchange from your balance.
Dining Dollars
Included in Full Access and Community Plans
Dining Dollars are just like cash loaded onto your LoboCard for use at any food location on campus, including your national and local favorite eateries. All meal plans come with Dining Dollars and can be reloaded at any time. Dining Dollars do not expire between Fall and Spring semesters as long as you purchase a plan for both semesters; in this case, unused balances will expire at the end of Spring semester.
First-year, freshman residing on central campus (Casas del Rio and UNM Housing) are required to select one of the Full Access Meal Plans. Full Access Meal Plans are purchased per semester and designed to conveniently load onto your LoboCard. Full Access plans start with Unlimited La Po+ and allow you to choose the perfect amount of Meal Exchange and Dining Dollars to fit your needs.
Community Meal Plans are available to first-year students who are not living on central campus. Community plans help you get the most value and flexibility for dining experiences while you're on campus.
Learn more about how our meal plans work and which plan is right for you.
Sign up for your meal plan or add Dining Dollars to your LoboCard through the online portal or by stopping by the LoboCard Office in the Student Union Building (SUB)
- Freshmen residents living on central campus, who have not selected a meal plan, will be auto-assigned the Full Access: Sandia - Option A plan by the first day of classes.
- Meal plan holders can change their plan to any eligible selection during the first 3 weeks of the semester.
- Once a meal plan has been selected, it will take 3-5 business days before charges appear on your Bursar Account.
- The deadline for the Fall 2025 semester meal plan changes is September 8, 2025. The deadline for Spring 2026 will be February 9, 2026.
- Full Access plans are active until the end of the academic semester (the last day of finals). Dining Dollar and Community plans are active for the academic year and expire at the end of the Spring semester.
- A $100 cancellation fee will apply when cancellations are made after the first three weeks of the semester
Questions
Contact Information:
Phone: 505.277.1362
Email mealplans@unm.edu
Important Meal Plan Dates
Fall 2025
- Fall Move In - Starting 8/8/25 - Fall Meal Plans will be active as of 8/14/25. Early Arrival Meal Plans are available for residents who wish to purchase a meal plan prior to the Fall activation date. (View available meal plan locations in our Fall 25 hours of operation.)
- 8/18/25 - Freshmen residents who have not selected a Full Access Meal Plan will be auto-assigned and billed for the Full Access: Sandia - Option A.
- 9/8/25 Last day to make meal plan changes without a fee for the Spring Semester.
- 10/9/25 - 10/10/25 Limited operations during Fall Break.
- 11/27/25 - 11/30/25 Limited operations during Thanksgiving Break.
- 12/13/25 - Fall Full Access Meal Plans end.
- 12/14/25 - 1/19/26 Limited operations during Winter Break. Full Access Meal Plans are not active.
Spring 2026
- 1/20/26 - Freshmen residents who have not selected a Full Access Meal Plan will be auto-assigned and billed for the Full Access: Sandia - Option A.
- 2/9/26 Last day to make meal plan changes without a fee for the Spring Semester.
- 3/15/26 - 3/22/26 Limited operations during Spring Break.
- 5/16/26 - Spring meal plans end and Dining Dollars expire for the 25/26 academic year.
