Graduate Housing and Dining
Graduate Housing
Information about housing at the University of Rochester can be found on the Office for Residential Life and Housing Services website.
You can choose from a wide range of living accommodations to match your budget, space needs, private or social settings, as well as your need to be close to a particular campus area. All our facilities are well maintained and attractive to people in university life. Each complex is staffed with Graduate Community Assistants (GCAs) to assist new residents, provide activities, and help foster a community atmosphere.
The University maintains three apartment complexes that serve graduate students. Each has close-by off-street parking, coin-operated laundry facilities, and University bus service. Graduate students with children will find safe playgrounds at University Park and Whipple Park. These two complexes have broad lawn areas nearby for ball playing and other activities. On the other hand, Goler House (high-rise apartment building) is closer to stores, restaurants, and public transportation and has a somewhat more urban atmosphere.
For more information on housing for incoming students, check out a brief recorded presentation on graduate student housing or contact Rebecca Orton, Assistant Director of Graduate, Family, and Off-Campus Housing at rebecca.orton@rochester.edu.
Graduate Dining
The University offers a variety of dining services locations, healthy and sustainable food selections, as well as meal plans and other electronic spending options. There are many places to enjoy on and off-campus ranging from smaller coffee shops to larger dining halls. College Town and the surrounding neighborhoods, which are walkable from the River Campus, feature a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and shops. Many of these places meet a variety of dietary preferences. The details of the dining and electronic spending options, costs, requirements, and policies are described on the Dining Services website. The two pre-paid options that may be most attractive to graduate students are listed below.
Commuter Meal Plan Options
The Commuter Declining Balance Plans are all-declining plans that can be used in all dining locations on campus. There are currently two options for commuter meal plans that can be purchased and are optional for graduate students. Students are able to sign up at any time of the year if they choose to enroll in a meal plan. Students can also purchase food at any of the dining halls with cash or charge card without being enrolled in a university meal plan. Commuter meal plan options and pricing can be found on the Dining Services meal plan webpage. Please note some of the below terms and conditions regarding university meal plans.
Terms and Conditions
- Signing a meal plan contract is binding for the entire academic year.
- Meal plans are priced and billed per semester.
- Purchases are non-taxable (save 8%).
- Funds remaining at the close of the spring semester are non-refundable and will not carry forward to summer or the next year.
Rocky Bucks Account
A Rocky Bucks account is a prepaid debit card plan that can be used to pay for a wide variety of items and services throughout the campus and selected off-campus businesses. Rocky Bucks are accepted in on-campus dining locations, but they are intended for use in campus areas that are not dining related and for off-campus dining. Rocky Bucks may be used for purchases in the Hillside Market, Barnes & Noble campus bookstore, Common Market, Campus Mail Center, as well as vending machines, copiers, printing services, and a variety of off-campus businesses. All Rocky Bucks sales are subject to tax where applicable.
Opening Your Account
You may enroll in a declining plan by completing the Commuter Meal Plan Selection form available on the commuter meal plan webpage.
You may open a Rocky Bucks account using the instructions on the Rocky Bucks webpage.
Contact mealplans@services.rochester.edu with any questions about enrolling in a meal plan or Rocky Bucks.
You can make additional deposits to your declining meal plan balance and Rocky Bucks account at learn.rochester.edu once you have opened an account.