Housing & Dining
Note: Requests for housing accommodations may take up to two weeks.
Learning — and practicing — to live, work and spend time with others is an essential component of The University of Texas at Dallas experience. There is no better place to do this than in our campus residences.
A variety of medical illnesses and disabilities conditions may necessitate a housing and/or meal plan accommodation. Examples could include a physical alteration to a room for medical or psychological needs, a specific space/room type or various food options/restrictions that are medically necessary. The goal of the accommodation request process is to allow the student to fully participate in the UTD campus living experience, whenever possible.
Students wishing to request housing and/or meal plan accommodations may do so via our website. All requests are reviewed by a committee comprised of members from the AccessAbility Resource Center (ARC), University Housing and Dining Services, and other campus partners.
Housing accommodations will be made based upon available spaces. It is not possible to guarantee a housing accommodation for requests submitted after deadlines for the University Housing application and renewal of lease.
Every effort is made to accommodate students’ needs within our housing system and meal plan using the alternatives available. The meal plan contract does not permit exceptions based on personal food choice or preferences (e.g., vegetarianism), or other nonmedically based dietary requirements.
If a request for a meal plan accommodation is received, the University’s dietician will be consulted and recommend a final decision.
In rare instances when the University cannot identify an appropriate accommodation, then there may be consideration of a request for an exception to the University’s residential hall housing requirement and/or meal plan contract. This may be considered for medical or psychological conditions or other situations.
Request for University Housing and/or UTD Dining Services accommodations will require proper supporting documentation. Documentation for requests made concerning medical, emotional or psychological diagnoses must be from a certified medical/mental health professional who has worked with the student. Guidelines for appropriate documentation can be found on our registration page.
Submitting Housing and/or Dining Services Accommodation Requests
- Incoming first-year students must submit accommodation requests by the census date.
- Requests must include proper documentation as listed on the registration page.
Requests submitted after the census date will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Decisions will be communicated via University email to the student within three weeks of submission.
Residential Halls
Various appliances are allowed in the residence halls including coffee pots and rice cookers with auto shutoff. Each suite in the residence hall may rent or purchase a micro/mini refrigerator and/or microwave for the common area. The micro/mini refrigerator must be UL approved and does not exceed 43 inches high by 21 inches wide by 23 inches deep. There is a dedicated circuit in the common area that will handle these types of appliances.
Typically, only one unit of each is allowed per suite. If you believe you will need additional food storage based on a dietary restriction related to a disability or medical condition, please register with the ARC.
All students who live in the residence halls will need to select a Residential Meal Plan as part of their living experience on campus.
Dining Services
UTD Dining Services works regularly with students with dietary restrictions to provide them food options that correspond to their dietary restrictions or preferences, and regularly offers vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, and other options in their menu. To learn more, please visit the UTD Dining Services website.
In addition to the UTD Dining Services meal plan, there is a common-area kitchen available for each student to use in the residence halls if they wish to prepare their own food. Despite being shared by many students, these kitchens are rarely used and should meet the needs of most students who need access to a kitchen to prepare their own meals.
Transfer and continuing student apartments also come with full kitchens that students share with their apartment mates.
Religious and Cultural Beliefs
Students with diets and/or housing needs related to religious and cultural beliefs are encouraged to contact UTD Dining Services directly and/or University Housing.
Emotional Support and Assistance Animal Accommodations
UT Dallas provides reasonable housing accommodations to students requesting emotional support and assistance animals. If you want to request an emotional support and assistance animal you must:
- Submit your online housing application.
- Submit your online request for ARC services.
- Submit your Emotional Support and Assistance Animal Verification Form, provided to you upon submitting your request for ARC services.
Your Emotional Support and Assistance Animal Acknowledgment and Information form, along with your Emotional Support and Assistance Animal Verification Form, will be reviewed by ARC. If your paperwork is approved, ARC will recommend the appropriate housing accommodation(s) to University Housing.
Approval by ARC does not guarantee housing. All housing decisions are made by University Housing and are based on availability in housing vacancies. Space is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier requests are made, the more options there are to accommodate student needs.