I. PURPOSE
This policy establishes the framework for administering the 2025-2026 Meal Plan at New York Medical College (“NYMC”) and Touro College of Dental Medicine (“TCDM”). It ensures compliance with applicable regulations, including Federal Title IV regulations under the Higher Education Act of 1965, New York State tax laws pursuant to N.Y. Tax Law § 1105(d) and 20 NYCRR § 527.8, and other institutional policies.
II. POLICY
First-year students attending classes at the NYMC campus, including TCDM students, are required to participate in the campus Meal Plan unless the student applies and receives an approved opt-out accommodation.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to all students enrolled at NYMC’s campus, including NYMC and TCDM students who are participating in the Meal Plan.
IV. DEFINITIONS
A. Meal Plan: a declining balance meal plan for use in the NYMC Cafeteria that provides $900 of pre-paid meal plan credits in two or three allotments during the Academic Year pursuant to the 2025-2026 Meal Plan Terms and Conditions, attached as Exhibit 1, as amended from time to time.
B. Cafeteria: “Doc’s Café” located at 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Valhalla, New York in the Basic Sciences Building of the NYMC campus.
C. Academic Year: The period beginning with the first day of classes of the first semester/trimester (Summer or Fall) of a student’s program and ending on the last day of classes of the Spring semester/trimester as specifically identified in Chart 1.
Chart 1:
| 2025-2026 Academic Year | Semester/Trimester | First Day of Classes | Last Day of Classes |
| School of Medicine | |||
| M.D. Program - M1 | Fall 2025 | 7/21/2025 | 12/19/2025 |
| Spring 2026 | 1/5/2026 | 5/29/2026 | |
| School of Health Sciences and Practice | |||
| SLP MS Program - S1 | |||
| Fall 2025 | 8/13/2025 | 12/19/2025 | |
| Spring 2026 | 1/5/2026 | 4/24/2026 | |
| DPT Program - P1 | |||
| Summer 2025 | 5/28/2025 | 8/22/2025 | |
| Fall 2025 | 9/2/2025 | 12/19/2025 | |
| Spring 2026 | 1/5/2026 | 4/24/2026 | |
| School of Dental Medicine | |||
| DDS Program - D1 | |||
| Summer 2025 | 6/30/2025 | 8/22/2025 | |
| Fall 2025 | 9/2/2025 | 1/23/2026 | |
| Spring 2026 | 1/26/2026 | 5/29/2026 |
V. AMENDMENT NOTE
Touro University and New York Medical College (NYMC) have partnered to provide meal plan students with a convenient mobile app to manage cafeteria purchases. While the app is currently in development and expected to launch in the Fall 2025 semester, the College is implementing a temporary solution to ensure uninterrupted access to the meal plan via the use of QR codes. All meal plan participants will be emailed updated Meal Plan terms and conditions and instructions for accessing the mobile application once it is
available.
VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy shall be effective immediately.
VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT
Executive Stakeholders: Chief of Staff
Oversight Office: Office of Food Services
2025–2026 Meal Plan Terms and Conditions – Doc’s Café
1. Contract Duration
Meal Plans follow the full 2025-2026 Academic Year calendar and consist of two or three allotments, based on the semester or trimester schedule of a student’s program, of declining balance credits. Credits roll over within the Academic Year. This is a “use it or lose it plan.” Students should plan on using up credits by the end of the Academic Year. No rollover is permitted between Academic Years. Unspent credits may not be used to offset charges in a subsequent semester or trimester. No rolled-over credits shall be refunded. Refunds shall otherwise be subject to the Refund Policy provided in paragraph 5.
| 2025-2026 Academic Year | Semester/Trimester | First Day of Classes | Last Day of Classes |
| School of Medicine | |||
| M.D. Program - M1 | Fall 2025 | 7/21/2025 | 12/19/2025 |
| Spring 2026 | 1/5/2026 | 5/29/2026 | |
| School of Health Sciences and Practice | |||
| SLP MS Program - S1 | |||
| Fall 2025 | 8/13/2025 | 12/19/2025 | |
| Spring 2026 | 1/5/2026 | 4/24/2026 | |
| DPT Program - P1 | |||
| Summer 2025 | 5/28/2025 | 8/22/2025 | |
| Fall 2025 | 9/2/2025 | 12/19/2025 | |
| Spring 2026 | 1/5/2026 | 4/24/2026 | |
| School of Dental Medicine | |||
| DDS Program - D1 | |||
| Summer 2025 | 6/30/2025 | 8/22/2025 | |
| Fall 2025 | 9/2/2025 | 1/23/2026 | |
| Spring 2026 | 1/26/2026 | 5/29/2026 |
2. Participation/Eligibility
All first-year medical, dental, physical therapy, and speech language pathology students enrolled at NYMC and TCDM’s Valhalla campus are required to participate in the 2025-2026 Meal Plan, except as provided herein.
3. Usage
- Meal Plan credits are pre-paid, and purchases made with the Meal Plan are deducted from a student’s balance.
- Meal Plan credits are non-refundable unless a student officially withdraws from the school, as provided herein.
- Meal Plans may only be used at Doc’s Café in the NYMC Basic Sciences Building.
- Meal Plans are active only during Cafeteria hours.
- Students may not use their plan to make purchases for others.
- Transactions are limited to $75.00 per day.
- Only food and beverages may be purchased with Meal Plan credits.
4. Sales Tax Exemption
- Meal Plans are exempt from New York State sales tax under N.Y. Tax Law § 1105(d) and 20 NYCRR §527.8.
- To maintain this exemption, plans must be non-transferable, used solely by the student, and refunds are limited and governed by time-based criteria, not usage.
- Once Meal Plan funds are exhausted, meals purchased directly by the student will no longer be tax-exempt.
5. Refund Policy
Refunds are processed in accordance with the published refund policy of a student’s program.
6. Managing Funds
Once Meal Plan funds are exhausted, students shall be required to pay for any meals using cash, credit, or debit.
7. Accommodations
Students seeking medical exemptions from the meal plan must complete the reasonable accommodation process by contacting the Division of Student Accommodations and Accessibility at NYMC-mealplanexemption@nymc.edu. All accommodation requests must be renewed annually.
8. Compliance and Conduct
Misuse of the Meal Plan (e.g., sharing, fraud) will be reported and may result in disciplinary action under the student conduct process.
9. Technology Transition
2025-2026 Meal Plan transactions will initially be processed using student photo ID and a unique student QR code. QR codes are distributed via email. The QR code is linked directly to each student’s Meal Plan account. All individually allocated QR codes are for the exclusive use of the individuals to whom they are allocated. The user is personally responsible and accountable for all activities carried out with their QR code and must take all reasonable precautions to protect his/her code. The QR code must not be shared with any other person, and any attempts to use a QR code that is not authorized to the user are prohibited. All Meal Plan users must show
student photo ID upon request.
NYMC intends to transition to a mobile application during the Fall 2025 semester. All meal plan participants will be emailed updated meal plan terms and conditions, and instructions for accessing the mobile application once it is available.
10. Dispute Resolution and Release
Any disputes, questions, or claims regarding charges to the student’s meal plan account must be submitted in writing to the NYMC Office of Food Service within three (3) business days of the charge being posted via the NYMC Help Desk (helpdesk@nymc.edu). Failure to notify the NYMC Office of Food Service of a disputed charge within this period shall constitute a waiver and release of any and all claims related to that charge, and the student shall be deemed to have accepted the charge as accurate and final. No claims or adjustments will be considered after this three (3) business day period.
11. Contact Information
For questions or support regarding the meal plan, please contact the helpdesk at helpdesk@nymc.edu
12. Acceptance of Terms
By using the Meal Plan, students acknowledge and agree to abide by all terms and conditions outlined herein. Activation or use of the Meal Plan constitutes acceptance of these terms, including any updates communicated by NYMC.
