To better serve the University community and increase flexibility among meal plan options, Rochester Dining has made several improvements to the 2024 -25 meal plan program. “Declining Dollars” has been renamed to “Dining Dollars,” and the campus currency formerly known as “URos” —now called “Rocky Bucks”—is accepted by a wider range of vendors.
“These changes are designed to give students more control over how they spend their money and reduce confusion about their payment options,” says Anne-Marie Algier, interim dean of students. “Whereas Dining Dollars can only be spent at campus dining facilities and on convenience food items, Rocky Bucks are accepted by a larger network of dining, food, and retail options on campus and in College Town.”
Both Dining Dollars and Rocky Bucks can be used at campus-based dining facilities and coffee shops, including:
- All campus and ESM Dining Halls: Danforth, Douglass, The Pit, ESM
- Convenience: Hillside Market, Common Market, Grab & Go, California Rollin
- Coffee: Starbucks, Connections, Peets, The Brew
- Medical Center: Café 601, Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters
In addition, Rocky Bucks can be used for purchases at the following:
- Campus Mail Center for shipping and postal needs
- Printing and Copying services
- Vending machines
- Tickets for events
- Barnes & Noble Bookstore at College Town and Eastman School of Music
Mike Zanghi, director of real estate and College Town, says that the University is working to expand the Rocky Bucks network and expects a number of new retailers to sign on over the spring and summer. The University of Rochester purchased College Town in 2023.
“We’re working closely with our College Town partners to develop incentives that will benefit both shoppers and retailers—such as special discounts and co-promotions for faculty, students, and staff using Rocky Bucks,” says Zanghi. “We’re excited to add Joy Mart among the first to join our expanding Rocky Bucks network.”
How to purchase Rocky Bucks:
- Students in apartment-style units with a kitchen can enroll in a new 2024-25 meal plan option that includes both Dining Dollars and Rocky Bucks. The deadline to enroll in a University meal plan for the 2024-25 academic year is April 28, 2024.
- Faculty, staff, and students can purchase Rocky Bucks at any time through the individual’s Transact account (https://eacct-uros-sp.transactcampus.com/eAccounts/AnonymousHome.aspx). University employees who do not have a Transact account can sign up using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/mmxx7Awhx7. Parents can replenish Rocky Bucks through their child’s Transact account—all students are automatically assigned a Transact account as incoming first-year students.
- Visitors can purchase Rocky Bucks by attaining a Visitor Card from the Transact kiosk outside Danforth dining center in Susan B. Anthony Hall. Additional kiosks will be installed in the coming months.
