POLICY STATEMENT
All students living on campus are required to have a Barry University meal plan. Barry University recognizes that some students have documented medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that make it unsafe or impossible to use the standard campus dining program. Those students may apply for a meal plan exemption or a modified meal plan accommodation through this policy.
This policy does not apply to personal dietary preferences, lifestyle choices, or financial hardship. Separate university processes are available for students experiencing financial difficulty related to meal plan costs.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Medical Dietary Exemptions
A student may request a medical meal plan exemption if they have a diagnosed medical condition that requires a specific diet and the campus dining program cannot safely meet their needs. Examples of qualifying conditions include celiac disease, severe food allergies with a risk of anaphylaxis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, phenylketonuria (PKU), and other conditions diagnosed by a licensed healthcare provider that require a medically specific diet.
A preference for gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian food without a medical diagnosis does not qualify under this policy.
Religious Dietary Exemptions
A student may request a religious meal plan exemption if they hold a sincere religious belief that requires adherence to specific dietary laws that the campus dining program cannot meet. Examples include Kosher (Jewish dietary law), Halal (Islamic dietary law), Jain dietary observance, Hindu vegetarianism as a religious practice, Seventh-day Adventist dietary standards, and other sincerely and consistently observed religious dietary requirements.
The university does not evaluate whether a student's religion is correct or whether their beliefs match those of any institution. The standard is whether the dietary restriction is a genuine, consistent part of how the student practices their faith. Students are not required to be members of a formal religious organization.
Note: Offering "Halal-style" or "Kosher-style" food is not the same as certified Halal or Kosher preparation. If a student's observance requires certified preparation, the dining program may not be able to meet their needs, and an exemption may be appropriate.
A vegetarian or vegan diet as a personal preference, without a medical diagnosis or religious basis, does not qualify under this policy.
HOW TO APPLY
Students should begin the process as early as possible, ideally before the semester starts. Late requests will be reviewed but may take additional time.
Step 1 — Contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS)
All meal plan exemption requests, whether medical or religious in nature, begin with the Office of Accessibility Services. Students should contact OAS to initiate the request and obtain the appropriate forms.
Office of Accessibility Services
Step 2 — Submit Documentation
Medical requests require written documentation from a licensed healthcare provider, such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or relevant specialist, that confirms the diagnosis, identifies the specific dietary restrictions the condition requires, and explains why the student cannot safely use the standard campus dining program even with typical accommodations. Documentation should be current. Students with permanent diagnoses are not required to re-submit medical records each year.
Self-diagnosis, family attestation, or a physician note recommending an exemption without clinical detail will not be accepted as sole documentation.
Religious requests require a completed Religious Dietary Exemption Request form that includes the name of the student's religious tradition, the specific dietary laws or requirements they observe, how long they have followed these practices, and why the campus dining program cannot meet those requirements. A supporting statement from a religious leader or chaplain is encouraged but is not required in all cases.
Step 3 — Dining Assessment
After the request is submitted, the university will ask the campus dining provider to respond in writing regarding whether they can safely and genuinely meet the student's specific needs. For medical requests, this includes documentation of dedicated preparation areas, separate equipment, cross-contamination prevention protocols, and individualized meal preparation options. For religious requests, this includes whether the specific observance can be met, not merely whether similar items are available.
If a student has previously experienced cross-contamination in a Barry dining space, or if prior accommodation attempts have failed, those experiences should be reported to OAS at the time of submission. They become part of the formal record and are considered in this review.
Step 4 — Recommendation
The Office of Accessibility Services will review the documentation, the dining provider's written assessment, and the student's reported experience, and will prepare a formal written recommendation to the Dean of Students. The recommendation will propose one of the following outcomes: a full meal plan exemption, a modified plan with individualized accommodations, or a denial with written explanation.
Step 5 — Final Decision
The Dean of Students makes the final decision on all meal plan exemption requests. The student will receive a written decision. If the exemption is approved, it will be applied to the student's account. If the request is denied, the student will receive a written explanation and information about how to appeal.
A meal plan exemption will not be denied solely because gluten-free, allergen-friendly, Halal-style, or Kosher-style items are available in the dining hall. The standard is whether the student can safely and genuinely access the dining program given their specific medical or religious needs.
APPEALS
A student who disagrees with the decision may appeal in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving the written determination. The appeal should be submitted to the Dean of Students deanofstudents@barry.edu and must include the grounds for the appeal, any additional documentation not submitted with the original request, and the outcome the student is requesting. A written response will be issued within fifteen (15) business days. The appeal decision is final.
Appeals should be directed to:
Office of the Dean of Students
Landon Hall | (305) 899-3085 | deanofstudents@barry.edu
ANNUAL RENEWAL
Meal plan exemptions are reviewed each academic year. Students with permanent medical diagnoses do not need to re-submit medical records each year but will confirm that their dietary management needs have not changed. Students with religious exemptions will confirm annually that their observance requirements remain the same.
CONTACT
For questions about this policy or to begin the exemption process, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (305) 899-3085 or visit Landon Hall.
For questions about a decision or to file an appeal, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (305) 899-3085 or deanofstudents@barry.edu