General Information for All Students

Dining Arrangements

Communal Dining is an integral and required part of students’ college life at CW Chu College. It aims to

enhance interaction among students and with teachers
enable students to benefit from the wisdom and experience of speakers from various walks of life

Communal Dining is included as one of the non-credit bearing parts of the College General Education Programme. Upon assignment to the College, students are automatically enrolled onto a meal plan, which includes communal dinners three times per week during term time.

Students are invited to note the following essential points about the College’s communal dining arrangements.

Dates	Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during term time (except public holidays and University holidays during the Chinese New Year).
Venue	Communal dinners Chong Kin Wo Hall, CW Chu College
Venue	High Table dinners Chong Kin Wo Hall, CW Chu College
Time	Communal dining: 6:45 – 7:45 pm
Time	High Table dinners: 6:45 – 9:00 pm
Dress code	Communal dinners: Casual
Dress code	High Table dinners: Smart casual (i.e., shirt and tie for gentlemen and corresponding dress code for ladies) with College gown.
Fees	Term 1: Not applicable
Fees	Term 2: HK$41 per Communal Dinner HK$50 per High Table Dinner
Attendance	To fulfill the General Education Programme requirement, students should meet the following attendance rate for communal dinners each term Students in Years 1 and 2: 60% (i.e., allowed absence of 40%) Students in Years 3 and 4: 50% (i.e., allowed absence of 50%) and also 60% of the High Table Dinners each academic year, except for absences with a valid reason supported by proof(s)/documents and upon formal approval by the College Dean of Students. Students need to fulfil these requirements in order to receive a PP grade for their non-credit-bearing College General Education courses (GECW 1000/ 2000/ 3000/ 4000). Students should take initiative to take attendance. An attendance taking machine will be placed at the registration counter near the main entrance of the Chong Kin Wo Hall for attendance taking (6:45–7:15 pm). Late comers (arrive after 7:15 pm) are required to sign your names on a hard copy attendance sheet kept by the College staff / RT-on-duty on the spot. Students’ attendance will NOT be counted if they leave the Chong Kin Wo Hall right after attendance taking without having the dinner. Students are expected to inform the College staff on the spot if they have to leave the dining venue soon after dinner begins due to urgent business/ feeling unwell.
Application for Exemption from Communal Dining	Scenario 1: Within the Range of Allowed Absence (i.e. up to 40% absence for Years 1 and 2, up to 50% absence for Years 3 and 4) Students are expected to notify the College of their absence of any communal dinner through the online form at least one working day in advance before the corresponding dinner. This is for record purpose and it is not necessary for students to provide a reason for such absence. Examples of such cases: gathering with friends or family, private tutoring, birthday celebration, participation in non-compulsory departmental/ university activities such as singing contest, drama competition, events organized by student associations etc. A fail grade (FF) for the College GE courses GECW 1000/2000/3000/4000 will be issued if your absence exceeds the allowed limit. Students should keep track of their own attendance records to avoid such situation. All absence beyond the allowed limit will be counted even if an online application for such absence has been submitted. Students should use the above allowance to fulfill their important engagements and personal responsibilities. Application Form (Please click the link below) https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=8822942 Scenario 2: Beyond the Range of Allowed Absence Exceptional absence beyond the allowed limit (40% for Years 1 and 2 and 50% for Years 3 and 4) may be approved by the College Dean of Students. The application of such absence must have strong reason(s) supported by valid proof(s). The following examples are valid reasons for such applications. Students should be able to use the allowed percentage to handle most of other cases of absence. (1) Conflicts with scheduled major courses for which there are no alternatives. Minor or elective courses will NOT be considered. (2) Participation in sports or other competitive activities representing the College, the University, or Hong Kong (including the training sessions and competitions). General activities organized by University, departments, or student organizations will NOT be considered. (3) Medical and health reasons supported by valid medical certificates. To facilitate grade submission, all applications for exceptional absence due to (1), (2) or (3) must be submitted together with relevant proofs for prior approval by the College Dean of Students by week 11 of each term. Please send your application to us via email ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and cc copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) by the above week. Applications submitted beyond week 11 will NOT be considered. Important Points to Note: The above exemption scheme does NOT apply to High Table Dinners. Students are reminded to keep track of their own attendance rate and use the allowance for absence wisely. The College will NOT give you a regular update of your attendance to communal dinners. There will be no refund of the pre-paid meal plan fee even if exemption is granted for a valid reason.
Take away food	Students are welcome to bring their own meal box to pack excess food when the majority of students have finished their dinner. The College staff/ RT-on-duty reserve the right to stop students from packing food before dinner begins or at the outset of the dinner. Meal boxes supplied by the caterer will be charged on the spot.
Dinner etiquette	To maintain a pleasant dining atmosphere, students are reminded to start eating only after the College announcement is made; keep their conversation noise level low at all times; and show due respect to guests and speakers while a speech/ announcement is being delivered.
Special dietary menu	Special dietary needs or requests should be indicated on the Student Personal Data Form, or notified to the College Office upon students' admission to the College.
Canteen utensils	Dining utensils are the properties of the canteen and should be kept at the dining venue.
Adverse weather arrangements	Dinners will be cancelled if Typhoon Signal No 8 or above OR Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force at 2 pm. Dinners will go ahead as scheduled if Typhoon Signal No 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is lowered or cancelled by 2 pm.

Attendance Requirement

College Dining is an integral and required part of students’ college life at CW Chu College. It aims to

enhance interaction among students and with teachers
enable students to benefit from the wisdom and experience of speakers from various walks of life

There are two types of College dinners, namely Communal Dining (CD) and High Table Dinners (HTD).

College Dining is included as one of the non-credit bearing parts of the College General Education Programme (through pre-assignment of the courses GECW 1000/ 2000/ 3000/ 4000). There is a minimum attendance requirement in order to receive a passing grade of each of the courses. Upon assignment to the College, students are automatically enrolled onto a meal plan, which includes communal dinners three times per week during term time and HTD four times a year.

Students who are enjoying the hostel residence for the first four years must join the meal plan. Normally, there is no reduction or refund of meal plan payment.

Attendance Rate Requirement

High Table Dinners (HTD): For all students who register the above GECW courses in a whole academic year, the minimum attendance rate is 60% of HTD offered in that academic year; for all students who register the courses only in one term, the minimum attendance rate is 50% of HTD offered in that term.

Communal Dining (CD):

For the courses GECW 1000/ 2000, the minimum attendance rate is 60% of CD offered in that term
For the courses GECW 3000/ 4000, the minimum attendance rate is 50% of CD offered in that term

Details of Attendance

Calculation: To attain the minimum rate, the actual attendance shall be greater or equal to the rate calculated from percentage.

Cancellation of Dinners: Some HTD or CD may be canceled due to special or unforeseen situations. The attendance rates will be calculated according to the actual numbers of HTD or CD offered. In case that many dinners have been canceled, the above minimum attendance rates may be suitably adjusted.

Attendance Registration: Each student shall register his/her attendance at designated place (usually near the main entrance of the Chong Kin Wo Hall) during the designated period (usually 6:45 – 7:15 pm). The normal means of registration is by a machine reading the CUHK Student ID card. Late comers may report to the College staff or Resident Tutor on duty.

The attendance rate is solely determined by the official record.
An attendance registration will not be counted if a student is reported to have left without joining the dinner or essentially did not participated in the dinner.
Students who need to leave earlier for special reason shall report to the College staff or Resident Tutor on duty.

Absence and Application for Exemption

Scenario 1: Within the Range of Allowed Absence (i.e., up to 40% of HTD, and 40% of CD in GECW 1000/ 2000 or 50% of CD in GECW 3000/ 4000)

Students shall use the Allowed Absence for social or family activities/ personal engagements or development/ enrichment/ responsibilities, non-essential or non-compulsory activities organized by student/ department/ university. Moreover, such absence should spread out in a term or year to avoid a low attendance rate in case of sudden cancellation of College dinners.

To avoid wasting of food and unnecessary cost, students are expected to notify the College of their absence of any communal dinner through the online form (link given below) at least one working day in advance before the corresponding dinner. This is for record purpose and it is not necessary for students to provide a reason for such absence. Students who usually observe this will be seen as a contribution to the College.

Absence Notification Form:

https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=8822942

Scenario 2: Exemption of Attendance for a Valid Reason

A student may apply for exemption of attendance to some HTD or CD due to very exceptional situation (see examples below). Such application must have strong reasons(s) and supported by valid proof(s). Application email may be sent to College Office ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) with cc copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the consideration by the College Dean of Students.

Application for exemption of regular frequency or large number of absences should be submitted as early as possible, preferably before the first absence occurs. For occasional absence, the latest day of application for each term is the last working day of the 11th teaching week of the term.
If the application is approved, the minimal attendance rate will be calculated based on the total number of dinners offered minus the number of exempted attendances. For example, if 39 CDs are offered and 10 are exempted, then the minimum attendance will be 60% or 50% of 29, which is 18 or 15, according to the course GECW.
Some approval may be accompanied with conditions, such as, a requirement of participation in other College activities.
In principle, prepaid meal fee will not be refunded. It is definitely not be refunded for occasional absence exemption. For most of the cases, fellow student may reserve a dinner pack for an absent student.

Examples of valid reasons

Absolute time conflict with schedule required or essential major courses for which there are no alternatives. Elective courses will not be considered.
Absolute time conflict with participation in sports or other essential activities, such as training and competition, representing CW Chu College, CUHK, Hong Kong, or provincial/ national level of the home country of the student. General activities organized at all levels; activities representing department or student organization will not be considered.
Medical and health reasons supported by valid medical certificates with clear relevant diagnosis. Consultation proof is not accepted.

Communal Dining

CW Chu College organizes communal dining three times a week (Tue, Wed, Thu) during term time, as one of the activities to build a closely knit community of budding scholars who share and interact, among themselves and with teachers and guests.

College Meal Plan & Dining Dates	Attendance Requirement
Dining arrangements	College gowns

College Meal Plan & Dining Dates

Special Note for Term 1, 2020–21:

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and social distancing policy implemented at the CUHK campus, CW Chu College will NOT offer communal dinners and High Table Dinners in Term 1, 2020–21. Details of the dining arrangements and attendance requirement mentioned in this session are only applicable when the College meal plan is launched again.

Communal Dining

Communal Dining is an integral and required part of students’ college life at CW Chu College. It aims to

enhance interaction among students and with teachers
enable students to benefit from the wisdom and experience of speakers from various walks of life

Students are invited to note the following essential points about the College’s communal dining arrangements.

Time and place

Communal dinners are held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during term time (except public holidays and University holidays during the Chinese New Year). Dinners take place in the Chong Kin Wo Hall of the College, 6:45 – 7:45 pm. High Table Dinners are held twice a term, at the same venue, 6:45 – 9:00 pm.

Dress code

Dress code for communal dinners is casual. For High Table Dinners, the dress code is smart casual (i.e., shirt and tie for gentlemen and corresponding dress code for ladies) with College gown.

Dining fee

The dining fee (non-refundable) is HK$1,576 in Term 1 (36 communal dinners plus 2 High Table Dinners) to be settled in September 2019 and HK$1,740 in Term 2 (40 communal dinners plus 2 High Table Dinners) to be settled in January 2020.

Attendance requirement

Attending communal dinners and High Table Dinners is part of the wider educational experience that the College offers. Students, select the College because they appreciate the opportunity to interact with fellow students from different backgrounds and in different subjects, and with teachers and guests. Students need to meet the attendance requirement specified below in order to gain PP for the non-credit-bearing College General Education courses (GECW1000 / 2000/ 3000/ 4000).

For High Table Dinners, the attendance requirement is 60% for the whole year

For communal dinners, the attendance requirements are as follows

Students in Years 1 and 2: 60% (i.e., allowed absence of 40%)
Students in Years 3 and 4: 50% (i.e., allowed absence of 50%)

Even for the allowed absence, there should be an application/ notification logged online at least one working day before.

Subject to approval (prior approval except for medical and health reasons), further exemptions for communal dinners (but not for High Table Dinners) are allowed for the following situations:

Conflicts with scheduled major courses for which there are no alternatives
Participation in sports or other competitive activities representing the College, the University, or Hong Kong
Medical and health reasons

For systematic conflicts (e.g., every Tuesday evening), applications should be made early in the Term.