The University of Texas at Arlington
VerifiedOur website and app display ingredients for all menu items. Students with food allergies or celiac disease are encouraged to speak with the ingredient expert or chef/manager for verification. We can provide ingredient, recipe, and preparation information upon request to help students make informed decisions.
1. We provide access to ingredient information for made-to-order* items. *Made-to-order - Meals that are prepared on request and to your specification in the dining hall. Examples include a sandwich station, omelet station, burrito station, etc.
Our website and app display ingredients for all menu items. Students with food allergies or celiac disease are encouraged to speak with the ingredient expert or chef/manager for verification. We can provide ingredient, recipe, and preparation information upon request to help students make informed decisions.
2. We provide access to ingredient information for self-serve* items. *Self-serve - Meals that are served buffet-style in a dining hall. These are typically high risk for cross-contact and are best avoided by diners with food allergies.
Team members are trained to take precautions in order to minimize the risk of cross contact in made to order areas. This includes proper hand washing, changing gloves, utilizing separate serving utensils, and following proper cleaning/sanitation procedures.
There is signage in place notifying students that additional accommodations can be made if a student has a food allergy.
3. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in made-to-order areas.
Our few self-serve stations all have sneeze guards in place. Each menu items is served in separate containers with separate serving utensils.
4. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in self-serve areas.
Students are able to show their allergen ID card in our residential cafes using our 'don't be shy self identify' program. This will prompt our associates to alert a manager or allergen expert. This individual is able to guide the guest to make safe and informed choices, as well as provide individualized meal preparation in a clean and safe designated preparation area.
5. We have pre-order meals* available. *Pre-order meals - Custom meals that can be ordered in advance by a diner so they are ready for pick up at a specific time. Typically these can be ordered online or by phone/text.
Our Delicious Without station is a nutritionally complete station offering menu items made without the top 9 major allergens. The cook at this station has been trained in managing food allergies. This station has a separate prep and storage area, as well as dedicated equipment to prevent cross contact.
We also have separate refrigerated areas for allergen friendly products such as dairy free milks and gluten free breads. An allergy expert, who has gone through specific training, is also available upon request to help students navigate dining with a food allergy in our residential cafes.
6. We have an allergy-friendly station*. *Allergy-friendly station - A food station where specific ingredients are banned, typically including many or all items in the Top 8 allergens and gluten.
All managers and chefs, supervisors/lead cooks, and allergen experts are required to complete both the FARECheck certified course, as well as a Chartwells allergen management course.
All dining team associates are trained on food allergies at least once a year. Areas covered include: understanding food allergies, the top allergens, allergic reaction signs and symptoms, peanuts and tree nuts, food allergy emergencies, celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and mitigating risk for cross contact.
During pre-service meetings, all associates go through weekly allergen training.
7. We train dining services staff members.
8. We have a registered dietitian* on staff. *Registered dietitian - Registered dietitians are food and nutrition experts who are often tasked with helping students with food allergies navigate the dining halls.
9. We train our RA's.
Students can reach out to their resident assistant or residence director regarding food allergies/personal needs.
10. We have inclusive resident life programs* including food. *Inclusive resident life programs - Programs in the resident halls often include food. Inclusive resident life programs will offer students with food allergies the opportunity to request safe food alternatives for events they attend in the dorms.
Students self-select roommates. Students who miss the roommate or room selection process are encouraged to discuss their needs/restrictions with their potential roommates.
11. We offer accommodations for roommate assignments. *Every accommodation request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A housing accommodation cannot be guaranteed prior to an individual evaluation.
Students can fill out an application, the use the online system to make accommodations requests for each semester.
Application for services direct link: https://bachelor.accessiblelearning.com/UTA
The Student Access & Resource Center (SAR Center) is committed to the full inclusion of students with disabilities in the University community. The SAR Center demonstrates its commitment to diversity and accessibility as well as informed and active citizenship by employing exemplary practices in disability counseling, assistive technology, alternative media, reasonable accommodations, and the sharing of disability related information.
12. Our disability office processes food allergy and celiac disease accommodation requests.
See what health services we offer >
13. We have stock, undesignated epinephrine* available for emergency response. *Stock, undesignated epinephrine - Epinephrine that is prescribed to a college or university rather than to a particular student. This epinephrine is kept on hand to use for any student that experiences anaphylaxis.
14. Our campus emergency responders carry epinephrine.
See what our emergency response policy allows for >