The University of Texas at Dallas
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.
In addition, there is always an associate present to clean periodically, monitor the station, and direct customer questions to a manager.
4. We have procedures in place to lower the risk of cross-contact in self-serve areas.
While we do not offer individualized meal preparation, we utilize a program called "Don't be shy, self identify!". Students are able to show their allergen ID card in our cafe, which prompts our associates to get a trained chef or manager to assist the student with finding safe food options.
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 Pure Eats 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.
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 request a letter of accommodation to the resident life program.
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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.
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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.
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Students can submit accommodation requests through the Accessability Resource Center's website: https://accessability.utdallas.edu/student-accommodations/housing-dining/
UTD Dining Services works regularly with students with dietary restrictions to provide them food options that correspond to their dietary restrictions or preferences, and regularly offers vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, and other options in their menu.
To learn more, please visit: https://services.utdallas.edu/dining/
In addition to the UTD Dining Services meal plan, there is a common-area kitchen available for each student to use in the Residence Hall buildings if they wish to prepare their own food. Despite being shared by many students, these kitchens rarely are used, and should meet the needs of most students who need access to a kitchen to prepare their own meals. Transfer and continuing student apartments also come with full kitchens student’s share with their apartment-mates.
Please have your physician/healthcare provider fill out the Dining Services Verification for our Dining Services Committee to review. Once your physician has completed the form, please upload your documentation, and set up an appointment through the Office of Student AccessAbility website: https://studentaccess.utdallas.edu.
UTD Dining Services works regularly with students with dietary restrictions to provide them food options that correspond to their dietary restrictions
12. Our disability office processes food allergy and celiac disease accommodation requests.
-Administer epinephrine for anaphylactic reactions
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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.
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14. Our campus emergency responders carry epinephrine.
See what our emergency response policy allows for >