University sets timeline for dining decision

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many plans and processes over the past four months, including on Dining Services. While we had an initial pre-COVID timeline that planned for decisions and next steps in March and throughout spring quarter, that simply wasn’t possible, given the many other immediate challenges facing the University, and the massive impacts of the pandemic on our University Residences. Our human resources had to be redirected to address the impact of the pandemic. 

The dining contract does not expire until September of 2021, which means that we still have time and flexibility to evaluate our new circumstances, engage stakeholders, and reach decisions prior to the expiration of the contract. In the meantime, we have completed a campus dining services delivery model study. Over the summer, as we continue to plan for Fall 2020 operations, we will gather and interpret important data points for decision-making, including the fiscal impacts of enrollment trends and COVID-driven occupancy considerations on University Residences (Housing and Dining). In the fall, when our community has re-assembled, we will institute an open and transparent process, including a new timeline and further opportunities for broad input from students and staff.