Indiana University Bloomington students, staff and faculty will have different dining experiences on campus for the 2020-21 school year as part of efforts to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the biggest changes is that dine-in eating will be prohibited in all residential dining halls and campus eateries except for the Tudor Room, which will require reservations. The change is in order to comply with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order regarding reopening, said Pam Sprong, director of Auxiliary Business Services marketing.
“IU Dining has enhanced its focus on guest safety,” said Rahul Shrivastav, executive director of IU Dining.
Students may order food from dining halls and campus eateries, but for carryout only. Maps will show those who are ordering on location or picking up a Grubhub order how to proceed through the dining space. Outdoor seating will be available all across campus.
IU Dining is also working to create virtual dining spaces where students can connect with community members, because traditional dining will be transformed into a takeout experience.
Menus will be streamlined as well. Ordering meals from campus dining locations through Grubhub will be encouraged, Sprong said. Students who order through Grubhub and pick up their meals at designated locations will not incur a fee, but those who have meals delivered will pay a delivery fee.
Payments will be contactless through Grubhub, using contactless card readers. Cash will not be an option; only I-BUCKS, CrimsonCard and credit cards may be used, Shrivastav said.
“The dining team is working hard to provide fun, delicious and nutritious meals while making safety the No. 1 priority. We are looking forward to our students returning to campus and serving them the best food possible for them to be successful Hoosiers,” Shrivastav said.
Face masks will be required when inside a campus eatery or dining hall to order food and when picking up food at a campus location, Sprong said. Also, safety ambassadors will be stationed in dining halls and campus eateries to help prevent overcrowding and ensure people follow the university’s COVID-19 safety protocols.
Some dining locations will change. Campus cafés in Jordan Hall and the Student Recreational Sports Center will be closed, but the one in Ballantine Hall will reopen. The Globe will move to the Circle Café location through the fall semester. All restaurants in the Indiana Memorial Union, which is undergoing renovations, are expected to be open for the spring semester, Sprong said.
Two new options will be at Read and Gresham halls, which will have kitchens to prepare meals but no storefronts, Sprong said. There will be options for pickup and delivery through Grubhub. Gresham will offer individual pizzas, salads, deli sandwiches and falafel. Read will offer the breakfast menu from the Gloriana food truck, the barbecue menu from the Stripes food truck and smash burgers.
The Tudor Room will reopen as an a la carte restaurant under the direction of Dave Tallent, executive chef of IU Dining and Catering, and feature local fare such as meat from Jasper-based Fischer Farms. The popular buffet service will be discontinued. The change keeps in mind the COVID-19 direction and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state, and the food-and-beverage industry. Breakfast and lunch will be served Monday through Friday, and brunch will be served Saturday and Sunday.
Fall 2020
Indiana University is looking forward to welcoming students, faculty and staff to the fall semester. The university has provided safety guidelines, an academic calendar, FAQs, and campus-specific guidance for move-in, testing, teaching and learning at fall2020.iu.edu.
