Dining Service ACCOMMODATIONS
The University of the South is a residential campus with a required meal plan. We recognize that certain food-related conditions, such as an autoimmune disease like celiac disease or allergies to foods like shellfish, wheat, milk, peanuts, or eggs, constitute a disability for some students. The University encourages students to socialize over meals as part of their campus experience. To this end, Sewanee Dining makes reasonable, but substantial, accommodations for students who have food-related disabilities that limit their opportunities to fully participate in meal-plan offerings. Students are expected to take an active role in managing their dietary concerns and to work with Student Accessibility Services and Sewanee Dining to realize the benefit of the meal plan to the fullest extent possible. Special service accommodations will be the result of an interactive process among the student, the Director of Dining Services or their designee, and Student Accessibility Services.
When visiting dining facilities students are to inquire ONLY with Sewanee Dining management regarding menus, recipe ingredients, service accommodations, or any other aspect of their dietary disability. Depending on the severity of the disability, a student may be directed by dining management to menu items planned for service that meal period that addresses their restrictions. As necessary, food will be prepared separately of other food preparation in the dining hall to avoid problem food ingredients and to reduce the risk of food cross-contamination. Other possible accommodations, depending on specific circumstances, might include certain meal plan revisions.
Dining Accommodation Request Procedure:
Student's inquiring about dining accommodations should complete an SAS Intake Form and provide supporting documentation from a medical provider that explains the need for the requested accommodation. Once an intake form and documentation have been submitted to SAS, a letter will be sent to the student's school email giving instructions for how to schedule an intake meeting with an SAS staff member. During this meeting, the student and SAS staff member will discuss Sewanee Dining service accommodations based upon the submitted request and supporting documentation from the student. SAS may request additional supporting documentation as needed. For more information on the intake process, please check out our How to Apply page.
Student Accessibility Services will meet with the student to determine and finalize reasonable accommodations. If granted, the student will be given a meal plan accommodation letter detailing the specific service plan tailored to the student’s dietary requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to take the accommodation letter to the Director of Dining Services.
The student will make an appointment with the Director of Dining Services or their designee to review the accommodations requested to determine suitable meal options. The student and the Director of Dining Services will discuss specific details pertaining to the student’s options and responsibilities as stated above. The Director of Dining Services will communicate to the Student Accessibility Services the outcome of that meeting and their ability to reasonably accommodate the student’s request.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify SAS of any changes in the requested accommodations during their enrollment in the University.
