EMU Dining introduces new technology and services to accommodate COVID-19
By Mark Morgan / EMU
YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University has invested in a number of new technologies and services for its campus dining to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new changes are in alignment with the Chartwells Higher Education Path to Open Plan. In addition, the changes adhere to recommendations of the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the EMU Public Health Work Group, which is a team of health, safety and academic professionals enlisted by University President James Smith to provide leadership, direction and best practices regarding campus activities this fall.
New technologies that will be integrated into Eastern Michigan’s campus dining in the fall include:
- Transact Mobile Ordering, an app that allows you to order and pay right from your mobile device will be used in nearly all dining locations on campus so students can order food ahead and skip the line.
- MRD5, or contactless payment devices, will be placed at all registers so guests can swipe their own campus cards to pay, decreasing interaction/touching of cards.
- OZZI, a reusable container vending machine, will be installed at The Commons, which is a great sustainability initiative that allows guests to take food to-go!
A variety of service changes will also be incorporated throughout dining areas on campus to ensure proper distancing and health and safety protocols. These changes will include:
- Streamlining menus to increase speed of service
- Limiting the amount of seating to allow for distancing
- Mapping dining areas for one-way traffic and 6-foot physical distancing
- Installing plexiglass barriers at points of sale
- Implementing new cleaning techniques and conducting wellness checks for our associates upon arrival to work to ensure they are healthy to work on campus
- Creating new to-go style menus that will be associate-served and packaged for carryout
“We’ve worked closely with the University and the University’s Public Health Work Group to ensure we are following all policies and guidelines when we return to campus in the fall, including mandatory face coverings, and proper and frequent hand-washing,” said Allison Duceatt, director of dining services at EMU. “We’re committed to providing a safe, expedient and delicious dining experience to each and every one of our guests.”
The new dining policies are in addition to the changes and safety measures being put in place across the entire EMU campus as part of the #EMUSafe return-to-campus planning.
About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University’s website.
