Dining Updates and Frequently Asked Questions
As our understanding of COVID-19 evolves, Seton Hall works to update our plans and policies appropriately. The following frequently asked questions will be updated as new information becomes available.
Updates and Messages
On-Campus Dining
The Campus Dining program and its operation will adhere to social distancing guidelines and promote community health and safety in all dining venues on campus. Seating capacity has already been rearranged by spacing out tables and chairs and removing the excess chairs. Seton Hall is working with Gourmet Dining Services to guarantee the appropriate level of supervision and dynamic line management, which will include creating separate lines during peak hours.
- Maximum capacity in dining facilities will be reduced to allow for appropriate social distancing in accordance with state guidelines. Any dining spaces that do not allow for required social distancing, even with appropriate modifications, will be closed.
- Students, faculty, and staff will be required to wear masks to enter dining spaces, and while in all dining spaces when not eating or drinking.
- Dining employees will wear face masks and gloves while in dining facilities or providing food outside of the facilities for the purposes of outdoor dining and delivery. Exceptions will be made only for medical reasons.
- Dining employees will be trained in health and safety precautions, as well as necessary food handling, cleaning, and disinfection protocols. Additional employees will be hired to assist wiping down and sanitizing dining tables between use.
- Cleaning and disinfecting supplies will be available in all dining locations for students to wipe down areas before and after use.
- All interior dining seating arrangements have been modified to provide a 6 foot separation from one seat to the next or are being provided with clear barriers* (vinyl or plexiglass) where 6 feet cannot be maintained.
- Outdoor dining areas in tents will be erected to provide students, faculty, and staff with alternate locations to eat meals or snacks as well as to compensate for seats lost in maintaining social distancing requirements.
- Additional, non-dining indoor spaces will be modified with the addition of tables to provide additional table capacity lost by social distancing.
- Clear barriers (vinyl or plexiglass) will be erected along each service counter separating staff from customers. Barriers will also be placed at locations where customers may be waiting in line near circulation or at tables to provide protection to both those standing in line, circulating, or sitting.
- Floor markings at 6 foot intervals will instruct customers where to stand while waiting.
- Directional signs will guide students through lines and help to manage the flow of traffic through the dining area.
- Mobile ordering will be required to reduce lines and improve the flow of traffic through dining spaces. The app will show wait times and will alert customers when their orders are ready for pick up.
- Take out or "grab and go" options will remain available at all open dining locations.
- Dining facilities will use disposable food service items and eliminate the use of shared items (i.e., reusable condiments).
South Orange Campus
- In order to spread customers out and provide more seating within the board plan dining area, the adjacent retail space will be utilized as part of board dining. Jersey Mike's will become a second grill and beverage counter. Pizza will be served from the Pizzeria only, Pirate Express will be altered to provide smoothies, 'Health and You', bakery, and cereal options previously provided in other bays. Swipe-in points will be relocated to the entry of the Galleon Room. The back entrance by the College of Arts and Sciences will still be available for entry.
- The C-Store (Pirate Express) will move to the Living Room in place of Pirate Bowls, which will not be available this fall semester.
- The University Club will be closed, as its size does not make social-distance dining possible.
- Dunkin' Donuts, Jubilee Café, and The Cove will be open with their normal schedule.
Law School – Newark Campus
- Dining Services will only provide grab and go meal options.
- There will be no catering.
Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus
- Seating will be blocked off to allow for distancing while eating.
- Markings on the floor will be provided for queue lines at 6 foot intervals to guide customers about where to stand while waiting. Entrances and exits will be marked on doors to create enter only and exit only pathways.
- Mobile ordering: There will be a mobile app available for express pick up. Once alerted the entrée is ready, the customer will proceed to the proper line and pick up their meal. This will reduce the amount of people standing in line at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will the University provide dining services?
- Will there be social distancing and signage?
- Will the dining staff receive training on safety precautions?
- What safety modifications are being put in place?
Will the University provide dining services?
Dining on all three of our campuses, the Main Campus in South Orange, the Interprofessional Health Science Campus in Nutley and the Law School Campus in Newark, are all prepared to provide service which adheres to social distancing guidelines and promote community health and safety.
The University has been working with Gourmet Dining Services to prepare for our student’s return and the reopening of our dining program.
Will there be social distancing and signage?
- All staff, students and faculty will be required to wear a mask when entering a dining facility and during any time in the facility when not eating.
- Physical separators, clear or plexiglass, will be installed to create barriers between diners as well as servers and customers.
- Signs indicating 6-foot increments will be added to dining facilities to indicate where customers should wait.
- Additional outdoor seating in a tented environment will be created to compensate for seats lost in maintaining social distancing requirements.
- Additional, non-dining indoor spaces will be modified with the addition of tables to provide additional table capacity lost by social distancing.
- Directional signs will guide customers through lines and help to manage the flow of traffic through the dining area.
Will the dining staff receive training on safety precautions?
- All dining employees will be required to wear gloves and masks when in dining facilities, or delivering catering or delivery of orders. Exceptions will be made only for medical reasons.
- All dining employees will undergo additional training in health and safety precautions, food handling and disinfection protocols.
- Additional employees will be engaged for wiping down and sanitizing tables between use.
What safety modifications are being put in place?
- Dining facilities will have reduced capacity to allow for distancing. Dining spaces which do not allow for physical distancing, even with modifications will be closed (i.e. University Club).
- Additional lines will be opened and monitored during peak hours.
- Cleaning and disinfection supplies will be available in all dining locations for students to wipe down areas before and after use
- Take out or "grab and go" options will remain available at all open dining locations.
- Dining facilities will use disposable food service items and eliminate the use of shared items (i.e., reusable condiments).
- Mobile Ordering will be required to reduce lines and improve the flow of traffic through dining spaces. The app will show wait times and will alert customers when their orders are ready for pick up
South Orange Campus Dining Venue Updates
The retail space adjacent to the board dining area will be utilized as part of board
dining.
- Swipe-in points will be relocated to the entry of the Galleon Room. The back entrance by A&S will still be available for entry.
- Jersey Mike's will become a second grill and beverage counter.
- Pizza will be served from the Pizzeria only.
- Pirate Express will be altered to provide Smoothies, 'Health and You', Bakery, and Cereal options previously provided in other bays.
The C-Store (Pirate Express) will move to the Living Room in place of Pirate Bowls, which will not be available this fall semester.
Dunkin' Donuts, Jubilee Café, and The Cove will be open with their normal schedule.
Law School – Newark Campus
Dining Services will only provide grab and go meal options.
There will be no catering.
Interprofessional Health Sciences - Nutley Campus
In addition to signage noted above for the South Orange campus dining locations, entrances
and exits will be marked on doors to create enter only and exit only pathways.
Mobile Ordering: To reduce customers standing in line, there will be a mobile app available for express pick up. Once alerted the entrée is ready, the customer will proceed to the proper line and pick up their meal.