Dining at Tulane University
Tulane University strives to create intentional and supportive dining environment that account for the needs of all students. We recognize that students may occasionally require modifications to the standard dining plan to achieve the aforementioned objective. As such, we have established the Dining Committee, which represents a collaborative effort between Dining Services, Campus Health, and the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility. The Committee provides a student-focused process that allows individuals to receive consideration for dining plan modifications for a variety of concerns beyond disability and medical-related needs.
Overview:
Tulane University Dining Services has offerings for students who are vegetarian, vegan, observe kosher , and The Dining Room at Malkin Sacks Commons offers hot, plated meals prepared without peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk products, and eggs. All food made without gluten implies meals prepared without the FDA most common allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk products, and eggs.
The Dining Plan Petition through campus Dining Services is the primary route for requesting dining plan modifications. As a partner on the Dining Committee, the Goldman Center routes any dining-plan related concerns submitted to our application to the Dining Committee as well. Alternatively, student can stop by the Campus Services office in Lavin-Bernick Center, Suite 107, and coordinate a meeting with the Sodexo management team and Student Health Center for support in dietary needs.
Eating and dining concerns extend beyond the dining environments across campus. For dining concerns in the housing environment, students should review our process for requesting a housing accommodation.
Eating Concerns Team
Dining, eating, and nutritional concerns can be complex and personal. As such, Campus Health provides students with support through Nutrition Services, where students can make an appointment with the registered Campus Health Dietitian through their Campus Health Patient Portal or by calling the Student Health Center (504-865-5255). Students do not need a referral in order to access Nutrition Services and there is no maximum allotment of visits per calendar year for these services. Alternatively, students can reach out directly to Carli Gertler, RD, LDN, CDE at cgertler@tulane.edu or make an eating concerns intake reservation with Dr. Emily Holt, DO, MPH through their Patient Portal.
Supports for Eating and Dining Concerns
Resources
As Tulane University students, you have access to a wealth of resources for addressing concerns you may be experiencing in the dining environment. Supports exist for a range of dietary concerns, encompassing concerns common across medical and religious-based dietary needs.
If you are requesting accommodations related to eating and dining concerns through the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility, you may be routed to one or more of these resources in our goal to find the most appropriate and supportive solution for your dietary needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know that the accommodation request process may take some time. Please references the resources listed on this page for support during your application request phase.
If you are simply requesting a dining plan modification for any dining concern you have, then you can go to the Dining Plan Petition process. If you want to request access to a kitchen as an accommodation for your dining needs, then you should move forward with the Goldman Center housing accommodation process.
No. All first and second year students are required to have some form of a dining plan, regardless of residency. See more information directly from Dining Services.
If you'd like to request a housing accommodation such as a kitchen to support your eating and dining concerns, please follow the guidance detailed on our Housing Accommodations page. Please note that eating and dining concerns can be supported through the resources detailed on this page as the most appropriate and reasonable form of support for your concern.
If granted a housing accommodation, the University's priority is to support you, the accommodated student, over specific roommate requests. When possible, one (1) roommate may be moved with you before the START of room selection. Honoring roommate requests after room selection is not possible. Accommodating roommate groups (two or more roommates) is wholly not possible.
When evaluating a student's needs for any kitchen-related accommodation, we will factor in Dining's ability to accommodate a student's dining needs within the existing dining plans and dining plan modifications through the Dining Plan Petition.
Housing accommodations granting access to a kitchen are considered when the disability concerns rise above Dining Services' ability to accommodate a student's medical needs through the existing dining plan modifications. In general, most dining concerns are satisfied through a Dining Plan Petition.
Even if you are approved for a kitchen-related housing accommodation as a first or second year student, you must still have a meal plan.
General Information / Disclaimers - Please note that University requires all first and second year students, regardless of residency, to have a dining plan. Any dining plan petition is a modification to the required dining plan, not an exemption.
NOTE: By engaging in the Dining Accommodation or Housing Accommodation review process, you are giving permission for Committee members to share and discuss information about your medical condition and/or disability status strictly and specifically as it applies to your dining needs.
