Auxiliary Services renews contract with Chartwells
University officials are working with Chartwells to implement a new eight-year food service contract, with an option to extend it for a full 12 years. Bryce Brownlee, UTD’s director of the Office of Contract Administration, said the university received two bids in a January 2018 request for proposals — one...
Select Chartwells employees to hold union election in May
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its original publication. After a months-long organizing effort, certain Chartwells workers will be able to participate in a May 2 election to determine whether they want to be represented in collective bargaining by local chapter 1000 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Student and temporary workers...
Letter to the Editor: Dining Services values community voices
A series of articles has been published by The Mercury this year about the university’s food service contractor, Chartwells. We value this input, and we have consistently encouraged dialogue with students and continue to work diligently to improve the dining experience for everyone on campus. We may not always get...
Chartwells workers allege lack of food safety training
Management claims all associates receive ongoing training during employment Following student concerns about food safety, The Mercury obtained evidence that suggests many Chartwells workers did not receive state-mandated food safety training until earlier this month. In Texas, the certification is considered the responsibility of the employer and is typically administered...
Chartwells launches feedback platform
In response to a rising number of student suggestions and complaints regarding dining on campus, UTD Dining Services created a messaging portal to allow students to anonymously provide feedback on all matters related to dining on campus. The portal will allow students to suggest improvements or complain about issues they’ve...
Pub to feature gaming lounge
Game consoles, TV screens installed to enable student gamers to socialize Citing a surge of interest in esports along with the creation of a dedicated esports team earlier last year, the Student Union and UTD Dining Services teamed up to create a gaming cafe in The Pub. Dan Goodwin, director...
Students report raw, moldy food at on-campus eateries
Richardson Health Department conducts inspections of Dining Hall West, IHOP Express to address numerous complaints A series of posts on UTD’s subreddit featured pictures of moldy food and raw chicken allegedly found at various UTD dining establishments, beginning at the end of November. Jamie Lee Harris, a computer science sophomore,...
Food service workers accuse Chartwells management of misconduct
Food service workers accuse Chartwells management of misconduct Editor’s Note: The Mercury’s publication of a Dec. 3 report, in which former and current Chartwells workers alleged verbal abuse, unfair labor practices and sexual harassment, came amid efforts by workers to form a union, with the support of a local chapter...
Dining Services offers interactive cooking lessons
Every month, Dining Hall West hosts the Teaching Kitchen, an event where DHW chefs show students how to prepare a meal. This meal is dependent on the super food of the month. This month, DHW chefs demonstrated how to make mushroom bisque. “We are kind of gravitated to the why...
Unused meal exchanges find new purpose
Student Government and Dining Services teamed up to create a meal swipe donation program to help combat food insecurity on campus. With close to 22 percent of college students facing very low levels of food security, according to the National Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the initiative aims to allow...