5 things: Cal State universities to stay online through academic year

Each Friday Food Management compiles a list that highlights five things you probably missed in the onsite foodservice news that week and why you should care about them.

Here’s your list for the week of September 7:

The nation’s largest public university system will continue with primarily online instruction for the remainder of the academic year amid the state’s ongoing coronavirus crisis, California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Thursday in a letter to students, faculty and staff.

White said he had consulted extensively with campus presidents and considered the state of the pandemic in California as well as university operations.

“The disease continues to spread,” he said. “While the current mitigation factors do make a difference, in the absence of a vaccine and of sufficient, cost-effective, timely testing and contact-tracing infrastructure, we are not able to return to a normal, principally in-person schedule in January 2021.”

Read more: Cal State universities will stay online all year amid COVID-19 pandemic

Bradley University in Illinois moved Tuesday to quarantine its entire student body and shift temporarily to remote learning as it seeks to gain a handle on coronavirus outbreaks that have appeared on campus. An announcement from the university's president, Steve Standifird, directed "all students ... to quarantine in their residence hall, Greek house, St. James apartment, off-campus apartment or house for the next two weeks." The quarantine will lift at 7 a.m. on Sept. 23.

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His statement went on to specify that students would be allowed to spend time outside on-campus if wearing a mask, could venture to on-campus dining halls and restaurants to pick up food, and run essential errands both on and off-campus.

Read more: Illinois university quarantines entire student body for two weeks

Students in the Covington Independent Public School District in Kentucky are learning remotely until September 28, and until they return to the classroom, district leaders are making sure they have food to eat.

On Wednesday, nine school buses transported meals to 1,500 students.

"We're really happy to be able to do that," said Taryn Stewart, director of nutrition services. "The staff is happy to be working and the bus drivers are happy to go around to the homes they haven't been to in a while and see the students. We're happy we can provide this service for them.".

Related:5 coronavirus things: Northwestern dining closures lead to 100 layoffs

Read more: Covington schools deliver meals to students learning at home

General Motors salaried workers in the United States have been told to plan on continuing to work from home until at least June 30, 2021, according to an internal document provided to the Free Press.

“In coming weeks, you will receive instructions from your site leader regarding the process to retrieve personal belongings and any equipment necessary to work remotely,” according to an email signed by GM global human resources chief Kim Brycz and GM chief sustainability officer Dane Parker.

Hundreds of GM salaried employees are already working at factories, tech centers and other facilities, but the vast majority have been working remotely since the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic became clear in March.

Read more: GM tells most salaried workers to stay home till next summer

According to a Vanderbilt University spokesperson, Campus Dining’s service model this semester does not require the use of student employees, and this is expected to remain consistent through Spring 2021.

“Staffing needs are reassessed at the end of each academic year; any modifications to our staffing model will be made next summer,” the statement continued.

Read more: Work study during the pandemic: Campus Dining not hiring students, student reactions and more

Bonus: Freshly Serves a New Business Dining Environment

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]