5 coronavirus things: Judges generally refusing to dismiss student refund demands

In this special edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments regarding coronavirus and its impact on onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

Most students suing for refunds for tuition and fees paid after the abrupt closure of their colleges and universities during the first COVID-19 lockdowns have cleared their first hurdles, with judges in more than a half-dozen cases allowing claims to go forward, according to this analysis. A general trend toward forcing such refunds could severely impact campus dining programs depending on meal plan monies already banked for last spring.

Read more: Trend Shows Judges Refusing to Dismiss Cases Against Universities Demanding COVID-19 Refunds

State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland has announced that all in-person classes will be suspended for at least two weeks after the number of COVID-19 cases exceeded 100, while SUNY Oswego, which had paused in-person classes several weeks ago, has resumed them beginning Oct. 5.

Read more: SUNY Oswego Plans To Restart In-Person Classes October 5; SUNY Cortland to pause in-person classes as COVID cases rise

Related:5 coronavirus things: Penn State temporarily closes two dining venues

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville plans to hold in-person graduation ceremonies

For spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates on Nov. 19-22 in its Thompson-Boling Arena before students leave for Thanksgiving break, with each ceremony limited to 200 graduates and a limited number of guests per graduate. Masks will be required and social distancing will be implemented in the arena.

Read more: University of Tennessee to hold in-person graduation ceremonies in November

Rick Abramson has retired from his full-time job at Delaware North after 54 years with the company, including stints heading its Sportservice and Parks & Resorts divisions. For the past three years, he served as chief customer officer for the company and will stay connected with it as a part-time consultant and special advisor.

Read more: Rick Abramson Retires from Delaware North

Chartwells Higher Education has opened the nation’s first on-campus unit of the Taco Bell Cantina concept at the University of Texas-Dallas. Taco Bell Cantina is a “fresh take” on the traditional Taco Bell concept that features an updated look, digital kiosks, unique menu items and alcohol service. The unit sits in an area with a large outdoor space for socially distanced seating and is open to both UT-Dallas students and staff and individuals from the surrounding community. In addition, students can mobile order food from the unit and have it delivered using Starship Technologies delivery robots.

Related:High-tech food lockers safely deliver preorders at Auburn

Read more: Chartwells Opens First On-Campus Taco Bell Cantina at the University of Texas at Dallas

Bonus: Best Concepts: Pizza Pick Up program made the best of an emergency situation for school nutrition program

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]