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GFF College Dining Survey Responses
University of Saint Joseph CT
West Hartford
Connecticut
Survey Date:
Apr 4, 2025
Survey 1 of 1
Student:
Junior
With:
Gluten Intolerance, Other
Student's Summary Assessment:
College Dining:
C
Surrounding Area:
B-
Rationale for Grades Given
While there is 1 station in the dinning hall dedicated to being allergy safe, I am very limited on what I can eat.
While there are a few gluten free/celiac friendly establishments many are very expensive, especially for a college student
Details About this Student's Food Restrictions
How many years ago were you diagnosed with food allergies or celiac disease?
5+
If you indicated celiac or gluten intolerance, how sensitive are you to gluten?
Extremely: React to even small traces
Add details to help us better understand your food restrictions (e.g. sensitivity level, potential reaction, need for EPI pen)
I am allergic to gluten, when I eat gluten or cross-contaminated food, I become nauseous, start vomiting, having diarrhea, and get a rash. So far, I do not need an epi pen. When I was little it started off with some bloating, but now my symptoms get worse with each exposure.
Details About this Student's College Dining Experience
Does your college handle food restrictions as you expected when you decided to attend?
Not at all what I expected
Have you had a reation from eating in your dining hall?
YES
If Yes, describe each incident and how your school responded
My freshman year, I went through a whole bottle of Benadryl during my first semester. It wasn't until I cc'd the president of the school my sophomore year that the dean and dinning hall met with me and started to make changes.
Did you register your food restriction with the disabilities office? If yes, describe
Yes. I sent a doctor's note describing my gluten allergy to my schools accessibility office
Are there resources to help with nutritious, safe dining (e.g. dietician)? If yes, describe
Yes, but you are made to feel like a burden or inconvenience when you ask for help or if you can get something specially made since you don't like what's at the allergy station
If you were in charge of dining, what would you change? Would your school be open to suggestions?
More gluten and dairy free options + more in-depth cross-contamination & allergy training
Describe your biggest challenge managing your food restrictions at college and how you deal with it
Only being able to eat at one station, not being able to get whatever I am in the mood for like most students, and waiting longer to get specially made food on occasions when I ask
Advice for Incoming Students:
Housing:
Did your food restrictions impact your housing decisions? Any dorm recommendations
Not really. I need to live on campus due to my class load, but it sucks wasting money on a meal plan when I rarely eat at the dinning hall
Dining Halls:
Any advice for managing dining halls? Favorite dining halls? Any to avoid?
Try to get a reduced meal plan because it's unfair to pay full price when you can only eat at one station
Meal Plans:
Describe your meal plans over the year(s). What's mandatory? Any suggestions?
I had a full meal plan for my first 2 years, but as a junior, I faught for a reduced meal plan because I thought it was unfair to pay full price when I could only eat at one station
Dorms:
Any advice for eating in the dorms? Favorite snacks? Places that deliver?
Have a fridge and store snacks as very few of the snacks for purchase on campus are gluten free and/or taste good
Getting Started:
What should students do before school starts or when they first arrive?
Bring snacks, meal bars, etc. Submit a request for a reduced meal plan via student accessibilities with a doctor's note
Socializing:
Advice on managing parties or dinners out with friends?
Be careful on where you go as prices are high and not all places are gluten free/celiac friendly; research first!
Other:
Any other advice or comments?
Meal Plans:
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