U.S. Colleges Directory: Comparing Food Allergy & GF Policies–Iowa

By:
in College Directory
Published: November 22, 2016

Iowa – For the complete directory of states and colleges, click here.

Drake University

Disability Services
  1. Doctor’s note with medical documentation required for accommodations?
    Yes
  2. Paperwork filed with disabilities office required for accommodations?
    Yes, though usually filed first with Resident Life and dining services.
  3. Food allergy fair or similar event at start of year?
    Yes. A table is set up for orientees, where students can discuss meal plans and gather information about allergies and what the college will accommodate.

Dining Services
  1. Dietitian or dining services staff available for a meeting before applying?
    Yes
  2. Is ingredient or allergen information onsite/online?
    Yes. Sodexo’s “Bite” app plus onsite signage.
  3. Dining staff trained regularly on food allergy, celiac disease, cross-contact?
    Yes, food allergy training is provided at all dining staff meetings and daily huddles.
  4. Pre-made allergy-friendly meals available?
    Yes. Mostly offer gluten-free items but Sodexo’s Simple Servings is now up and running.
  5. Ingredient substitutions available?
    Yes
  6. Separate utensils and area in kitchen for food allergy/celiac orders?
    Yes
  7. All dining halls able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Yes
  8. All retail sites able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Yes

Residential Housing
  1. Area on housing form to indicate food allergies/celiac disease?
    Yes
  2. Resident Assistants trained on allergic reactions, auto-injector administration?
    No. They are trained to contact paramedics in emergency situations.
  3. On-campus residence required in first year?
    Yes
  4. Meal plans required if in on-campus housing?
    Yes
  5. Possible to group food allergy students as roommates?
    Yes, students have the option to choose their own roommates.
  6. Microwaves/mini-fridge allowed in rooms?
    Yes
  7. Room with kitchenette available, even if freshman?
    Each resident hall has a kitchenette available to all residents.

 

Iowa State University

Disability Services
  1. Doctor’s note with medical documentation required for accommodations?
    Yes
  2. Paperwork filed with disabilities office required for accommodations?
    Yes
  3. Food allergy fair or similar event at start of year?
    ‘Cy’s Gluten-Free Friends’, a student club, attends several start-of-year events.

Dining Services
  1. Dietitian or dining services staff available for a meeting before applying?
    Yes
  2. Is ingredient or allergen information onsite/online?
    Point-of-sale labels have ingredient information. Online link is here.
  3. Dining staff trained regularly on food allergy, celiac disease, cross-contact?
    Yes. Annually
  4. Pre-made allergy-friendly meals available?
    Yes, students can get food from the Special Diet Kitchen in a ‘to go’ box
  5. Ingredient substitutions available?
    Yes
  6. Separate utensils and area in kitchen for food allergy/celiac orders?
    Yes
  7. All dining halls able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Yes
  8. All retail sites able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Some accommodations are available, depending on location.

Residential Housing
  1. Area on housing form to indicate food allergies/celiac disease?
    Yes
  2. Resident Assistants trained on allergic reactions, auto-injector administration?
    No
  3. On-campus residence required in first year?
    No
  4. Meal plans required if in on-campus housing?
    In some locations.
  5. Possible to group food allergy students as roommates?
    Yes
  6. Microwaves/mini-fridge allowed in rooms?
    Yes
  7. Room with kitchenette available, even if freshman?
    Yes

 

Luther College

Disability Services
  1. Doctor’s note with medical documentation required for accommodations?
    Yes
  2. Paperwork filed with disabilities office required for accommodations?
    Yes
  3. Food allergy fair or similar event at start of year?
    No

Dining Services
  1. Dietitian or dining services staff available for a meeting before applying?
    Yes. Admissions department encouraged to send students and families to meet dining services managers.
  2. Is ingredient or allergen information onsite/online?
    Yes, online menus provide allergen and nutrition information. See: http://www.luther.edu/caf/WeeklyMenu.htm
  3. Dining staff trained regularly on food allergy, celiac disease, cross-contact?
    Yes, annual training. But dining staff also have “allergy moments” several times a week, and include allergy awareness among their daily safety topics.
  4. Pre-made allergy-friendly meals available?
    Yes, there’s a Simple Servings station, which is free of 7 top allergens and gluten, available at every meal. There’s also a dedicated gluten-free fryer.
  5. Ingredient substitutions available?
    Yes
  6. Separate utensils and area in kitchen for food allergy/celiac orders?
    Yes. The Simple Servings station has a separate oven and steamer, in addition to purple utensils, the color used to signify allergy precautions.
  7. All dining halls able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    There is only one dining hall on campus.
  8. All retail sites able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Some prepackaged products for sale at retail level.

Residential Housing
  1. Area on housing form to indicate food allergies/celiac disease?
    No. But students are encouraged to inform disability services of anything that might cause a concern.
  2. Resident Assistants trained on allergic reactions, auto-injector administration?
    No. This falls under the security department’s duties.
  3. On-campus residence required in first year?
    On-campus is required all four years, unless student applies to live off campus.
  4. Meal plans required if in on-campus housing?
    Yes
  5. Possible to group food allergy students as roommates?
    Yes
  6. Microwaves/mini-fridge allowed in rooms?
    Microwaves, no. But min-fridges allowed. Dorms have kitchens that students can use.
  7. Room with kitchenette available, even if freshman?
    Not for freshman. Apartments and houses available to upper classmen that have kitchens.

 

The University of Iowa

Disability Services
  1. Doctor’s note with medical documentation required for accommodations?
    Yes
  2. Paperwork filed with disabilities office required for accommodations?
    No
  3. Food allergy fair or similar event at start of year?
    No

Dining Services
  1. Dietitian or dining services staff available for a meeting before applying?
    Yes
  2. Is ingredient or allergen information onsite/online?
    Yes. Online working customizable allergen/nutrition database is a work in progress: https://cbord.iowa.uiowa.edu/NetNutrition/1
  3. Dining staff trained regularly on food allergy, celiac disease, cross-contact?
    Yes
  4. Pre-made allergy-friendly meals available?
    Yes
  5. Ingredient substitutions available?
    Yes, depending on what is needed.
  6. Separate utensils and separate area in kitchen for
    food allergy/celiac orders?
    No
  7. All dining halls able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Yes
  8. All retail sites able to accommodate allergies, gluten-free diet?
    Yes

Residential Housing
  1. Area on housing form to indicate food allergies/celiac disease?
    No
  2. Resident Assistants trained on allergic reactions, auto-injector administration?
    No
  3. On-campus residence required in first year?
    No
  4. Meal plans required if in on-campus housing?
    Yes
  5. Possible to group food allergy students as roommates?
    No
  6. Microwaves/mini-fridge allowed in rooms?
    Yes
  7. Room with kitchenette available, even if freshman?
    Yes, upon request

 

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