For University Housing and Dining, finding vendors to partner with to serve fresh, local food in on campus dining locations is a top priority. The team strives to provide quality and value to the on-campus dining experience for students. One of the many ways the team achieves this is their close partnership with local vendors. By working with these partners, the team is able to provide fresher, better-tasting foods and limit the environmental impact by reducing transportation distance.

Happy last week of classes, Hawkeyes! I wanted to alert you to a recent change to university policies that impacts our campus community. The university’s chalking policy has been updated to reflect our shared values of free speech, free expression, and the exchange of ideas. This important update applies to all university students, staff, faculty, affiliates, invited guests, and visitors.

Living on campus at the University of Iowa presents students with an opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment. This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to the on-campus living experience. However, residence hall support teams have been a constant presence for students to help them stay connected during this unprecedented year.

Following the cancellation of all youth camp programming in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Recreational Services is pleased to again be hosting Wildlife Camps this coming summer. The original Wildlife Camp program, hosted at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area, will be celebrating its 30th year in the wild, carrying on a long legacy of hands-on experiences that awaken awareness, nurture appreciation, and inspire action for all things wild.

It is with a heavy heart that we report that Senéad Short, a 2018 graduate of the University of Iowa, and 2020 Fulbright award winner, was among those killed in a train derailment on Friday, April 2, in Hualien County, Taiwan. Our thoughts are with Senéad’s family and friends and we offer condolences to all of those who lost loved ones in Friday’s accident.

On March 12, the Board of Regents, State of Iowa approved the agreement for Follett Higher Education Group, Inc., to manage the day-to-day operations of the Iowa Hawk Shop and University Bookstore.

For individuals looking for a job, finding the right position is more than just the job itself. It’s a chance to gain work and life experience. For University Housing and Dining, it was an opportunity to partner with the local community.

When the University of Iowa began making plans for the Fall 2020 semester, students, faculty, and staff knew that this would be a semester like no other in the institution’s history. While many worked to redefine the classroom and research experiences, University Housing and Dining focused on the elements of living on campus. While many students were completing much of their coursework online, they still chose to live and dine on campus.

The María Cano Martínez Service Award, established by University of Iowa Chicanx/Latinx alumni and students in 1982, is named in honor of María Cano Martínez, a dedicated University of Iowa and Iowa City community member.

As we enter the virtual instruction period for the Fall 2020 semester, students may continue to feel more isolated, struggling to identify the resources to support them through their academic and campus engagement pursuits. This has not been a typical semester and has been challenging in many ways. While we are moving to virtual instruction, we may be apart, but students are not alone. The University of Iowa has many resources to support student success, particularly in this period.