What's New, Doc? A primer for returning to TU
With the semester here, we found some things that have changed on Towson University's campus over the summer.
August 22, 2018
The beach umbrellas are packed away. Text books are at the ready.
Summer is officially coming to a close, and by Monday, classes will resume.
Students return to Towson University this week, and we've pulled together a few things to make the return to campus a little simpler.
What’s new with traffic
First and foremost, getting to an around campus this week will require some patience. Expect some delays due to ongoing county road construction and an increased volume of cars on campus for move-in times.
Road work on Towsontown Boulevard will limit traffic to one lane in each direction between Osler Drive and University Avenue. Westbound travelers on Towsontown Boulevard will have access to a left turn lane onto Osler Drive.
Additionally, resurfacing work continues on Burke Avenue between York Road and Towsontown Boulevard. Lane restrictions may be in place.
Motorists should avoid Cross Campus Drive, where traffic will be limited to one-way, westbound travel — from York Road to Osler Drive only — for student move-in on Thursday.
Once students get settled in, there are a few other changes that have taken place since the spring, too.
What’s new with construction
Beyond planning for a few more moments on the road, students may also want to allow additional time when walking to classes in the early weeks of the semester. There may be some detours on your regular walkways to start the year.
Some pedestrian walkways around the Cook Library and The Beach will be diverted due to utility work being done for the new science building.
Additionally, work is beginning on the new University Union. Starting this semester, the university will begin a major renovation to add much-needed space to the campus hub.
Some entrances to the building and walkways around it will be inaccessible at times.
The bulk of the work was completed in the summer months, however, a record amount of July rain delayed the finishing touches of the work.
The update to the pedestrian foot bridge to The Residences at 10 West Burke Avenue is complete.
Read more about campus construction here.
What’s new with parking on campus
By and large — nothing significant has changed with campus parking. That said, there is new terminology.
Effective July 9th, all designated commuter areas in parking garages have been renamed "Core." There are no changes to restrictions or eligibility for these areas.
What’s new with dining at TU this fall
Changes in dining offerings are often reflective of requests from the student body.
One new dining option will open in West Village this semester. Piadina, an Italian-themed concept created by chefs at Towson University, will be a made-to-order location featuring flatbread pizza, sandwiches and salads. Piadina will replace Jamba Juice in the West Village Food Court.
A new Pepsi "SPIRE" machine will offer a multitude of customizable flavor options from the West Village Commons retail area.
Also, two new sustainability initiatives are in place through TU's dining operation this fall. Trays have been eliminated in West Village Commons and the Glen Dining Hall in an effort to conserve water and reduce food waste. In addition, TU is eliminating straws from dining facilities amid a global movement to reduce plastic waste. Should someone need a straw for medical reasons, the manager of each dining facility will have some available.
Learn more about what's new in dining.
More dining changes are coming by Fall 2020, when the new University Union offers a food market setting featuring a full-sized Chick-Fil-A and a Dunkin' Donuts among a seven-venue dining courtyard.