Welcome to the DSP Hub!

This webpage is a comprehensive resource for students enrolled in our Residential Dining Dietary Support Program. Read below to learn more about:

Schedule an appointment
View our Aggie Choice Menu
Contact Us

Schedule an Appointment with the Nutrition Team

You qualified for dietary accommodations! Now what? You can now gain access to our special diet ordering app, OrderIT, and order custom-made meals from Segundo, Tercero, and Cuarto DC.

To do so, you will need to schedule an intake appointment with a member of our Nutrition Team! During the appointment, we will:

  • Address any questions you have about DSP or food allergy management in Residential Dining
  • Create your Food Preferences List, a document that outlines all the details of your dietary needs for our culinary team
  • Show you how to order customized meals using the OrderIT app

Visit our Calendly portal to schedule an appointment today! Please note: only students qualified for DSP may schedule appointments with the Nutrition Team. Appointments scheduled by those not approved by the Student Disability Center and/or the Housing Arrangements team will be denied.

Want to schedule a follow-up appointment? No problem! Students in DSP may schedule follow-up appointments as needed throughout the academic year for:

  • General support navigating meal options in Residential Dining
  • Requesting technical assistance and follow-up demonstrations on how to order your meals
  • Discuss major updates to their Food Preferences List

How to Access and Update your Food Preferences List

Once you approve your Food Preferences List (FPL), a copy is saved on your Modified Arrangement Request (MAR) portal profile. Your FPL can be updated as many times as needed to ensure it accurately reflects your dietary needs.

To view your current FPL:

  1. Log into your MAR portal account.
  2. Scroll down to the "Documents" tab
  3. A copy of your FPL is saved here for your reference.

To request an update to your FPL:

  1. Log into your MAR portal account.
  2. Send a message to the nutrition team member. Include details about what you would like updated on your FPL.
  3. The nutrition team member may follow up via the MAR portal with clarifying questions. Otherwise, they will send you an updated copy of your FPL.

From there, the nutrition team member will save a copy of your updated FPL in your MAR profile, notify residential dining teams of the update, and update your profile settings on the OrderIt app (if needed).

Non-matriculated UC Davis students approved for meal accommodations (for example, temporary summer program participants) will receive all communications from the nutrition team via email, not the MAR portal.

How to Download the OrderIt App

Once your new FPL is finalized for the first time, a nutrition team member will create your personalized profile in the OrderIt app. The creation of your OrderIt triggers an automatic notification to your UC Davis email with personalized instructions for downloading the app and finishing your account setup. Simplified instructions are below:

  1. Access your UC Davis email via smartphone.
  2. Open the auto-email notification; it will have come from "no-reply@Touchwork.com."
  3. Follow the directions to download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.
  4. Copy your unique personal ID code in the email.
  5. Open the app on your smartphone and paste the personal ID code into the app. This will enable your access to your personalized account in OrderIt.

For technical difficulties: reach out to us at DSP@ucdavis.edu if…

  • You experience issues downloading the app.
  • You do not receive an automatic notification from Touchwork to your UC Davis email within 30 min of finalizing your FPL with the nutrition team member.

How to Use the OrderIT App

Once your OrderIt account is set up, you're ready to order! Follow the steps below each time you would like to place a custom order at one of our DC's:

  1. Open the OrderIt app on your smartphone
  2. Click the "Menu" button to start your order.
  3. Select the DC you would like to place an order.
  4. Select an available meal period from the drop-down.
  5. Confirm the date, then select the time you would like to pick up the meal. Timeslots will display starting at two hours ahead of the current time.
  6. Click "Confirm Slot."
  7. This will take you to the main menu. Click a meal item to begin customizing. Due to your unique profile settings, options you have identified as unsafe for you to eat are removed from your view.
  8. When you are finished customizing a meal item, click Save/Return to Menu. You may then select additional items to customize for your order if you choose.
  9. When you are finished with your selections, click Review Order.
  10. Review your order carefully and make changes as needed. If you are approved for to-go accommodations, a button will be visible on this page asking if you would like your meal to-go.
  11. Click "Submit" to send your order to the DC.

How to Pick Up Ordered Meals

At your meal pickup time:

  1. Head to the DC where you placed the order
  2. Swipe in at the cashier station.
  3. Tell the cashier your full name, and that you are picking up a special meal.
  4. The cashier will alert the chef of your arrival and direct you to the area where your meal can be picked up from the chef.
  5. Go to this area to meet the chef.
  6. The chef will hand off your custom meal, along with a paper summary of your meal order.
  7. Review the order summary for accuracy. If all looks ok, sign the order summary. If anything is inaccurate, notify the chef so they may make the necessary corrections.
  8. Enjoy your meal!

For technical Difficulties: If you ever experience issues using the OrderIT app, notify us right away at DSP@ucdavis.edu so that the issue can be resolved promptly with the Touchwork support team.

Exploring other options in the DC's

Depending on your dietary restrictions, there may be additional foods in the DC's that fit your needs! After you pick up an ordered meal, feel free to explore additional meal options in the DC by using point-of-service menu signage and the online menu as a guide. Please note: items available on our regular menu cycle are not eligible for modification or custom ordering. Students may self-select these items upon their arrival to their DC of choice.

OrderIt Menu Nutrition Facts

At this time, the OrderIT app does not display nutrition facts or comprehensive ingredients for manufactured items. This information may be found using the OrderIT Menu Nutrition Facts (.xlsx). In addition, manufacturer's information for any items on the OrderIT menu can be provided upon request. Please email DSP@ucdavis.edu to request information on items in our OrderIT menu.

Additional Support Resources

Students in DSP have access to additional support resources to ensure their dining experience is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. Please note that these resources are only available during the regular academic year and not available during the summer quarter.

Peer Mentors

DSP students receive regular support from their own designated DSP Peer Mentor! Peer Mentors are current UC Davis undergraduate students who work to help support our DSP students and organize fun outreach activities. Reach out to your peer mentor any time by emailing us at DSP@ucdavis.edu.

Regular Check-Ins

Throughout the academic year, your peer mentor will check-in with you regularly to see how you're doing! They may provide resources, information on upcoming events, and other reminders related to your meal accommodations. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and give your feedback on DSP.

DC Walkthroughs and App Support

Students in DSP may request a walkthrough of their DC or more hands-on assistance with the order it app from their peer mentor. Reach out to us at DSP@ucdavis.edu to request a walkthrough or hands-on app demonstration

Our Monthly Email Newsletter

Our DSP Peer Mentors publish a monthly email newsletter to all DSP students with program updates, events, articles, and feedback surveys!

Give Us Your Feedback

Is there a food you'd like to see added to our OrderIT selections ? Have ideas to improve your program experience? Let us know! Email us at DSP@ucdavis.edu with your suggestions. Please note: requests for additional items are ultimately approved by our culinary team, and therefore we cannot guarantee the regular sourcing of any item not already on this menu. Consideration of new additions to the OrderIT menu is based on supply chain access, production feasibility, unit storage capacity, and product shelf-life.

Look for our Purple Tablecloth in the DC’s

Peer Mentors regularly table in our residential dining areas during lunch and dinner service to promote our program. Look for our purple tablecloth and stop by to say hello!

What to Do in an Emergency

If you experience an emergency allergic reaction in a DC, call 911 or notify a staff member right away, and they will contact emergency services for you.

While our staff takes every precaution to prevent cross-contact and ensure accurate food labeling, it's best to be prepared for any situation that may come your way. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation will ensure your safety. Please note that we do not carry epinephrine in our operations. It is highly recommended that students with epinephrine or other allergy medication keep this medication on them at all times, regardless of where they dine, and ensure that their medication has not expired. Our Dining staff may help a student access their emergency medication (i.e. from a personal bag or backpack), but are not permitted to administer said medication. In the event of an emergency, our staff will call 911.

How to Report an Incident

To report any adverse reactions to food consumed in our DC's, please contact our Dining Services Safety Specialist via email at shdssafety@ucdavis.edu. Provide your name, phone number, a convenient time to reach you via phone call, and any details about the incident you wish to disclose. The Safety Specialist will follow up with you via phone call to gather and verify further details about the incident. An investigation will then be initiated in the operation to ensure corrective actions are taken to protect the safety of our patrons.

Frequently Asked Questions for DSP and OrderIt

Given the volume of meals served daily to the general student population, a minimum two-hour notice allows our culinary team the time needed to prepare your meal safely. This includes reviewing your Food Preferences List, clarifying any discrepancies, thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the allergy-friendly area of the back kitchen, and preparing a fresh, single-portion meal that is ready when you arrive. This advance notice is an important part of keeping meals safe and accurate.

Not necessarily! Many students place breakfast orders the night before or early in the morning once they're awake. Planning ahead (especially for earlier meal periods) can help ensure your meal is ready when you need it without disrupting your routine.

When your order is received, a trained member of our culinary team reviews your dietary restrictions using your Food Preferences List. They then clean and sanitize the designated allergy-friendly area of the back kitchen before preparing your meal. If there is a product shortage or a last-minute menu change, a culinary team member may contact you using the phone number listed on your Food Preferences List to confirm your order and suggest safe alternatives.

No. You are welcome to place OrderIt meals at any of our three Dining Commons locations, regardless of where you live.

No. The OrderIt app is a support tool, not a limitation. It exists to provide a set of carefully vetted, reliable options for students who need dietary accommodations. You may still choose to self-select items from the regular dining menu that meet your needs when dining in person. We recommend using point-of-service menu signage as well as the online menus as your guide.

The OrderIt app menu has been curated specifically for students in DSP. Each item on the menu has been reviewed by our nutrition and culinary teams and is prepared using safety protocols designed to reduce risk. In addition, your unique profile settings in OrderIt are programmed to display only those menu options that do not contain ingredients unsafe for you to eat. If you ever have questions about an item or feel unsure, you're encouraged to reach out to our team at DSP@ucdavis.edu.

Dining Commons hours vary by location, day, and academic calendar. The most up-to-date hours can be found on the UC Davis Dining Commons website. We recommend checking regularly, especially during weekends, holidays, breaks, and finals periods.

Outside of normal business hours (for example, during evenings or on weekends), Dining Commons managers and culinary staff are available onsite and can assist with immediate questions or concerns. We recommend asking any staff member if you can speak with a supervisor or chef on duty, as these individuals will be the most knowledgeable about the menu offerings and operations that day. For non-urgent questions or support, you may contact the DSP team at DSP@ucdavis.edu.

Custom meal ordering is limited to the items available on the OrderIt menu. Each item on this menu has been carefully selected and vetted for safety. For this reason, items from the regular DC menu cycle cannot be modified or added to OrderIt orders.

Students may self-select regular menu items that fit their dietary needs when dining in person. Because requesting unvetted items poses a significant safety risk, the culinary team will not fulfill OrderIt requests for items outside of the approved menu. If you have requests for additions to the OrderIt menu, email us at DSP@ucdavis.edu. We can review the request with our culinary team to review feasibility, safety, and vendor availability.

No. To-go meal accommodations are only available to students who have received prior approval from their Student Disability Center (SDC) specialist. If you would like to request this accommodation, please log into your MySDCOnline profile and contact your assigned SDC specialist. Additional documentation may be required.

You Belong Here

Student Affairs programs and services are open to all, consistent with state and federal law as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive and respectful of all identities. To learn more, visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy Statement for University of California Publications Regarding Student-Related Matters.