Exemptions

Western Washington University's dining contract includes the exclusive right to operate the University's dining services, including catering, solely for the benefit of the University: assuring high quality food service, safe handling of food products, and reasonable costs for sponsoring departments including per diem pricing, casual catering, student catering, and full service catering.

Catering Guidelines For Western Washington University

(Effective Date: January 1, 2009)

These guidelines support the policy implicit in the contract as it applies to all University sponsored events held in University owned facilities.

Please fill out a Coffee & Light Refreshments/Meals with Meetings Authorization Request whenever using Western Washington University and/or Washington State Funds.

If you have the need or desire to request a Catering Exemption, please follow these following steps and guidelines.

Exemption Requests are to:

  1. Serve department needs and expectations by a flexible approach
    • Routine exceptions that require no additional approval:
      • Potluck meals: food provided by and consumed by group members as part of an informal program and consistent with safe food handling guidelines.
      • Fundraisers where the preparation and sale of the food is the main component of the program, i.e. a bake sale.
      • Where the requested product or service is confirmed in advance as not available from University Dining Services.
  2. Provide a simple process to review requests for additional exceptions on a case by case basis
    • Review events involving third party catering prior to the event.
    • University Dining Service's Resident District Manager reviews exemption requests to insure that University Catering has first right of refusal to serve food on campus
    • When appropriate, additional documentation may be requested, such as Washington State Food Handlers Permit, Washington State or Whatcom County Health Department license for off-premise food service, and or evidence of appropriate liability insurance.
  3. Department heads may request an additional review by an appeals panel
    • When the exemption review does not meet department needs, the department head may request an additional review by an appeals panel.
    • The Resident District Manager (Director of University Dining Services) will convene an appeals panel drawn from the Campus Dining Committee.
    • Appeals are generally processed in 2 working days.