Every January, we hear the same old “new year, new me” mantra: the unofficial soundtrack of change, uncertainty and resolutions. However, no month brings more change or uncertainty for students than August.
Whether stepping onto campus for the first time or returning to a place you’ve called home, each fall marks a fresh start. People inevitably change, and so do the places around them.
If the unknown makes you uneasy, don’t worry. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new at Bradley.
New Food
From dining halls to coffee shops, on-campus food options have undergone significant changes since spring. As a result, returning students may find their favorite snacks and study spots a little different this year.
Since October, Geisert has served as Bradley’s only official dining hall while River City Construction renovated Williams. Staying true to the promise that students would be eating in the upgraded facility by the start of the semester, Williams Dining Hall reopened to the public on Saturday.
While bigger doesn’t always mean better, this building is designed to be both. More than twice the size of the original hall, it now features a main lounge, additional study spaces, secluded allergen-friendly stations, front-of-house food preparation, areas for private dining, a “dirty soda” bar and an after-hours coffee shop.
A grand opening celebration for the new hall is scheduled for September 11.
For the coffee lovers on campus, there are more changes to look forward to. On July 31, the Starbucks in Campustown permanently closed, making way for a new cafe: CxT Roasting Company.
This family-owned small-batch coffee and tea roaster was founded in Peoria in 2016. Their third storefront, set to open at 1200 West Main Street soon, may serve as more than a new hangout spot, offering new job opportunities to Bradley students as well.
Meanwhile, another campus favorite just got an upgrade of its own. On Thursday, Bradley took to Instagram and Facebook to announce that Chick-fil-A in the Student Center would be getting a remodel to provide a “fresher, faster and better experience” for fans of the chain. As part of this experience, new self-service kiosks have been installed to place orders.
New Tech
The updates don’t stop at food. Bradley has also updated technology that will change the way faculty and staff experience the campus.
First, say goodbye to bulky wallets and extra steps at the register. Bradley has gone fully cashless this year. Credit, debit and contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are now the only accepted options at all campus locations, from dining halls to health services and beyond.
Two weeks ago, Vice President for Finance and Administration Betsy Hull attributed this update to a desire for faster service and a more convenient, modernized experience.
Bradley also rolled out a new way to get tech help. As of August 4, the IT department is using SolarWinds Service Desk, a platform where students, faculty and staff can submit requests for Wi-Fi issues, account troubles or other tech support.
What does that mean for you? Ideally, faster fixes and automated status updates on your concerns. Plus, all IT support can now be found in one place.
To try it for yourself, visit support.bradley.edu.
New Faces
Of course, no new school year is complete without new faces, new friends and new classmates. Meeting new people is an integral element of the college experience, but at some point, everyone has to experience actually being the new person.
While that can feel intimidating, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Hundreds of new faces grace the campus every year; this year, even the university’s president is relatively new.
James E. Shadid stepped into the role on April 1, just over a month before the spring semester concluded. Since then, he’s been active on campus, but this fall marks the start of his first full academic year in the position.
No matter how long you’ve been at Bradley, the start of a new year means stepping into the unknown. From dining and tech alterations to new campus leadership, the university seems to be embracing the “new year, new me” mantra this fall.
