What's new at TU
From dining options to parking updates, here's what's changing on campus
Each fall, Towson University welcomes thousands of students to campus for a new academic year. And with a new semester come new changes across campus.
TU continues to invest in improvements that enhance the student experience. From new food options to updated parking guidelines and long-term projects taking shape, here is a look at what’s new for the upcoming academic year.
Dining Updates
There are plenty of new dining options available for TU students this fall.
New dining options
Freshens Fresh Food Kitchen opens Aug. 24 in Cook Library. The menu will include items such as smoothies, salad bowls, wraps, flatbreads, rice bowls and other customizable meals. This new dining option offers students quick meals and snacks between classes.
Another new addition will be the Good Day Cafe. It will open on the first floor of Hawkins Hall and serve salads, sandwiches, soup, coffee and more. Many of the items will be grab and go and made fresh on site.
New ways to eat
Delivery robots will still be traversing campus. After receiving an upgrade, the fleet will be bigger, faster and better equipped to deliver right to the campus community.
Another new option is how students will pay for their food. Tiger Hospitality is going cashless, with all dining locations accepting Towson ONEcard, credit and debit cards and tap to pay. Students can order at food courts through the GrubHub app or self-service kiosks.
New menu options
Newell Den will introduce five ghost kitchen concepts through the GrubHub app and self-service kiosks: Flametown Burgers, Theo’s Original Hot Chicken, Inked Tacos, Duck Duck Dragon and Pinsa Pizza.
With Newell getting new options, student-favorite ChaTime will be moving. Students can now get their Boba tea fix on the second floor of the Glen Fresh Food Co. Dining Hall.
Chick-fil-A will now serve breakfast and be available at stadium concessions at all Towson Tigers games.
Glen Fresh Food Co. Dining Hall will feature new ramen and expanded vegan stations, while Newell Dining Hall will have a new kosher deli, dedicated vegan station and an expanded Global Kitchen menu.
And ending with dessert, there will be a new sweet treat option on campus as F'Real Milkshake Machines will be at Tiger Express and the Science Cafe.
Parking updates
Parking enforcement campuswide will now end at 5 p.m. except for reserved parking spaces, ADA spaces and safety violations such as fire lanes, which are always enforced.
Hourly rates on campus have also changed from $4 to $6, but all other permit rates will remain the same.
Construction updates
TU’s trademark building Stephens Hall will begin looking like its distinguished self again this August. After the installation of geothermal test wells, the Stephens Hall lawn has been re-sodded.
While one part of campus returns to normal, the new Smith Hall is continuing to take form. Construction on the future home of the College of Fine Arts and Communication remains on track for completion before the fall 2027 semester. Learn more about what to expect when Smith Hall is completed, as well as pedestrian detours around construction.
TU’s Division of Student Health & Well-Being (SHAW) has a new home on campus. Its suite, on the first floor of Burdick Hall, will provide a centralized space for SHAW’s executive staff.
A brand-new Homecoming
Homecoming Week is getting a remix with new traditions, events and experiences designed to bring Tigers together.
The annual event is getting a whole new energy and vibe. TU is turning it into something bigger, bolder and unforgettable for Tigers young and young at heart.
Homecoming Week takes place Oct. 26–31. Follow TU’s social media accounts to be the first to know all the details.
The Cook Library of Things
When most students think of borrowing from Albert S. Cook Library, books are often the first things that come to mind. But Cook Library has so much more, especially in its Library of Things.
Students can borrow anything from board games to graphic calculators to a Maryland State Park pass or even a projector and a 50-inch video screen. Check out what’s available and how to borrow them.
An updated hub
The Basic Needs Hub provides free resources to the TU community, including food and hygiene support through the FoodShare program, clothing through the Tiger Threads Clothing Closet and assistance with enrolling in SNAP benefits.
Through a partnership with Aramark, the hub will now feature fresh produce for students. Aramark will also be working to provide additional, name-brand hygiene products that students can grab if needed.
Stay up to date
Things are always happening at TU. Follow TU’s social media pages to stay in the know on the latest campus news, events and announcements—Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.