Madonna University recently shared some ways in which their campus is enjoying new upgrades this year.

Among the improvements is an upgrade to the Campus Spirit Store, with new carpets, a new paint job, an updated display for men’s and women’s apparel and alumni gear; as well as gifts, moleskin journals, nursing supplies, children’s clothing and, of course, school supplies.

In addition to being updated, the prices are affordable enough to make purchasing items accessible, even for college students with a limited budget.

Connie Tingson-Gatuz, vice president of Student Affairs and Mission Integration, noted that this new shop will improve the shopping experience for everyone who visits it.

“We are excited to be able to offer our students, faculty, staff and alumni such quality merchandise in an inviting new space,” Tingson-Gatuz said in a release issued on the university website.

The store will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more hours being announced soon.

Another campus improvement is the change of Take 5 into an improved dining hall.

There will be an updated menu with Craft It, The Farmhouse Breakfast, Grilled, Starbucks, Pizzetta, Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies, Dip-n-Dots and Island Oasis, offering a broad range of dining options for students and visitors.

Another innovation being included that will be a benefit during the challenging time of COVID-19 is integration of the Bite app, allowing students to order ahead for contactless meal pick ups. Additionally, students who forget their mask will have a free disposable mask provided once.

More safety measures will include additional hand sanitizer stations, hands-free ordering protocols rather than the use of pagers and heightened cleaning practices. One-way traffic flow throughout the dining hall and stricter seating capacities will help to protect students and employees, and extended hours should mean that there need not be any rush to get to the hall for mealtime.