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October 2007
New Dining Services Operation
Sheri J. Tonn, vice president, Finance and Operations
Erin McGinnis, Director of Dining and Culinary Services
This fall, students are experiencing a completely new dining services operation at PLU. At the beginning of fall semester, we opened a newly renovated University Center that includes a new Commons and Old Main Market. The Commons serves as the primary dining venue on campus, and includes four stations with made to order entrees plus various buffet items. At breakfast and lunch the service is a la carte and at dinner it is “all you care to eat”. “Dining dollars,” “LuteBucks” or cash are used to purchase a la carte selections and the fixed price for dinner. All meal plans include the dinner option weekdays five days a week, and two times periods on Sundays.
We worked to achieve a healthy balance of five values during the design of the new dining options and meal plans:
- Experience – Deliver a quality, fun and efficient experience
- Healthy – Create healthy and tasteful foods supported by educational programs
- Sustainable- Showcase sustainability through purchasing local and organic foods, recycling and composting wastes
- Affordable – Balance food options and prices through effective menu selection, pricing, ingredient costs and staffing
- Community – Build community among the entire campus through a variety of seating options, encouraging conversations between students, faculty and staff
The transition from the previous traditional plan to this new one is exciting, and at some times, challenging. The remodeling project was completed on a very tight time line, and staff moved into the new space just as students returned. Because of this, we are asking for student feedback. We’ve invited students to forums and a variety of other ways to provide feedback and to get information on managing Dining Dollars. We are also holding sessions on nutrition and value.
From feedback already received, we are adding menu items, adjusting portions and pricing, adding lower priced items and changing menu rotations. We’ve also made minor adjustments in hours of operation. We plan to continue to examine the menu mix at all dining operations on campus as well as the meal plan structure. Please encourage your student to provide feedback. If you have concerns, please e-mail us at dining@plu.edu. The Dining and Culinary Services web page can be found at http://www.plu.edu/~dining.
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