Dear students,
We wanted to connect with you directly to share some important updates about our Campus Dining operations as we’ve received questions from students and parents. We recognize that we did not meet the standards we have set for ourselves, and we apologize for any distress the challenges have put on your Vanderbilt experience.
The pandemic has brought challenges to staffing and supply chains across the country—including here at Vanderbilt. To clear up any misinformation, our dining staff and management team members are still very much hard at work. They are working weekdays and weekends—in Zeppos, EBI, Rand, Kissam, Commons and four markets on campus—to ensure that you have options for all of your dining needs.
Please know that this dedicated team is working tirelessly to provide you with the best experience possible. We continue to listen to your feedback and adjust as necessary.
Some key updates we have made in the past couple of weeks include:
HOURS
- Opened Commons Munchie an hour earlier to provide additional dinner option to students visiting the Commons Center.
- Launched breakfast at Rand, Commons, EBI, Bronson and Zeppos beginning at 7 a.m. during the week and will begin continental breakfast at 9 a.m. on weekends starting this Saturday.
LINES
- The Commons no longer has single-file line entering the server, and traffic patterns have been modified. The pasta station has been moved to alleviate congestion.
- E. Bronson Ingram has added signs and added lines on either side of the main island to expedite service.
- Floor stickers have been placed in the dining halls to inform students on the amount of time they can expect to wait in line from that spot in the operation.
LOCATIONS AND FOOD
- Shifted from mobile-only ordering to walk up service at our 2301 dining location, nearly doubling the number of students we can serve at that location.
- Begun continuous service at Rand Dining Center from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with no gap between breakfast and lunch service.
- Begun a rotation of food trucks on both main campus at Alumni Lawn and the Commons in front of the Commons Center. Depending on food truck availability, both lunch and dinner are being served, and a meal plan swipe is accepted. Interest in these food trucks is quite high, and we kindly remind everyone that food trucks are an addition to the Campus Dining program, not a replacement for our core dining halls or markets. Due to the nature of food trucks, capacity is limited and food is made to order; if lines are too long, students are encouraged to visit one of our other dining operations.
- Developed and installed signs to promote meal plan components of Grab & Go and Market Baskets.
- Introduced and launched sushi as a meal plan option at Highland Munchie Mart, Rand Grab & Go Market and Alumni Café.
- As this semester’s dining traffic patterns begin to stabilize, Campus Dining has been able to better forecast demand for certain Grab & Go menu items in our Munchie Marts. This weekend, inventory was too low, and this weekend’s transaction data has been incorporated into future production forecasts. This week the markets are well-stocked and ready for students.
Campus Dining is also expanding recruitment efforts, hosting employment events twice a week and working with staffing agencies to bring more employees onboard.
As more updates are made, the Campus Dining team will share information via Instagram (@vandycampusdining) and DiningNews text alerts. We encourage you to follow them for additional updates.
We also wanted to share that we will be hosting an undergraduate student and families town hall at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13. We will be sharing updates and important information about the university’s fall semester operations. Campus Dining will be one of the topics highlighted during the event. Registration for the event is required.
Thank you for your continued support of our dining staff during this time.
G.L. Black
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Eric Kopstain
Vice Chancellor for Administration
