Campus Dining Today Spring 2021 - 20

#1 F O O D I N S E C U R I T Y
This has emerged as one of the most important elements to student
populations in the last few years. In 2019, the Hope Center issued a study1
estimating 48 percent of community college students and 41 percent of fouryear university students who responded to the center's survey were food
insecure. Creative and sensitive solutions are needed as some food insecure
students do not want to be identified as such.
The most effective and resonant solutions we have seen are programs that
allow students to donate swipes, points, or dining dollars to a food insecurity
fund managed by a university department. The higher education institution
must contribute as well to ensure adequate funds, and those grappling with
food insecurity can create an account and download access to the funds or
simply access swipes at point of service.
Finally, food pantries offering non-perishable pantry and grocery items
have become a standard on many campuses. There are no existing key
performance indicators we are aware of to measure the success of such
initiatives. We recommend institutions develop a tracking methodology that
seeks to improve upon usage and engagement semester over semester.
A client in the northeast, as an example, reported to us that in the fall of
2018 their emergency food swipe program had 137 swipes. By the following
semester, usage had increased to 538 swipes-almost a 300 percent
increase.

#2 F O O D R E COV E RY
Contributing to the elimination of food insecurity, reducing waste, and
benefiting the environment, food recovery efforts are an important
campus and community initiative. Food Recovery Network, with more
than 230 chapters in 46 states and Washington D.C., is a leading
grassroots developed nonprofit addressing campus food recovery
efforts. Communication of an individual campus's contribution to
the efforts via newsletter, website, email blast, or text message is an
effective way to generate more student interest and anticipation.
The creation of a food recovery program on a campus is a great way
to develop community between student volunteers and the onsite
dining staff.

#3 S O C I A L J U S T I C E A N D D E A I I N I T I AT I V E S
We believe diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) is poised
to become very important in campus dining communities. In the last year,
there has been a tremendous increase and focus on DEAI initiatives across
all sectors of business. In recent RFP processes we have managed, students
have wanted documented details of prospective vendors' social justice
and DEAI efforts. We believe self-operators will increasingly be tasked with
demonstrating their initiatives separate and apart from the institutional
initiatives on the whole.

CAMPUS DINING TODAY | De epe ning Engagement

Campus Dining Today Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Campus Dining Today Spring 2021