CampusDiningTodayFall/Winter2021 - 8

leadership
agenda
HE L LO NACUFS CO L L E AGUES AND FR IE NDS!
I hope that as you receive this issue of Campus Dining Today®, you, your families,
and your teams are well. The University of Alabama (UA) has been a buzz of
activity as the campus is back to full capacity, even reaching record-breaking
enrollment. In sharp contrast with the largest freshman class on record, our staffing
levels are approximately 60 percent of what they were in 2019. I am sure you
can relate to this scenario on your own campus. This year has certainly provided
great opportunities for learning and adapting. We aim to maintain a high level of
customer service and satisfaction and attempt to elevate our dining programs,
even during trying times.
K R I S T INA PAT R IDG E
NACUFs PREsIdENT
2021-2022
KsPATRIdgE@UA.EdU
Let's be honest, this year and last year have been tough. Working longer hours,
with fewer associates, under different regulations, and intermittent supply
interruptions can wear down even the most robust team. Ensuring the basics in
each operation is accomplished is a challenge, but we remain focused on creating
destinations, delivering a good experience, and striving for great customer
satisfaction. Our shared passion for student success, empowering and encouraging
our teams, and continuous quality improvement motivate us to face each new day
on campus, and everyone is doing their part to help. At UA, it is a group effort.
Even those areas not traditionally involved in front-line operations are getting
involved. It is not uncommon to find accounting or HR personnel working behind
the line, directors prepping lettuce for the salad bar, wiping down tables, or
changing the bag-in-a-box. We do this because we love what we do, appreciate
our teams, and drive student satisfaction, even in the most challenging times.
I hope you enjoy the articles in this issue of Campus Dining Today to provide ideas
and inspiration to help you and your team provide an exceptional experience for
students, faculty, staff, and the campus community. Just as your teams are coming
together, NACUFs can bring us together to help us get through this. I encourage
you to call on your colleagues across the country, post questions, and engage on
NACUFs Connect to share ideas or learn new practices and processes to enhance
your guest experience.
With the disruptions and uncertainty that is swirling around us, I hope you will
take time to remember to celebrate your victories, no matter how large or small.
As we continue to work through this challenging time, I want to remind you what
a difference you are making in your communities. You and your teams are out
there doing the hard, sometimes seemingly impossible work, to serve your campus
community, and that work is appreciated and valued. Whether you hear it often
or not, you are contributing in a major way to the mission of your campus and
supporting student success. Thank you for your commitment and for all you are
doing every day to elevate collegiate dining!
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CAMPUS DINING TODAY | LEAdERsHIP AgENdA
CampusDiningTodayFall/Winter2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CampusDiningTodayFall/Winter2021
