Campus Dining Hall Ready to Serve First Course

Just in time for the start of the fall semester, and thanks to the new dining hall slated to open on Thursday, students, faculty and staff will have more options when it comes to grabbing a meal or snack on campus.

The first meal, a freshman welcome dinner for those moving into the new residence hall, will be served beginning at 5 p.m. on Aug. 12. Thereafter, the facility — which provides seating for more than 400 and offers all-you-can-eat fare — will be open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The dining hall is divided into seven sections. Terra Vé features vegetarian and vegan options, while The Kitchen includes home-style entrees. Chefs tending The Fresh Grille will prepare grilled-to-order items, and Fresh Market includes soup, salad and ice cream/yogurt bars. Trattoria features a brick oven and offers pizzas, pasta and other hot meals. The Bakery serves fresh baked breads and desserts, and My Pantry allows diners the option of making their own waffles, as well as a chef who will prepare made-to-order omelets. Finally, La Posada dishes out traditional Tex-Mex cuisine and is outfitted with a tortilla maker.

According to Carrie Chutes, manager of auxiliary services with the Office of Procurement Management, 10 meal plans are available to students, faculty and staff. All first-year students living on campus will be required to enroll in one of the plans.

There are two meal plan styles available. “The first is a traditional plan with six options,” Chutes said. “The second is a Dining Dollar plan with four available options.”

The traditional plans, labeled A-F, include:

• A — Unlimited meals per semester, with $150 Dining Dollars, $1,585 + sales tax.
• B — 183 meals per semester, with $150 Dining Dollars, $1,585 + sales tax.
• C — 14 meals per week, with $100 Dining Dollars, $1,414 + sales tax.
• D — 153 meals per semester, with $100 Dining Dollars, $1,414 + sales tax.
• E — 7 meals per week, with $100 Dining Dollars, $955 + sales tax.
• F — 99 meals per semester, with $100 Dining Dollars, $955 + sales tax.

With these plans, a user’s Comet Card is swiped, deducting one meal from the plan total. The plans are divided into a set number of meals per week or meals per semester, and may include a Dining Dollar amount and up to two guest passes.

The six traditional plans are designed for users who will eat most of their meals in the dining hall. Those living in the residence hall can choose from plans A-D, and those living in on-campus apartments can choose from plans A-F.

The Dining Dollar style plans operate like a debit account, so each time a user’s Comet Card is swiped in the Dining Hall, the Comet Café, The PUB or Coffee Corner, Dining Dollars are deducted.

In a limited promotion for the 2009-2010 academic year, users who sign up for one of the Dining Dollar plans will be offered “bonus” Dining Dollars. Dining Dollars can be used in the Comet Café, The PUB or in Coffee Corner (located in the School of Management). Dining Dollar plans are available to freshmen not living on campus, as well as all other students, faculty and staff.

Dining Dollar plans include:

• The Meteor — $400 Dining Dollars, plus an extra $80.
• The Orange — $200 Dining Dollars, plus an extra $40.
• The Green — $100 Dining Dollars, plus an extra $15.
• The Cosmic Comet — $50 Dining Dollars, plus an extra $5.

All students currently on a tuition payment plan will be able to roll the cost of their selected traditional meal plan into their tuition charges and payments. All other plans will be added to a student’s tuition balance upon submitting a $50 deposit. Payment for Dining Dollars is due in full upon selection.

Those wishing to purchase a traditional plan or Dining Dollars, including faculty and staff, should do so through Dining Services. Cash, credit and debit cards also will be accepted at the dining hall. Walk-in rates are $6.50 for breakfast, $7.50 for lunch, $8.50 for dinner, and $8.50 for brunch, which is served on Saturday and Sunday.

Chutes pointed out that customers should have patience as the new dining hall ramps up to full service, since there will still be a few minor details to be completed in the newly-constructed facility. She added that a grand opening celebration is planned for early September.

“We’re planning an opening extravaganza that will take place after all students return to campus,” Chutes said. “There also will be periodic special events, programs and thematic meals in the dining hall, so be on the watch for announcement of those.”