Texas State Dining’s First Year Eats program seeks to welcome newbies and drive student retention

The dining team at Texas State University is committed to providing an experience to diners that goes beyond just serving food. To that end, the dining team, which is managed by Chartwells Higher Education, recently launched First-Year Eats, a program that aims to help first-year students get comfortable on campus and see what the dining program has to offer.

“Our primary goal with the First Year Eats program is to enhance student retention,” said Whitney Villareal, director of marketing and guest experience at Chartwells, in a statement.  “We aim to reduce the one out of four students who don’t return after their first year. By introducing them to our chefs and dietitians and providing guidance on meal plans and special dietary needs, we're empowering them to make informed choices about their dining experience.”

As a part of the First Year Eats program, first-year students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of different events including a welcome-back barbecue, a vendor fair, teaching kitchens and a retail food tour. During the food tour, Senior Executive Chef Alberto Trujillo took students on a tour of dining locations they might not normally visit. Diners had the opportunity to sample food and meet the chefs.

This semester, the dining team has also held a range of different events for the greater campus community as well. One highlight was a DJ night with signature mocktails, hosted on Friday nights, in an effort to provide students with fun activities during the weekends. The dining team also hosted a Trivia Night, featuring categories like Texas State facts, food, and sports. The event was a success, with all participating spots being filled up within two days of being announced.

The dining team has also placed a focus on the international student experience, in part because the university has noticed a significant increase in international student population from India and Nepal.  The dining team recently teamed up with the campus’s international student associates to host a Diwali night. The goal was to celebrate the culture with a diverse and authentic menu. The event was successful in driving diner participation, as the team noted a 32% increase in participation, compared with the year prior.

"We're not just providing food, we're creating a community," Villarreal said. “We’re trying to engage with the first-year students and give them all the resources they need. It helps us build our relationships, and it helps our partners because they’re also making connections. We’re creating that sense of community around dining and helping students feel acclimated at Texas State during their first year and beyond.”