Operators’ fresh ideas for the new C&U school year

With the 2016-17 school year weeks underway for some colleges and universities and just barely starting for others, foodservice directors are settling in with a staff of fresh student employees. “In our case, where we use a lot of student employees, we start very understaffed,” says Zia Ahmed, senior director for dining services at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. “So certainly, it’s a very stressful time for all of our staff right now.”

Amid that stress, however, is excitement over new dining initiatives and ideas at colleges across the country. Here are a few of the most innovative that we stumbled upon.

A gluten-free dining hall

While gluten-free menus and zones have become a common fixture throughout commercial dining, Kent University in Kent, Ohio, says its entirely gluten-free dining hall is the first such on-campus facility in the nation, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. KU restructured its existing Prentice Cafe to meet gluten-free diners’ needs, and also offers an order-ahead option. “Students' needs have always been our top priority,” Rich Roldan, senior director of university dining services, said in a statement.  “Students have enough to worry about—they should not have to worry about their food being safe to eat.”

A restructured student employment program

Based on feedback from past undergraduate workers, Penn State University introduced its new Student Coworker Program for the fall 2016 semester. Students earn at least $9 an hour at the State College, Pa., school, and have the potential to make up to $18.50 an hour based on seniority and experience, the university’s Onward State newspaper reports. A a student referral program encourages current employees to recruit friends to apply; both can earn 10 free meals if a hire is made.

A biometric meal swipe program

Registration for the University of Maryland’s biometric meal swipe system began last spring, but the card-free meal plans didn’t come online until students returned to class this fall. Freshmen registered for the system during the orientation process, swiping each hand through the scanner twice to capture the information, the College Park, Md., university’s The Diamondback newspaper reports. While it’s too soon to judge whether the program will be efficient in the long term, some students told the paper they had experienced long lines due to technical issues.

A 24-hour dining hall

Responding to students’ desires for around-the-clock food options, Kutztown University opened its newly renovated South Dining Hall for 24/7 service, the Reading Eagle reports. Concepts include Night Sunnyside, which offers all-day breakfast anytime; the Avalanche grille, which specializes in burgers; and Hearth pizza and subs. “It’s about access, convenience and student expectations,” Kent Dahlquist, director of housing and dining services, told the Eagle, adding that KU is the first Pennsylvania university to offer 24-hour meal service. “It's no different than what you do at home—when you're hungry at night, you go to your kitchen.”