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Printer-Friendly ModeRFoC keeps up with more traffic
September 14, 2009 —
As SVSU grows and develops, perhaps it’s no surprise that its appetite has, too.
Dining Services says that the RFoC served a daily average of 2,713 meals Monday through Thursday the first week of school this semester, a 37 percent increase over the 1,979 it averaged during that same period last fall.
Despite the recent influx of students, Dining Services Marketing Manager Jason Wolverton said things have run smoothly, and that Dining Services has made the necessary adjustments to accommodate the increase.
“We anticipated having more students on campus and adjusted accordingly,” Wolverton said.
“We added additional seating and staff and feel like we had a great opening week despite the challenge of having that many more students to feed.”
Some students would like to see even more seating added to the RFoC.
Michael Rocha, a creative writing junior, said he often finds the RFoC crowded but admits that he eventually does find a place to sit.
In addition to seating changes, Wolverton said several RFoC stations have started to serve portions to the students, controlling portion size, helping eliminate waste and offering a new level of customer service.
Lauren Prenzler, an elementary education junior, said she likes the change.
“It seems cleaner because everyone isn’t grabbing at the food,” Prenzler said.
On the retail operation side, a new option is getting ready to replace the Apple Slice in the Regional Education Center.
Construction has begun on Einstein Bros. Bagels, a national bagel and coffee chain that specializes in on-thego snacks and sandwiches, including bagels, wraps and smoothies. Einstein Bros. currently has a temporary stand in the R.E.C. with the full operation slated to open later this fall.
“We feel like Einstein Bros. Bagels is a perfect fit for life at SVSU,” Wolverton says. “We’re excited for the opening and we think students and staff will be, too.”
With the addition of Einstein Bros. Bagels, Dining Services decided to change the previously-named “Einstein’s Eatery” to “Albert E’s Food Court” to avoid confusion.
Wolverton says Dining Services has also put a continued emphasis on health and wellness programs. Most “To-Go” items at Albert E’s now include points for those who track them in their diets, and the RFoC continues to provide healthy options at all meals.
“We’ve seen an increase in the demand for healthy options, and rightly so,” Wolverton says. “There are many choices at every campus location that give students, faculty and staff an opportunity to enjoy a healthy diet and lifestyle.”