Service with a star: campus dining must cater to tastes, concerns, and innovations to ensure that students are getting the most out of the programs. These seven institutions are having success in bringing students to the table

University Business, August, 2007 by Michele Herrmann

The diner is on the route of a late-night, on-campus shuttle, and faculty and staff often stop in during the school day. On weekends, it's a popular spot for the football crowd before games, Strouts says. And breakfast lovers delight in the availability of breakfast items around the clock.

They Be Jarnmin': Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana University of Pennsylvania was one of six universities to serve as a pilot in Aramark's Jam customer loyalty program. It kicked off there in the fall of 2005, according to Preston Davis, resident district manager with Aramark at Indiana University.

With Jam, students can earn points for all on-campus dining purchases, which they can redeem for a wide range of rewards, including sporting goods, electronics, fashion accessories, and girl cards. Or they can donate points to charities, selected by Aramark, such as America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network, Habitat for Humanity, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Guidelines at participating universities are standard. At Indiana University students enrolled in a meal plan are automatically Jam members. Students put a designated amount of points into their individual account, depending on the meal plan selected.

For example, $100 on a voluntary meal plan equals 1,000 points. Those who purchase a plan are awarded points up front, while those who are "cash customers" earn them as they make purchases.

Roughly 1,000 students signed up for the program, at first, reports Davis. During its initial year, enrollment was not automatic.

In the second year, all students with meal plans automatically joined Jam. and over the past year, enrollment increased to 7,000. That's roughly half of the university's total student enrollment and the number of students who have meal plans. The enrollment is worthwhile. "They like getting something back from their meal plan," Davis says.

During one semester, a promotional program held in conjunction with the student radio station included a drawing for a large-screen TV. More than 700 people came through in the seven hours of that promotion, says Davis, adding, "We plan on doing more of them."

Read about notable dining service programs at some other colleges and universities online at www.universitybusiness.com/webexclusives.> Resources

Aramark, www.aramarkhighered.com Chartwells, www.chartwells-usa.com

Florida State University, http://seminoledining.com

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSE/IUP

Lehigh University, www.lehigh.edu/dining

Ohio Wesleyan University, www.dineoncampus.com/owu

San Francisco State University, www.dineoncampus.com/sfsu

Sodexho, www.sodexhousa.com University of Massachusetts, Amherst, www.umass.edu/diningservices

University of Mary Washington, www.umwdining.com