For University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students living on campus, there are plenty of opportunities to eat. From the two dining halls to the University Center (UC), there is no shortage of options for on-campus dining.
However, students may have noticed some significant changes in this year’s dining service. Some students may feel that these changes are either enhancing or ruining their experience.
The primary change is a new campus dining operator. This year, Chartwells replaced Aladdin as UW-W’s dining company of choice. This new contract brought substantial changes to student dining.
Whitewater Student Government’s Senate Parliamentarian Nick Petreikis is also a UC employee whose position includes working with campus dining.
Petreikis stated that UC Executive Director Angela Meldonian asked him if he would be willing to sit on a dining contract committee. Petreikis accepted this offer and served on the committee as it searched for a new dining company.
As part of this committee, Petreikis reviewed documents that proposed changes to the student dining experience. One such change proposed by Chartwells was the meal equivalency.
Students can use meal equivalency at any dining location and can use a meal swipe for a meal valued up to $7.50. Any remaining balance must be paid for with Dining Dollars or Purple Points.
Petreikis believes that the meal equivalency change has been beneficial.
“I think it’s a really good idea because it removes the time requirements or what items are restricted to a meal plan,” Petreikis said. “Before, in the UC, you could only use it after 2 p.m. and that was only on certain items.”
Alongside adding meal equivalency, some dining locations have switched to mobile ordering only. This requires students to order their food via an app versus verbally ordering at the location.
Petreikis compared the mobile ordering system to restaurants, stating that this new system is no different than ordering fast food for pickup online.
Sophomore Ben Sauvageau expressed mixed feelings about this year’s campus dining experience. Sauvageau emphasized that students are no longer permitted to use two meal swipes at one time.
“The meal equivalency is fine, but you can’t use it twice. So, I’m still hungry after the meal we get,” Sauvageau said. “They made the meal smaller at the marketplaces, so you don’t get a lot of food. So, I really want a second meal swipe, but they won’t let you.”
Despite this setback, Sauvageau enjoys that some locations switched to mobile ordering. Sauvageau explained that students can order food from anywhere on campus and it will be ready upon arrival, which reduces long lines and waiting times.
Petreikis recognized that students have concerns about the meal equivalency but highlighted that there is more flexibility for students than in previous years.
“It’s not as valuable, but there’s way more flexibility,” Petreikis said. “That’s what you have to balance, is the flexibility and the cost.”
Petreikis also noted that negative reactions to change are inevitable but mentioned that the benefits of the changes, such as higher food quality, outweigh the negatives.
In Sauvageau’s opinion, food quality has gotten worse, especially regarding portion sizes and fewer options.
“I definitely feel like last year’s dining experience was better. You could get 10 different items with a meal swipe,” Sauvageau said. “I’m just not too happy with the dining plan this year.”
Petreikis urged students to make their opinions, whether positive or negative, known to Chartwells.
“I think the number one thing I’d like to communicate is just to provide your feedback. They don’t know unless you tell them,” Petreikis said. “If you want to see change or you want to see things get better, you need to give your feedback of what you’d like to see.”
Additionally, Petreikis encouraged students to try the dining locations again, especially if they have not tried it since the new dining contract.
Chartwells did not respond to a request for comment about the student dining experience. However, students continue to have mixed experiences and feelings about the switch and the various dining changes.
Chartwells is still working out some issues with dining. They, and Warhawk Dining, have taken student feedback into account and posted signs at dining locations to assist students with staying within the $7.50 range.
In the meantime, students can continue providing feedback and making their voices heard to ensure that the campus dining experience is up to their standards.
