Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services is nearing the completion of its renovations to the McGlothlin Campus Center after winning the bid to replace Aramark as the provider of all on-campus dining.
The changes include the addition of a new food vendor. Students will now have access to Tu Taco, a street taco vendor where Einstein’s Bagel Co. formerly was located. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate Tu Taco throughout the semester, which will allow Chartwells to rotate in a new restaurant during semester breaks if students show significant interest in a different restaurant.
“Tu Taco is a part of a broader concept known as Student Choice,” said Kevin Campbell, senior vice president for operations. “So we’re working with SGA to create a student dining committee.”
Following these changes, Einstein Bros. will remain on campus with access available to students through The Bean beginning on Tuesday. Students with a meal plan can enjoy Einstein Bros. at no additional cost, while students without a meal plan will be able to pay and access Einstein Bros. through the mailroom entrance to The Bean.
The prepackaged to-go meals that previously were located at the entrance of The Bean have been moved to the Hilton Food Court to consolidate space and adjust foot traffic patterns. Chartwells has also added a to-go sushi cart near the checkout space of the Hilton Food Court.
One of the main requirements the university laid out for potential food service providers included the hiring of a nutritionist accessible to the student body. Chartwells hired Lindsey Arthers to advise student-athletes on nutrition. Arthers’ office is located in the Student Life offices in the basement of the Campus Center.
Students may soon be able to spend campus cash at off-campus locations. Responses to an SGA survey conducted by former SGA executive president Danny Burke indicated several restaurants where students would like to be able to spend campus cash, and the university reached out to several of them.
“It is absolutely fair and accurate to say ACU is pursuing conversations with several local restaurants to enable students to be able to use campus cash off campus,” Campbell said.
Campbell said he is optimistic about these conversations, with more information to come throughout the fall semester.
