Session Details

Campus dining is one of the most consistent and accessible touchpoints in a student’s college experience. What if we viewed our dining halls as more than service operations—and instead as social incubators that shape belonging, connection, and student success? This session explores practical, scalable strategies to intentionally cultivate engagement within dining environments. Participants will learn how everyday interactions, staff culture, and targeted programming can strengthen retention efforts, support institutional goals, and enhance the overall student experience—without requiring significant additional resources. Leave with actionable ideas you can immediately implement to transform your dining spaces into environments where students feel seen, valued, and connected.

Faithful Flavor addresses the growing need for culturally appropriate dining options in higher education. Halal and Kosher programs are more than menu additions—they represent compliance-driven initiatives that uphold integrity and inclusivity. This session explores how to develop and sustain halal and kosher dining programs that meet growing student demand and support inclusion. Attendees will learn key considerations for procurement, certification, staff training, and operational compliance. The session highlights strategies for engaging campus partners and student groups to build trust and awareness. Presenters will share best practices for maintaining integrity through proper segregation, traceability, and sourcing. Case examples will demonstrate how these programs can enhance student satisfaction, belonging, and academic success.

This session explores a research partnership examining the impact of food scholarships on student outcomes, including academic performance, retention, and health. Attendees will review data on food insecurity in higher education and its effect on student success. Presenters will share early insights from a multidisciplinary study and discuss how the collaboration was developed. The session highlights strategies for moving beyond anecdotal solutions to data-driven decision-making. Participants will gain practical approaches to addressing food insecurity in measurable and sustainable ways.

What makes students recommend one campus dining program while criticizing another? New findings from NACUFS’ Customer Satisfaction Benchmarking Survey reveal significant differences in student loyalty and advocacy across institutions—and the survey’s new Net Promoter Score® (NPS®) measure offers fresh insight into how students perceive the dining experience. Join moderator Johann Leitner, founder and CEO of Touchwork, for a discussion of the emerging data and how NPS® scores can be evaluated in the campus dining context. Then hear directly from leaders representing some of the highest-performing institutions in the study as they share the approaches, priorities, and experiences behind their results. Whether you're new to NPS® scores or looking to improve your results, this session will provide valuable data and insight, peer perspectives, and practical approaches to help strengthen student satisfaction and loyalty.

This session explores the structure and evolution of a student leader program designed to develop leadership within dining operations. Attendees will learn how student leaders support training, supervision, and communication across teams. The session outlines recruitment, selection, and two-tiered training processes that ensure consistency and flexibility. Presenters will also discuss how the program adapted over time and was rebuilt to meet current needs. Participants will gain a framework for developing student leadership programs that strengthen operations and support career readiness.

This session challenges the perception that sustainability initiatives negatively affect the guest experience. Attendees will learn how subtle operational changes, such as menu design and portioning, can improve outcomes without noticeable impact on satisfaction. Presenters will share data demonstrating how quality, flavor, and execution mitigate potential resistance. The session highlights the use of feedback tools to monitor guest response in real time. Participants will gain strategies to implement sustainable practices while maintaining strong customer satisfaction.

This session explores a collaborative approach to menu development that leverages partnerships with commodity boards and industry chefs. Attendees will learn how structured recipe submissions and evaluation processes can accelerate innovation. The session highlights how selected recipes are integrated into menus, marketing efforts, and student programming. Presenters will also discuss how culinary education opportunities reinforce ingredient quality and engagement. Participants will gain ideas for expanding menu variety while strengthening industry partnerships.

Student wellbeing is shaped not only by the food they eat, but by the environment, support, and relationships that surround the dining experience. At Northwestern University, Dining Services plays a central role in a cross-campus ecosystem that includes Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the campus dietitian, Health Services, Residential Services, Disability Services, and other student support teams. Together, these partners create a coordinated, student-centered framework that enhances safety, belonging, and engagement across living and dining spaces. These services shape students’ daily experiences and ensure that support reaches them where they live, eat, socialize, and learn. The session will highlight strategies for integrated communication across departments and collaborative efforts that address student needs consistently, compassionately, and in a timely manner.  

Many dining operations employ highly skilled team members who face language barriers that limit training access, advancement, and retention. This session examines a workforce development program that integrates paid English language learning into employees’ work schedules. Attendees will learn how individualized instruction improves communication, retention, and advancement. The session highlights program design, tutor training, and assessment methods used to measure success. Presenters will share outcomes, including improved comprehension and increased employee engagement. Participants will gain a replicable model for supporting workforce development and equity within dining operations.

University dining operations function in fast-paced, high-volume environments where procurement decisions directly influence food quality, cost control, operational continuity, and the overall student dining experience. This session examines procurement practices within dining operations and their impact on financial and operational performance. Attendees will explore common risk areas, including emergency purchases, vendor relationships, and decentralized ordering. The session highlights how informal workarounds can lead to compliance issues and long-term challenges. Presenters will share strategies for establishing clear standards, improving collaboration, and maintaining accountability. Participants will gain tools to strengthen procurement processes while supporting efficient operations.

As campus dining programs evolve, the demand for integrated, data-driven kitchen management platforms continues to accelerate. Yet migrating to a new system—whether for menu management, production planning, inventory, or digital signage—requires far more than a software purchase. Successful transitions depend on thoughtful preparation, operational alignment, team engagement, and a clear understanding of the institution’s goals. In this session, participants will hear from four institutions at different stages of adopting new kitchen management systems. Through facilitated discussion, panelists will walk through their transition journeys—from initial needs assessments and stakeholder buy-in to data migration, system configuration, staff training, rollout strategies, and post-launch optimization. Designed for directors, managers, and operational leaders, this program offers actionable guidance for navigating technology upgrades in complex foodservice environments. Attendees will gain frameworks for planning and managing change, avoid common pitfalls, and gather practical tools they can immediately apply when evaluating or implementing software transitions in their own dining operations.

This session examines how standardized operating procedures support recruitment, training, and performance management. Attendees will learn how clearly defined processes improve consistency and accountability across operations. The session also explores how AI tools can accelerate SOP development and enhance training resources. Presenters will share lessons from implementation, including challenges and adjustments. Participants will engage in developing their own SOP framework and training concepts.

This session explores a redesigned onboarding program that improves efficiency and the student experience. Attendees will learn how digital tools and streamlined workflows reduce administrative burden and processing time. The session highlights measurable outcomes, including increased satisfaction and labor savings. Presenters will share guiding principles and implementation strategies. Participants will gain practical approaches to improving onboarding processes at their institutions.

Beyond providing meals, dining services play a vital role in building campus community and shaping the student experience. Special events, themed meals, and interactive activities not only create memorable moments but also strengthen student connections to the university, encourage participation in meal plans, and support overall retention. This presentation will share best practices from our experiences (highlighting successful events), provide strategies for integrating student feedback, and demonstrate how dining can be a powerful partner in fostering campus culture and student success.

Campus dining services face a unique challenge: meeting the expectations of a generation raised with unprecedented food consciousness, digital fluency, and values-driven consumption patterns. This session examines evolving food preferences among Gen Z and Gen Alpha students and their impact on campus dining. Attendees will explore trends related to flexibility, health, sustainability, and cultural inclusivity. The session features perspectives from students and professionals to better understand expectations and behaviors. Presenters will discuss how these preferences influence participation and financial performance. Participants will gain practical insights for aligning dining programs with current and future student needs.

Colleges and universities are constantly listening to student voices, yet the volume and variety of feedback can make it difficult to identify what truly matters. Open-ended survey comments, text feedback, and anecdotal submissions often get buried under the weight of “too much information.” This session explores how institutions analyze large volumes of student feedback to identify actionable insights. Attendees will learn how automated tools can uncover themes, track trends, and support decision-making. The session highlights how data is used in both strategic planning and daily operations. Presenters will share examples of securing leadership buy-in through clear, data-driven reporting. Participants will gain practical approaches to translating feedback into meaningful improvements.

A well-designed Meal Plan Architecture is no longer a luxury in campus dining—it is a strategic imperative. Today’s students arrive with widely varied dietary needs, financial constraints, cultural expectations, and eating habits. At the same time, institutions face mounting pressure to deliver exceptional value while maintaining fiscal responsibility. This session explores how meal plan design influences student behavior, satisfaction, and financial performance. Attendees will examine the impact of various plan structures and policy decisions across operations. The session highlights how small adjustments can create broader ripple effects within the dining ecosystem. Presenters will discuss balancing student expectations with operational and financial realities. Participants will gain insight into designing meal plans that support both engagement and sustainability.