In an attempt to gain insight into the needs of meal plan carriers, UT Dining Services began its Dine With The Director program at Presidential Court yesterday.
The program was initiated last fall to allow students, faculty and staff an opportunity to communicate concerns and suggestions about campus dining.
According to Rob Howard, marketing manager for UT Dining Services, the monthly feedback session gives individual dining facility managers a more specified time to talk to patrons.
Managers normally walk around everyday and talk to students about their dining experience and how it can be better, Howard said. This program just makes it easier for shyer students to voice their concerns.
The Dine With The Director sessions will be held at all meal plan locations, as well as Smokey’s Palace and the All-American Grill throughout the semester.
During the designated times patrons can talk to the manager, who will sit at an information table, and have their comments recorded for future reference by dining services. Approximately 99 percent of student suggestions during the last year have been for menu item changes, Howard said.
One of the menu item change requests we got a lot last year was to have mashed potatoes available every day for dinner at Presidential Court, Howard said. We get a lot of requests like that and we try to accommodate them.
Many more students seem to be more involved in Dine With The Director at the beginning of the school year, Howard said.
Last fall we initially got a lot of suggestions from students, Howard said. We hope this year even more students will be involved. It seems like at the beginning students are more interested in what they eat and where.
Howard said student apathy comes and goes throughout the year so UT Dining Services would hold the input session monthly. It is up to the students to voice their concerns.
I went to a session last spring, junior Matt Anderson said. I thought Presidential Court hours should be extended and that there should be more variety in meal choices. I don’t know if I made a difference, but I definitely felt better.
The next Dine With The Director Session will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 at Presidential Court.
