A message from the Vice President of Student Affairs regarding student dining
I am pleased to announce major improvements to the student dining experience at Bryant University in partnership with Student Senate, Shawn Monaghan, and Barry Morrison to address concerns that I know have been a priority for parents and students alike. I want you to know we have taken your feedback very seriously and have begun to implement change.
This is only the beginning of a longer-term campaign, partnering with Sodexo leadership, to continue to gather student feedback and enhance the student dining experience in multiple ways.
One of our first enhancements this past fall was to create a new position: Food Ombudsperson. Jennifer Edwards, Director of Planning and Assessment for Student Affairs, has taken on this additional role to provide students with direct access to the Student Affairs Office 24/7 through phone or email. Jennifer’s role has been instrumental in communicating student concerns and requests to both Bryant Dining staff and Sodexo leadership. Students are responded to within 24 hours. Other actions we have taken this fall:
- Marketing campaign in Salmanson to ensure students have access to contact information for both Student Affairs and Bryant Dining.
- Student focus groups held by Sodexo marketing professionals to gather feedback.
- Student surveys sent in partnership with Sodexo and the Office of Planning and Institutional Research to gather feedback.
- Multiple meetings with Student Affairs, Business Affairs, Bryant Dining staff and Sodexo leadership.
In addition to these steps, we continue to support students with their nutrition and healthy eating strategies through the work of our Health and Nutrition Educator, Cheryl Brock. Cheryl sees students one-on-one for consultations and provides programming on a number of topics. She is located in our Health Services Office in Barrington House.
Based on changes we are implementing for the spring, and on conversations we are still having, I see an exciting future for the student dining experience at Bryant. I thank you for your patience as we continue to transform this vital student service.
Dr. Inge-Lise Ameer, Vice President for Student Affairs
Current Changes for Spring
Students can now use their meal “swipe” option at Nick’s place during standard hours of operation, 11:00am-11:00pm. Previously the meal swipe option at Nick’s Place was limited to 7:30pm to 10pm.
Starting in the Spring semester, we will introduce the Pick 4 Program at Café ala Cart and Bulldog Bytes. “Pick 4” is a dining program enhancement designed to make the dining experience that much more convenient. “Pick 4” allows you to get a meal in lieu of a meal swipe a Salmanson. This will now allow students the ability to use meal “swipes” at additional locations on campus (Café ala Cart and Bulldog Bytes).
The Pick 4 Program will include the following:
Choice of one (1) item from each of the following categories
- Bottled soda or water
- Sandwich OR salad
- Bag of chips
- Sweet (fruit OR cookie OR dessert bar)
In addition, students will be able to eat up to 6 times per day. Two (2) times per meal zone. This will provide flexibility for students who miss one meal zone and want to swipe twice during another meal zone, or who may want to eat at the beginning and end of a meal zone to accommodate their schedule.
The meal zones for Salmanson are Breakfast: 7:15am-10:59am, Lunch 11:00am-2:30pm, Dinner 4:30pm-7:30pm. The meal zones for Nick’s Place are Lunch 11:00am-3:59pm, Dinner 4:00pm-11:00pm. The meal zones for Café Ala Cart are Lunch 11:00am-3:59pm, Dinner 4:00pm-8:00pm. The meal zones for Bulldog Bytes are Lunch 11:00am-3:59pm, Dinner 4:00pm-8:00pm.
The Pick 4 Program will be available between 11:00am-8:00pm at Café ala Cart and Bulldog Bytes. Nick’s Place will offer the “meal exchange” offerings from 11:00am – 11:00pm.
Please take care to manage the limits of your individual meal plan with these added locations.
Bryant Dining is happy to provide you with these new options, and we will continue to work with you to enhance your Bryant dining experience, in any way we can.
Mai Pham Pan-Asian concept opening in Salmanson
Lemon Grass Kitchen, featuring authentic, fresh Asian flavors is coming to Bryant Dining. A respected national authority on Asian cuisine, Chef Pham has worked to bring fresh Southeast Asian flavors to universities across the country. Chef Mai Pham is the chef/owner of the nationally acclaimed Lemon Grass Restaurant and Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar. Established more than 20 years ago, the Lemon Grass flagship restaurant has been highly rated by Zagat and recognized as a top 10 dining establishment in Sacramento. Mai is the author of "Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table," "The Best of Vietnamese and Thai Cooking," and "Flavors of Asia," which was written in collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America.
