VSU Announces New Partnership with Aramark

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University is proud to announce a new partnership with Aramark and a transformation of the campus dining experience.

Aramark is committed to helping VSU create a campus that engages and attracts students, faculty, staff, and the community. It promises creative menus and recipes influenced by customer insights, culinary experts that build remarkable dining experiences, skilled team members devoted to going above and beyond every day, environmentally friendly policies that support sustainability, and an industry-leading health and wellness platform to promote healthy living.   

Shannon McGee, director of Auxiliary Services, said that VSU began researching available campus dining options during Summer 2015. A campus evaluation team identified Aramark as having the best strategies to meet the residential dining, retail dining, and catering needs of Blazer Nation.

Aramark became VSU’s official dining services provider on Sunday, May 8. 

“We are delighted about our partnership with Aramark and look forward to delivering a variety of options to keep the campus community excited about dining with us,” McGee said.  

Before the opening of the Fall 2016 semester, Aramark plans to create custom campus dining environments with a focus on increasing student satisfaction, campus pride, and retention.

The retail section of Palms Dining will be converted into a farmers market, one that boasts a full-service salad bar, an exhibition action station with a focus on fresh ingredients and made-to-order options, a yogurt and smoothie bar, and an allergen friendly station.

Inside the Student Union, Moe’s Southwest Grill will replace Nathan’s, and a Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, a fast casual restaurant chain specializing in sandwiches and salads, will be added. The V Store will become a Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) Market, blending the features of “corner store” quick convenience with modern market style and service and offering guests a variety of fresh food and produce, prepared meals, and everyday essentials. Chick-fil-A and Starbucks will remain in their current locations.

Eistein Bros. Bagels will remain in its current location inside the Education Center and the Health Science and Business Administration Building.

Langdale Market and Sustella Market will become a P.O.D. Market, just like the V Store.

Hopper Dining will become the Blazer Sports Grille, a late-night sports-themed hangout space offering burgers, wraps, wings, and other snack foods.

A new and improved coffee shop featuring products from Starbucks’s We Proudly Serve program will remain in Odum Library.

In addition to these changes, McGee said that the campus community will have more flexibility and convenience in selecting and using a meal plan. She said this includes options for freshmen, meal exchanges, and meals per semester versus meals per week.

Aramark is a respected professional services partner to hundreds of campuses across North America, as well as health care institutions, school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. United by a passion to serve, its more than 270,000 employees deliver experiences that enrich and nourish the lives of millions of people in 22 countries around the world every day.  It is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by Fortune Magazine and the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute.

On the Web:

https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/auxiliary-services/

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities. 

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals: 

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 5: Develop and enhance Valdosta State’s human and physical resources.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.