University of Maryland Eastern Shore News August 18, 2014 New dining experience at UMES The UMES community is about to embark on a whole new campus dining experience. Returning students will have to school freshmen on what the buzz is all about in the Student Services Center, where construction workers spent the summer transforming the look and feel of the main student dining facility. >From new laminate floors to the addition of partition walls to "soft seating" and bar-style counters, the cafeteria known as The Plateau has noticeably raised its game. Oh. And revamping menus also was a key component of the SSC makeover coordinated by the university's new food service provider, Thompson Hospitality of Reston, Va. Students on meal plans will find a wider selection of choices, including stations specializing in soups, pizza, salads, deli offerings and grilled foods. There will even be an"exhibition" station, where diners can place their "cook-to-order" requests for food posted on the day's menu. Vegetarian or vegan dishes will be a daily option as well. Employees and campus guests will have roughly the same choices at The Oasis on the SSC's second floor. UMES brought in a private company to run its food service operations to leverage the expertise of specialists who know what appeals to college students. "We're excited about being here at UMES," Maurice Jenoure, a senior Thompson executive, told employees in early July. "We have a lot of experience in delivering food service at colleges and universities, and we believe we have the right formula to provide people a positive dining experience." That formula at UMES also includes new tenants in the Hawk's Nest, where students will be able to purchase Starbucks beverages and sandwiches by Mondo Subs. A Chick-fil-A (express) restaurant will be added to the mix shortly, as well. And there are plans to have a roving food truck featuring the Be Right Burger menu, where diners in a hurry can custom-order a hamburger and toppings to go. The food truck will appear on campus later in the fall. The optimum location has yet to be determined, but the vehicle will likely operate on the far side of campus from the Student Services Center weekdays during classes. Thompson also has pledged to work with the university's Hospitality and Tourism Management department to identify work-experience opportunities in the company for UMES students. ________________________________ SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!