Dining consultants' report urges a la carte service, longer hours

In a preliminary report on food options released in May, the Cornyn Fasano Group recommended that Dining Services extend its hours and offer ^ la carte service, despite the increased costs those changes would probably incur. The group also pointed to the need for cheap, convenient and appealing alternatives to University City food trucks. And, on the administrative end, Cornyn Fasano suggested that food services on and around campus be centrally coordinated to avoid departmental overlap. These recommendations came at the end of the first phase of the group's research, during which it surveyed approximately 1,500 students, faculty and staff on the state of Dining Services. The study found that the program is well-managed but has "failed to remain contemporary in terms of facilities, equipment, service levels and hours of operation." For example, it noted that all campus dining facilities were designed to support all-you-can-eat meal service, and only one has been renovated in the past 20 years. Additionally, the study showed that there are fewer than 4,000 seats available during meal and break times to serve the market of approximately 50,000 people. This problem is particularly pronounced at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Medical School, where the cafeteria seats only 260 people, while catering to an estimated 10,000 doctors, staff, outpatients and visitors. As a result, medical personnel often patronize vendors on Spruce Street or in Houston Hall and eat in the Hall of Flags. The group proposed that the University "consider a plan which will limit or exclude hospital and medical staff from using this facility during peak student and faculty/staff demand times." And it suggested that the University "address the convenient location of on campus food concepts with an ample supply of seats" in its plan for the future of University city vending trucks. The modified version of the proposed ordinance to regulate local vendors would create vending areas -- complete with seating, tables and lights -- on 34th Street between Hill Field and Chestnut Street, across from the food court at 3401 Walnut Street and in the northern portion of the triangular parking lot at 34th and Spruce streets. While Cornyn Fasano urged the University to continue its efforts to control area vendors, it emphasized the importance of the food trucks. "[University] food service is perceived as having slow service, too expensive, inconvenient, and limited in scope," the report notes. "At present, the trucks partially meet this need." Marie Witt, director of support services for Business Services, said the consultant firm is currently analyzing its data and integrating into recent reports on residential living, retail, recreation and the health system. The group should complete its study this fall, Witt said.