UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Residential Dining opened several new locations at University Park in time for the start of the fall 2024 semester. The new options give students a variety of choices for eating on campus.  

The new dining locations include: 

• State Chik’n, which offers hand-breaded chicken tenders, sandwiches, and mac-and-cheese bowls in the West Food District at Waring Commons.

• Aloha Fresh (poke bowls) and East Philly Cheesesteaks in the East Food District at Findlay Commons.

• Fresco at Pollock Commons, serving burrito bowls and walking tacos. This is the second Fresco, joining the previously opened location at Findlay Commons.  

Though these dining spots have only recently opened, the planning is extensive, and strategy is involved in everything from the menu to the décor. 

“We want to have variety and plenty of choices in each area, but we also want to promote Campus Dining as a whole and create some unique experiences at each dining area so guests can explore campus,” said Jim Meinecke, director of Residential Dining.  

One of the new locations, State Chik’n, underwent planning for nearly a year with menu planning and recipe ideation occurring before students were invited to participate in taste-tasting and providing feedback.  

The dining staff used this information to adjust the menu and collaborated with Auxiliary and Business Services’ Marketing and Communications staff to create a look and feel for the location. The final product has a fun, modern atmosphere with TVs and music throughout the space. Diners can even add music to the playlist through the Rockbot app.  

“We try to take a variety of things into account when we look at décor and feel in our new spaces,” Meinecke said. “Often, we take inspiration from other dining locations throughout the country. As our staff explores during their professional development opportunities, we encourage eating at a variety of locations and taking photos of food and spaces they enjoy. We also rely on student feedback and work with our marketing team to develop the best spaces possible.” 

University Park has five dining commons on campus — East, West, North, South and Pollock — each with unique characteristics in terms of space and offerings. Residential Dining offers a variety of options at each so that students, faculty and staff have numerous choices.  

“Each dining hall is laid out differently,” Meinecke said. “Some locations, like East and South, have a smaller all-you-care-to-eat (buffet) footprint and a larger retail area. The different offerings are easily seen when looking through the number of retail spots in a relatively small area. West and Pollock, however, have a large AYCTE footprint with a smaller retail footprint. This allows for much more variety and offerings in the buffet.” 

Student feedback is critical in providing direction for Residential Dining, according to Meinecke. The Dining Advisory Board was created this past spring to suggest focus areas and is represented by student government members, other student organizations, sustainability staff, resident assistants, international students and dining hall employees. Surveys are also distributed at every dining location and reviewed daily.  

In addition, menu items are updated regularly, and recipes are tweaked. Residential Dining also leverages its social media channels on Instagram and TikTok to identify new trends, share information about scheduled events, and do fun interactive polls and pulse surveys. 

“It is incredibly important for us to have students involved in the decision-making process from start to finish,” Meinecke said. “We can’t always deliver on every requested item, but we can have a dialogue and explain some reasons why it may not be possible. Having that open line of communication is vital to our ongoing success and to delivering the best products, stations and offerings for our guests.” 

Offering flexibility is also key when some students are unable to keep traditional hours due to classes and other commitments. In collaboration with student feedback, several schedule changes were made for the fall semester: 

• At least one buffet location is open earlier for dinner (4:30 p.m.) and later (9 p.m.) . 

• East is open for buffet breakfast seven days per week.  

• Pollock Edge coffee is open until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

• More food offerings open until 9 p.m. throughout the week.   

• Halal Cart at North opening at 2 p.m. 

“We try to take student feedback into account when looking at hours of operation, but we also need to be mindful of when we are seeing business so that we utilize our labor efficiently,” Meinecke said. “We know we can’t offer everything at all hours of the day, so we try to balance labor, affordability and customer satisfaction.” 

Learn more at the Residential Dining website.