MONTCLAIR, NJ – This summer, many college bound students will tour campuses in search of their top choices. Campus visitors should be prepared with thoughtful questions about academics, financial aid, the surrounding city or town, and residential life. Prospective students should always inquire about dining, food options, and meal plans - integral aspects of student quality of life.

Some colleges and universities are highly committed to providing an exceptional student dining experience. Dining at Montclair State University, for example, is powered by innovative technology, convenience, trending student demand, cultural variety, nutrition and top quality food. With 13,000 commuters and 5,000 residents, the campus offers ideal dining solutions to accommodate and please these distinct demographics.

Research on student demands and preferences has been conducted in cooperation with Montclair State University’s dining services partner, Sodexo.

“We know what students want and need in dining services,” said Dora Lim, Sodexo General Manager for Montclair State University.  “Whatever the craving, it’s all right here on campus.  We’ve combined the ultimate in quality, convenience, innovation, and the most popular dining trends among young adults.”  

New dining services launching in September 2012 include a new soon-to-be-announced celebrity chef concept restaurant at The Plaza at Blanton designed to become a hub for campus life. 

“Like a kitchen is the heart of a home, The Plaza at Blanton is the center of campus,” said Lim.

Featured shops in The Plaza at Blanton include a convenient marketplace where students can get their staples:  a full suite of groceries, fresh produce, those ever-popular boxes of cereal, ready to eat frozen meals, gluten-free packaged goods, a great ethnic food variety and beauty essentials. Plus, students can use Red Hawk Dollars and Flex Dollars to purchase these items – further enhancing the in-demand convenience factor.

The Red Hawk Dollars program is the ultimate complement to the campus experience. Students can make a la carte purchases in any campus or local establishment that accepts them, including the Campus Book Store and dining venues.

Sandwiches are a top seller among the student population. Knowing this, and that Subway is a top global franchise, Sodexo at Montclair State University is introducing its own brand called “SubConnection” featuring bread made fresh daily, quick, healthy grab-and-go meals, and a fast, convenient one-touch ordering system.

Coffee lovers can now avoid the long lines and late class arrival grabbing that cup on the commute with the brand new Dunkin’ Donuts right here on campus. 

“We conducted a campus survey and Dunkin’ is the favorite brand with an unbeatable variety of beverages, donuts, bagels and sandwiches. As always, our goal is to give students exactly what they want,” said Lim.   

Far beyond the average college campus café is Sam’s Place, an expansive 2,400 square foot establishment featuring six themed restaurant stations which offer comfort foods, healthy choices, exotic international dishes, Italian cuisine, grilled favorites and deli sandwiches. A 640-seat dining facility at The Heights, Sam’s Place is named after the late Montclair State University and National Football League star linebacker Sam Mills.

“We’ve incorporated interactive technology at Sam’s Place with digital menu boards that provide detailed nutritional and caloric breakdown of the foods at each station to help students eat more healthily and avoid weight gains,” said Lim. 

The university is also introducing a state-of-the-art innovation called “FoD” or “Food on Demand” at Freeman Dining Hall, a technology proven popular with students in select schools throughout the country. FoD is a one-touch ordering system. While waiting for food to be prepared, guests can grab beverages, soup, snacks or bakery items at nearby stations.

“No more waiting in long lines. You place the order, wait for your pager to sound, then you pick up your food,” said Lim. “Students love and appreciate technology and this system delivers a WOW factor.  This is fresh food made-to-order like at a fast casual restaurant.”  

An inherent benefit of FoD is that it limits waste due to over production or overstocking. This is the way the “fresh” component to residential dining is maintained. In terms of nutrition and a balanced diet, the fresh food through FoD is all portioned according to the appropriate meal consumption guidelines.

For more information, contact Dora Lim, Sodexo General Manager for Montclair State University at 973-655-6895 or dora.lim@sodexo.com.

About Sodexo at Montclair State University

Sodexo at Montclair State University is dedicated to providing the campus community with dining options that rival favorite restaurants and shops. Services and locations on campus each feature a state-of-the-art dining experience, delicious, high quality food, superior customer service, and the ability to accommodate complete nutritional and dietary needs.

Within New Jersey, Sodexo serves 50 corporate client partners at 110 sites, 35 hospitals, three independent schools and 69 school districts, and 11 colleges and universities including Montclair State University, The College of New Jersey, and Rowan University.