Lawrence introduces new dining services provider

The revamped sandwich section of Andrew Commons. Photo by Cesar Donaire.
The revamped sandwich section of Andrew Commons. Photo by Cesar Donaire.

On Tuesday, May 28 of the previous academic year, Lawrence University sent a letter of intent to end its 16-year partnership with Bon Appétit in favor of a new collaboration with American Dining Creations (ADC). The collaboration did not become official until Monday, July 1. According to Vice President for Student Life Chris Clarke, the decision came after a lengthy Request for Proposal (RFP) process where numerous vendors presented their offerings, which they believed best catered to student needs. After various dining vendors were analyzed by Lawrence University and Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC) in an RFP process, the candidates were narrowed to Bon Appétit and ADC. Clarke stated that modifications to the hours of operation and food diversity were key factors in making the switch to ADC.

LUCC played a large part in bringing in ADC. The decision to choose a new provider was partly due to concerns LUCC had heard from students about dining services at Lawrence, LUCC President Isabel Dorn said. In assisting to choose a new service, she said LUCC considered issues such as quality of food, sustainability, allergens and fair wages for their employees.“The students I’ve spoken to so far have stated that the food itself has been pretty good and […] they seem to think it’s an improvement,” Dorn said. “There are definitely still things that they can work out and continue to improve, but the overall sentiment on campus has been pretty positive.”

Many students have expressed some concerns regarding ADC on YikYak — a common sharing app for students — in conversations around campus and in concerns expressed to Dorn. In Andrew Commons, some food items have faced one of two problems; they are either incorrectly labeled or not labeled at all. This poses an issue to students with dietary and allergen needs. Clarke refuted this concern, stating that labeling has been increased and that there are a variety of food selections to accommodate specific food needs. Another concern raised by students is that there are no prices labeled in Kate’s Corner Store in Warch Campus Center. This too creates a cause for concern because it makes it difficult for students to budget out their Culinary Cash. In response to this, Clarke has assured that ADC is still in their transition period and labeling in the Corner Store is underway.

Dorn said that although ADC may be experiencing some transitional hardships, they are actively seeking feedback and hope to continue to make improvements. She explained that they are still developing from their pilot program to offering a fuller range of food.

“I believe ADC sets its own prices and our meal plans, and the amount of Culinary Cash we receive is set by the university, so it’s this kind of weird dynamic where the amount of food money that we receive is set by one group and then the prices are being set by another,” Dorn said.

She said that she was told meal swipes in the Café would return. As of Week 2, they have been reinstated. LUCC is working with the director of ADC, along with the Office of Student Life, to create a Dining Services Committee able to provide more direct feedback. Dorn strongly encourages students with feedback or concerns to reach out to ADC.