UC Santa Cruz Dining reached a significant milestone in June 2024: 20 years of self-operated dining services. Prior to that time, food service at UCSC was provided by Sodexo. As career staff members gathered in September for a team-building and training event known as Dining University, the mood was celebratory. This particular gathering served as a reminder of the progress made and the collaborative spirit that continues to shape UCSC Dining.
UCSC Dining operates 18 locations across the campus, including dining halls, cafes, coffee bars, and markets. Students with Slug Points meal plans can enjoy everything from avocado toast and a seasonal latte at a cafe for breakfast to late-night bites at a dining hall or Banana Joe’s. Travel back two decades, and you would find a very different dining landscape on our campus.
Student voices leading change
In the early 2000’s, students with required meal plans were limited to five dining halls operated by Sodexo, a food and facilities management corporation. The movement for self-operated dining at UCSC was fueled by student activism, which aimed to improve the working conditions and wages of dining staff. It was a student-organized campaign drawing attention to concerns about the food giant’s labor practices which led to the university ending their contract with Sodexo and forming UCSC Dining Services in June 2004.
Today, student voices continue to play a pivotal role. The Dining Services Student Advisory Group, part of the Student Union Assembly (SUA), actively collaborates with Dining Services to advocate for changes that reflect the needs of the student body. Recent initiatives include modifications to meal plans and an expansion of the Eco-Box meals to-go program.
Community, belonging, and student success
UCSC Dining fosters a strong sense of community and belonging among its staff and students. The longevity of staff members underscores this commitment: over 50 employees have been with UCSC Dining for 20 years!
The Student Supervisor Program, initiated in 2008, provides opportunities for student employees to gain leadership experience. Currently in his third year working with UCSC Dining, Student Dining Hall Supervisor Alexis Moreno can say definitively, “It’s one of the better jobs on campus for sure.”
Moreno reports that his experience with UCSC Dining is helping build his leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. But what makes him return to work with Dining each year is the sense of belonging: “It’s like family,” says Moreno. “I’ve made lifelong friends here. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”
Resilience through adversity
UCSC Dining has faced numerous challenges over the past 20 years, including wildfires, power outages, and a global pandemic. Bill Prime, Executive Director of Dining since 2015, embodies Dining’s unofficial motto: “Whatever it takes.” During the pandemic, Dining Services adapted operations to ensure students were fed, setting up alternative locations, providing isolation meals, and implementing new safety protocols.
The resilience of UCSC Dining was particularly evident in August 2020, when staff mobilized to feed students and faculty displaced by the CZU Lightning Complex Fires. Operating out of the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for three weeks, the Dining team provided meals for students, faculty, and staff.
Looking ahead
As UCSC Dining celebrates its 20th anniversary of self-operated service, there is much to look forward to. Exciting events are on the horizon, including a full lineup of College Night celebrations, the annual Harvest Meal, and the Holiday Food & Fund Drive benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank.
In reflecting on this major milestone, Associate Vice Chancellor for Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (AVC CHES) Laura Arroyo shared, “This speaks to the deep commitment of the dining team, and the sense of community that they center within their work for students, and for each other. Being able to celebrate this milestone with the UCSC Dining team means a lot to me.” Laura added, “My first job in college was working within the dining hall, and it is that experience that shaped me to be the leader I am today. Congratulations to UCSC Dining, and so many thanks to Bill Prime and the entire team!”
Continuous student feedback and engagement will be vital in shaping the program’s future. As Bill Prime emphasizes, “The priority is the students. Look after the students, look after each other, and provide the best service and comfort we can.”
