Along with changes to the menu, the dining hall will be operating under new hours for students to utilize. For this school year, the dining hall will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Associate Vice President for Student life and Enrollment, Sam Mayhew, said the change is to improve the variety and quality of the dining hall by saving money.

(Maggie Woodall/East Tennessean)

“We were seeing that a lot of students weren’t using the dining hall after 10 p.m.,” said Mayhew. “…those cost savings will be able to be used in the menus and different programs.”  

Mayhew shared that a new program soon to be implemented is carving stations where students can watch turkey or ham cut in front of them. There will be enhanced menu nights with food usually not offered, like seafood or steak, at no additional cost to students. 

“Right now, they’re planning at least seven to ten enhanced menus throughout this term,” said Mayhew.  

Mayhew said grill stations will undergo changes as well. “The plan is to have two shifts there during peak times at lunch and dinner and actually doing an action station,” said Mayhew. He predicts the peak times will be 12-2 p.m. for lunch and 5:30-7:30 p.m. for dinner.  

Mayhew said that events like the end of semester midnight pancakes will not be affected by the change in hours.  

Another edition this year is students can use their meal swipes at Chick-fil-A after the dining hall has closed Monday through Thursday, 10-11:30pm. There will be two options they can choose from: a Chick-fil-A sandwich meal or an eight-count nugget meal with both including fries and drink.  

The new dining hall hours will usher in a new era for the student dining experience. Mayhew looks forward to hearing feedback on the new changes implemented this year.  

“We want it to be the best experience for students that it can be, that is our expectation,” said Mayhew.  

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