Expanded hours
Operations are facing a growing demand for off-hours dining. At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the dining program’s student advisory council pointed out that the dining halls’ hours did not reflect students’ schedules. Dining services began adjusting the times and working with its 10 contract partners to do the same. A library location, Maggie Murph Cafe, is open 24 hours, serving coffee, tea, bagels, sandwiches, salads and sushi all day, and two other locations are open until 2 a.m.
Each semester, the dining team evaluates whether the expanded hours are worth the investment. “It’s important to check back in to make sure it is beneficial for the community and vendors,” says Pascal Petter, director of dining services.