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The University of Nevada, Reno has partnered with Chartwells Higher Education to bring exciting and innovative dining experiences to students on campus. Chartwells is a leader in contract food service management, and together with the University, they are responding to student feedback and evolving cuisine trends by implementing several new dining initiatives.
One of the new initiatives is the reimagined “Create” dining experience. This approach offers made-to-order salads and wraps with increased protein portions and house-made dressings and sauces added to each order. In addition, there is a line of quick grab-and-go salads and wraps featuring campus favorites for guests who want to skip the line.
Another new addition is Halal Shack, which offers a build-your-own Middle Eastern street food experience. Guests can choose from a variety of fillings such as falafel and chickpea korma, fresh toppings, and house-made sauces, all loaded into their choice of vessel from naanritos to zoodle bowls. This is particularly appealing to international students, with a 68% increase in international student college and university applications in 2022.
Chartwells has also expanded the MealTrade offerings, making it more flexible and portable for meal plan holders. This includes the new Halal Shack, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, El Chavo’s, and Las Trojes at Student Choice. The Pack Place, the center of the Nevada Dining experience with 12 unique stations, has also added new menu offerings and shifted stations to improve accessibility and line flow.
Furthermore, the Thrive station is now available within Pack Place, offering foods made without the top nine allergens. This is particularly beneficial to students with food sensitivities, as they can feel safe eating there knowing there is no cross-contamination. The culinary team is dedicated to offering a variety of rotating dishes featuring lean proteins, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy snacks.
To further enhance the dining experience, the University has launched a fleet of autonomous delivery robots called Starship. This spring, Starship now offers Panera Bread via mobile ordering to students, faculty, and staff, allowing for the convenient and environmentally friendly delivery of their favorite sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods.
Chartwells continues to evolve the Nevada Dining program with retail changes and new concepts that focus on expanding local community partnerships. This includes adding the popular El Chavo’s Mexican Grill featuring tortas, tacos, burritos and more, to the Overlook, and Mothers of Macros taking over the Pathways Café menu, offering healthy and fresh, chef-inspired foods. Campus favorite, Las Trojes, has also expanded to the Student Choice location, including late-night options.
Through these new initiatives, Chartwells and the University of Nevada, Reno are bringing customized and enriched dining experiences to students, responding to their feedback and evolving cuisine trends, and expanding local community partnerships. These new additions are sure to provide a completely reimagined dining experience on campus this spring semester.
