Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College have been without on-campus dining since their cafeteria supplier abruptly ended services in fall 2023. CUNY has posted a request for proposals for a new food vendor, but it’s unclear when a contractor will be selected. In the meantime, students are relying on off-campus options and vending machines for food. The lack of on-campus dining can impact students’ academic performance, with many facing food insecurity. Students have mixed feelings about the alternatives, with some appreciating the fresh options from vending machines while others miss the convenience and variety of on-campus dining.
The absence of on-campus dining at Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College has left students, faculty, and staff without access to hot food, a year after their cafeteria supplier terminated its services. The discontinuation of on-campus dining has been a challenge for both City University of New York schools, as they have struggled to find a consistent dining solution since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
In response to the closure of the cafeteria service, CUNY has initiated a request for proposals to find a new food vendor to provide on-campus dining services at BCC, Hostos, and LaGuardia Community College. The selected vendor will be expected to offer a variety of fresh, nutritious, affordable, and tasty food options through the operation of dining rooms, cafeterias, catering services, and related activities. The deadline for selecting a contractor was projected to be July 25, although it is unclear if a vendor has been chosen yet.
While waiting for a new food vendor to be selected, CUNY has introduced vending machines on campus offering healthy food items such as salads, pasta bowls, and chia seed pudding. Additionally, a popular fresh meal provider, Farmer’s Fridge, has been introduced at BCC and Hostos as an alternative dining option. These initiatives aim to address the food-service gap and provide students with convenient and nutritious food choices while on campus.
Despite the temporary solutions, students like Sulenny Dominguez and Tahj Evans at Hostos and BCC express the importance of having on-campus dining services available. Dominguez recalls the affordability and quality of the food when the cafeteria was operational, while Evans mentions bringing his own meals or going off-campus to purchase food like sandwiches and pizza when he doesn’t have time to prepare food at home.
The lack of on-campus dining options can impact students’ academic performance, as highlighted in a 2022 study that found a significant percentage of CUNY students to be food insecure. Access to healthy and affordable food on campus is crucial for student success, as an empty stomach or lack of nutritious options can hinder concentration and overall well-being.
Moving forward, the CUNY schools are working towards selecting a new food vendor to reinstate on-campus dining services, ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have access to hot meals and convenient dining options while on campus. In the meantime, efforts such as vending machines and alternative dining providers aim to bridge the gap and support the campus community with accessible and healthy food choices.
Source: TheCity.NYC
