By Matthew Wenz
If you’re one of the 1,103 students on the Adelphi meal plan—or any one of the commuters, faculty and staff who eat on campus each week—then you might want to have a way to share your opinions and ideas about campus dining. The Dining Advisory Committee (DAC), which is in its sixth year, aims to engage with people across campus to ensure that dining services meet the needs and expectations of the entire university community.
According to Angelo Gagliano, the associate director of Operations and Event Services in the Office of Auxiliary and Event Services: “The goal of these meetings is to amplify the voices of those on campus so that we can better understand their needs and offer the best possible service to the university. Not only does it allow us to communicate with the Adelphi community, but we also get to know individuals on a more personal level at these meetings.”
Gagliano explained that through the DAC, there is a platform to review dining programs, explore new menu options and actively solicit feedback from members on various aspects of dining.
“A key component of the DAC's work is Dining’s We Heard You program, which specifically focuses on gathering and addressing student requests,” he said. “This initiative allows Dining to share what students have voiced as important, and more importantly, demonstrate the tangible changes that have been based on that feedback. The DAC ensures that students have a direct role in shaping the dining experience, and it allows Dining to continuously improve services in a way that aligns with the community's preferences.”
This committee will meet six times throughout the year on Zoom for about an hour. The DAC will collect feedback about dining on campus and take suggestions for new meal ideas. It will include members of Dining Services, faculty, staff and students. Many campus organizations, such as Greek Life, the Student Government Association, Res Life, Athletics, and other student-led clubs, are invited to send representatives to the monthly meetings and provide feedback.
Christopher Leonard, a junior on the cross-country team, is among the new members. “I am extremely excited for this new opportunity to help increase the partnership between Dining and Athletics,” he said. “As a SAAC [Student-Athlete Advisory Committee] member and dining intern, the opportunities for collaboration are immense, and I can’t wait to share what we have in store for this year.”
Leonard entered his second year as an intern for Dining Services this semester. “With athletes primarily consuming the most food on campus, I see my position as an opportunity to better not only the student-athlete experience but the dining experience as a whole for all students,” he said.
The DAC is encouraging all students, faculty and staff to attend as many meetings as possible and take part in this unique and fun opportunity, as you can connect with different people across campus and have a voice in what the dining landscape is like on campus.
“Overall, the DAC plays a vital role in making campus dining more responsive, inclusive and reflective of the diverse needs of our student body,” said Gagliano. “We believe that by working together—students, faculty and staff—we can create a dining environment that enhances the overall university experience.”
Gagliano said that DAC is looking for students to join the committee. “It is a great way for students to get involved and collaborate with other members of the campus community,” he said.
Email him at agagliano@adelphi.edu or Dining’s Instagram account at eatingatadelphi. Follow the Instagram account for the most up-to-date information regarding any news and events happening in the future.
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