A year after losing their cafeteria supplier, Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College students, faculty, and staff still don’t have a place to get hot food on campus.
The two City University of New York schools have both been without on-campus dining since the fall 2023 semester after food vendor A La Carte Menu Services abruptly ended its services just one year into a five-year contract, citing low sales and an inability to operate at a huge deficit.
A Struggle to Establish On-Campus Dining
Both campuses have struggled to consistently establish on-campus dining service since the pandemic began in 2020, when they were both forced to shut down their cafeteria service until finally establishing a contract with A La Carte Menu Services.
Current Situation
"A La Carte Menu left BCC and Hostos in September 2023," CUNY spokesperson Noah Gardy told THE CITY in response to a question asking when was the last time each campus had in-house dining service. "CUNY continues to provide students with a variety of food choices ranging from full-service dining [at other schools] to grab and go stations. As a predominantly commuter system, students also enjoy access to off-campus dining options."
Replacement Plan
According to the University, a replacement plan is simmering. On April 5, CUNY posted a request for proposals looking for a food vendor to provide on-campus dining services at BCC, Hostos, and LaGuardia Community College in Queens. The vendor is expected "to provide the College community with a full range of fresh, nutritious, affordable, and tasty food and beverages through the management and operation of dining rooms, cafeterias, catering services, and related activities."
Student Feedback
When Hostos did offer cafeteria service, student Sulenny Dominguez, 24, recalled paying about $7 for a plate of rice and beans, chicken, and salad. "Everything was good. They were giving good food, breakfast and everything," Dominguez told THE CITY. "Honestly, it was going pretty well … it would be nice to have it open again [and] not having to come outside with the weather and food is expensive."
Off-Campus Options
Off the Hostos campus, which sits on a bustling section of the Grand Concourse in the South Bronx, students can purchase food from a halal food truck, bodegas, a pizza shop, and various fast-food restaurants, including a newly opened Chipotle. At BCC, which is in the quieter University Heights neighborhood, students can visit a bodega across the street from the campus and the occasional food truck, along with pizza and other fast-food options a few blocks away.
Food Insecurity
Students operating on an empty stomach or without healthy food options are more likely to struggle in the classroom according to a 2022 study by the university. It found that two of every five CUNY students are food insecure. CUNY has sought to fill in the food-service gap with vending machines offering healthy food items, including salads, pasta bowls, and chia seed pudding.
Conclusion
The lack of on-campus dining service has been a challenge for students, faculty, and staff at Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College. While the University is working to replace the vendor, students are left to find alternative options, which can be costly and unhealthy. The issue highlights the importance of providing affordable and nutritious food options for students, particularly those who are food insecure.
FAQs
Q: When did A La Carte Menu Services stop providing on-campus dining services?
A: A La Carte Menu Services stopped providing on-campus dining services in September 2023.
Q: What is CUNY doing to replace the vendor?
A: CUNY posted a request for proposals in April 2024 for a food vendor to provide on-campus dining services at BCC, Hostos, and LaGuardia Community College.
Q: What are the current food options available to students?
A: Students have access to off-campus dining options, including fast-food restaurants, bodegas, and food trucks. CUNY is also providing healthy food options through vending machines.
Q: How many CUNY students are food insecure?
A: According to a 2022 study, two of every five CUNY students are food insecure.
