Greetings from Dennis Pierce, Director of Dining Services

Spring Semester 2008

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort.
- Norman Kolpas -

Greetings:

Welcome to the Spring 2008 semester. As you can see our new UCuisine has been changed to provide you with a crisper, more concise handbook that helps you to better understand our services. Also, take a look at our ever-changing web site at http://www.dining.uconn.edu. Here at the University of Connecticut Department of Dining Services our customers are important to us, and it is our sincere desire to provide hospitality services in a courteous and friendly manner in pleasant surroundings. Being located in centrally isolated Storrs, Connecticut, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to provide food service for our residents, staff, faculty and administration, whether it be in our resident dining facilities, our retail outlets or through our catering program. Let us not also forget those who do not regularly dine with us. These are the many guests that are perhaps visiting friends or those families touring our campus with a potential candidate for acceptance. While on campus, come dine with us and meet our staff. We think you’ll find that our professionalism and dedication to service parallels the mission of the University of Connecticut.

Our Dining Services program, operated as a component of the Division of Student Affairs, is a service for the entire university community. Our Dining Services Department is totally self-supporting and receives no funding from University, State or Federal sources. We are operated very much like a commercial restaurant. All expenses incurred, including the cost of food, payroll operating expenses, building and renovations, must be covered by revenue generated by our food service operations on campus. We strive to be diversified in our menu selections and to offer our customers a wide variety of service options and styles. We are always looking for input as to what we can do to better meet your needs. As a result of past input, we are opening two convenience stores this semester, one located in the Student Union and one at Putnam Refectory. We hope this extended service will provide those incidentals that support our community’s busy lifestyle.

I also want to take this opportunity to share with you the feedback that I have received from many students and faculty. As I make time to meet with students through the RHA program and the many one-on-one visits, I hear the same comments on how the food here at UConn far surpasses other schools. In addition, I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t receive rave reviews about our Food Court in the Student Union. These comments make me proud for those that work day in and day out to provide you with the services that we offer. We are very fortunate to have a fine group of talented chefs and committed dining services employees. If it wasn’t for our staff and our 700+ student employees, we would not be able to maintain our current satisfaction levels.

Lastly, as you enter this semester, enjoy the spring, try to maintain balance in your life, and ponder the choices that you make that will create your future, as only you can control your destiny.

Eat well, enjoy life, pursue your dreams.

C. Dennis Pierce
Director of Dining Services

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