Dorrill Dining Hall, more commonly referred to as D-Hall, is arguably the hub of the Longwood University campus. As the only cafeteria on the campus, D-Hall’s functions and services are a big topic for students. Whether it’s a casual complaint or praise of D-Hall, Grant Avent, the Senior Director of Longwood Dining Services, wants students to give Longwood Dining Services feedback and has been getting it for almost 11 years with Dine with the Director.
The event allows student to ask questions or voice concerns about issues they have about D-Hall or Outta Here. Grant has been using this event throughout his 23 years with ARAMARK on four different campuses: UNC Greensboro for three years, Charleston Southern University for two years, Winthrop University for eight, and Longwood University since August of 2005.
He started Dine with the Director because, “There’s no other way for us to get great feedback from the students. Talking to them is the only way. We do surveys. We do focus groups. We do a lot of different things to get student information, but nothing’s better than talking right to the students and asking more questions to get the details of what it is they’re looking for.”
Avent stated that despite how the attendance for Dine with the Director fluctuates, they always get a good amount of feedback: “Sometimes, if we don’t have enough students, we have just gone into the dining hall or seen students walking down the hallway and recruited them to come on in, and sometimes we get the best comments that way.”
Since it’s inception at Longwood, many changes have been made as a result of these Dine with the Director events. They include changes in the menus, Dorrill D-Hall’s hours, the do-it-yourself Panini grill, changing the disposals of the utensils and the concept of Outta Here.
Avent stated that Outta Here has always been a source of comments, both good and bad among the students. He explained that the concept of Outta Here was born when students requested a place where they could quickly get food and use a meal swipe. Over the summer, Outta Here was revamped and was met with much approval from the students. However, Avent says that students have been asking as to why there aren’t more options, particularly hot meal options in the to-go cafeteria.
He answered, “Everything they ask for is upstairs (D-Hall)… The whole idea for Outta Here is so you can get something to go, use your meal plan, and it be quick and fast. So, that’s what we’ve tried to do is make it fast, and one of the only ways to make it fast is to limit the options.”
While it may be a concern for some students, it does not appear to be a deterrent. Avent said that they have seen an increase of people come to D-Hall and Outta Here, particularly after its makeover: “We went to doing 200 or 300 in a lunch period, to doing 500 or 600, sometimes more during a lunch period. It’s probably doubled.”
The most recent Dine with the Director was Wednesday, and several changes and issues were discussed such as the addition of “comfort foods” to the menu, the availability of different fruits and focaccia bread and signs for gluten free items.
Avent requested that if you have a concern, question or comment regarding Longwood Dining Services that you get in contact with them.
The Longwood Dining Services number is (434) 395-2072, or email him at avent-grant@aramark.com.
