​Who ​We Are

​Histo​ry

UWSP made the decision in 2008 to transition to self-operated dining after many decades of contracted food service. In June 2009, UDS was created as a department within the Division of Student Affairs and we have been serving the campus community ever since. Dining is self-supporting and receives no funding from the University, State, or Federal resources. UDS is managed very much like a commercial restaurant operation. All expenses incurred, including the cost of food, wages & benefits, operating supplies, utilities, repairs & maintenance, and occupancy costs, must be covered by revenue generated across the units on campus.

We are the largest student employer and we deliver over 1.3 million meals per year to students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Retail operations include Lower DeBot, DUC Dining, Homegrown Café, and Food for Thought Café​. Upper DeBot is our all-you-care-to-eat dining center which primarily serves our residential student population. Catering handles both internal and external clients and serves over 800 events per year. We place a strong emphasis on quality, value, student employment, and sustainability.

Mission

As a student-centered organization, the Dining Services team creates nutritious and sustainable meals, culti​vates community, and enhances the educational experience on campus.​

Vision

University Dining Services will be the most successful student managed dining program in North America.​​

​Guiding Principles

  • Create a collaborative work environment that educates and engages our student employees.
  • Integrate sustainability initiatives that support the environmental mission of the University.​
  • Prepare enticing food and menus that feed our culinary senses.​
  • Share our knowledge of food trends and nutrition.
  • Commit to excellence, integrity, quality and value.
  • Cultivate community and build lasting relationships.​​​​

UDS Strategic Planning

  • ​Dining will continually review and harness new and emerging technologies to maximize service delivery.
  • Dining will work closely with marketing professionals to develop strategies to effectively tell our story and communicate to the campus community and beyond.
  • Dining will provide innovative, comfortable, well maintained, cost effective, and modern facilities that encourage community interaction.
  • Dining will provide on-going training and professional development opportunities insuring highly skilled, engaged, and productive staff, while increasing retention and excellence in customer service.
  • Dining will maintain fiscal focus to support short-term and long-term operational and strategic goals, while being sensitive to the rising costs of higher education for students.
  • Dining will create an environment for learning and culinary exploration through special events and educational programming.
  • Dining will continue to develop and expand sustainability initiatives in support of the University’s strategic plan.
  • Dining will commit resources to continually improve culinary execution and innovation. ​