Residence halls create enhanced dining options

Augusta University students now have more on-campus dining options than ever before, thanks in large part to the refreshed Atrium Dining Hall in the Student Center.

Debuting with dinner on Aug. 16, the dining hall will offer a full-service, cafeteria-style food line featuring hot entrees, a salad bar, dessert bar, beverage center and soft-serve ice cream. Seating capacity has expanded to 284, and the space has new flooring and other updated accents.

And, that’s just on the first floor. The second floor also has new flooring and updated accents, refreshed soft seating for comfortable lounging and several large-screen TVs.

“The project was a very intentional effort with Student Services. The second floor is very much like a living room, and the first floor is much more like the kitchen of Oak and Elm Residence Halls,” said Director of Auxiliary Services Karl Munschy. “It is much more inviting, more hip.”

Though the need and desire to expand Augusta University’s dining facilities wasn’t anything new – discussions began in 2012 with the start of the Campus Master Plan process – the big catalyst was the public-private partnership initiated by the University System of Georgia for on-campus student housing.

The partnership, also known as P3, resulted in a net gain of 500 beds on the Health Sciences Campus with the opening of Oak and Elm Halls.

Also new this academic year is the meal plan required for undergraduate students living on the Health Sciences Campus. The Jaguar Blue Plan for $1,525 is the minimum required plan and covers 12 all-you-care-to-eat meals in Atrium Dining Hall per week plus flex dollars for use in other dining locations. The Jaguar Gold Plan for $1,875 covers 17 all-you-care-to-eat meals in Atrium Dining Hall per week plus flex dollars.

“The flex dollar food program resides in the JagCard. Flex dollars can be used in Allgood Hall, at the Subway on Harper Street, Terrace Café, Atrium Dining Hall or in the Jaguar Student Activities Center on Summerville. It all works there. It offers every bit of variety across the enterprise,” Munschy said.

Flex dollars are not valid at the McDonald’s inside the Children’s Hospital of Georgia or at food trucks on campus.

The minimum required plan for upper classmen living in University Village consists of $250 flex dollars for any dining location across the enterprise, except at McDonald’s and food trucks. Meal plans are optional for graduate and professional students living on campus.

Food menus rotate every five weeks, and there are vegetarian and vegan options available.

“Students will find something every day that they want to eat,” Munschy said.