Bryn Mawr College students returning for the fall semester will find unlimited dining hall visits, a new Halal protein bar and a grab-and-go lunch station on the north side of campus, part of a package of food-service changes the college announced Monday, Aug. 17.
The biggest change is access. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 2, students on a meal plan can swipe into either dining hall as many times as they want during regular hours. Previously, meal plans limited the number of entries.
A new protein-forward bar called "Pulse" launched Tuesday, Aug. 18 at New Dorm Dining Hall, serving Halal chicken, Halal beef, meat alternatives, pulses and grains at lunch and dinner. It marks the first dedicated Halal protein option at the hall, offered alongside existing non-Halal selections.
"We know it can be difficult sometimes for students on the north end of campus to make it to one of the dining halls," Director of Dining Services David Chase said in the announcement. "We're hoping these grab-and-go options will help make sure that even the busiest students are getting the food they need."
Those grab-and-go options include a new lunch station on the second floor of the Park Science Center, open 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays starting Sept. 2 and covered by the meal plan. Students can pick up a daily sandwich or salad, fruit, a protein bar and water. On weekday mornings, Uncommon Grounds will offer breakfast sandwiches and vegan burrito wraps from 7 to 8 a.m. under the meal plan.
Other Sept. 2 changes: New Dorm Dining Hall extends its Monday-through-Thursday closing time from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Erdman Dining Hall adds Sunday to its continental breakfast service, now running 7:30 to 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Starting Monday, Sept. 7, the Community Kitchen in the Wellness Center expands its reservation window to 8 a.m. through 11 p.m., seven days a week. The kitchen has been restocked with new pots, pans and utensils; students must complete a short orientation covering appliance use, safety and check-in procedures before booking through the college's room reservation system. The expanded hours are a pilot program overseen by a new Community Kitchen Advisory Committee. Questions can go to Wellness Program Director Cristen Kennedy or Interim Dean of Student Life Denine Rocco.
The college said the changes grew out of student feedback gathered during planning for Bryn Mawr's Next Chapter, a ten-year strategic framework developed with input from students, faculty, staff and alumnae.
Upcoming dates:
- Tuesday, Aug. 18 — Pulse protein bar now open at New Dorm Dining Hall
- Wednesday, Sept. 2 — Grab-and-go lunch station opens at Park Science Center; unlimited dining swipes begin; extended NDDH evening hours and Erdman Sunday breakfast start
- Monday, Sept. 7 — Community Kitchen expanded hours begin
