NC State Dining has earned a silver award from the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) for its Training Days program, recognized in the category of Training and Development at the association’s national conference this month.
The program, launched in 2023, was designed to enhance employee development and engagement across campus dining units. What began as a pilot effort by dining leadership has grown into a signature training initiative, coordinated by the Dining Training Collaborative—a team of representatives from various operational areas within NC State Dining.
Held in August before the start of the academic year, the training program energized staff while equipping them with essential tools for success. The agenda was developed in collaboration with campus partners and includes sessions focused on:
- Employee Well-being: Campus experts from Wellness and Recreation and University Human Resources led sessions on stretching, stress management and wellness resources.
- Professional Growth: Training in food safety, kitchen safety and customer service, including the nationally recognized FISH! Philosophy.
- Global Perspectives: A session with the Office of Global Engagement helped staff explore international food customs and holidays.
- Campus Resources: Panel discussions featured insights from campus departments, including Transportation, HR Benefits and Wellness.
- Financial Literacy: Dining’s Business Officer provided practical training on budgeting, cost control and Excel basics.
- Inspiration: A local business owner and NC State alum shared real-world strategies for delivering outstanding customer experiences.
The program’s impact has been significant. Following its launch, NC State Dining experienced record-breaking fall meal plan sales with more than 12,790 plans sold, as well as improved spring retention. These gains helped reduce operational strain, strengthen financial sustainability and support customer satisfaction across units.
Employee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, citing the engaging content and focus on wellness. The program has also contributed to the highest staff retention rates in five years, with full-time employment increasing by 15.7% over the past two years; growth that reflects NC State Dining’s ability to meet the rising demand for campus dining services.
“This recognition from NACUFS affirms our belief that investing in people leads to better service, stronger teams and greater success,” said Shawn Hoch, senior director for hospitality services at NC State.
The NACUFS awards celebrate innovation and excellence in collegiate food service programs across the country.