Collaboration with Gourmet Dining Brings Commuters to the Caf

You wouldn’t necessarily think of the college cafeteria being a hub for commuter programs, especially when most commuter students don’t have a meal plan and often bring their own food to campus. However, that is about to change on campus.

The Office of Student Engagement and Gourmet Dining Services are pleased to announce the start of Commuter Days in the Caf. Under this new initiative, commuter students are welcomed to enjoy lunch and dinner in the cafeteria every Wednesday for a discounted rate of $8.50.

Commuter Days aren’t a new idea on campus. They’ve existing before as one-off days happening infrequently and often without much notice. Looking to address these challenges, the Office of Student Engagement and Gourmet Dining teamed up to make these discounted days more frequent, consistent and clear for commuter students. Input from commuter students led to the selection of Wednesdays as the day, and the new iteration of Commuter Days in the Caf was born.

This collaboration is one of the many efforts the Office of Student Engagement undertakes to support commuter students. Working alongside the Campus Inclusion Center, two initiatives, Commuter Study Halls and Commuter Birthdays, aim to build a sense of belonging. Commuter Study Halls, held every third Monday of the month in the Campus Inclusion Center (located in University Center Room 209), allow commuters a space to study, hang out and be around other commuter students. Even outside of study hall days, the Campus Inclusion Center has become a hub for commuter students looking to build community.

Every first Monday of the month brings commuters back to the Campus Inclusion Center to celebrate Commuter Birthdays. This initiative was created as a fun celebration of students’ birthday. Commuters can pre-register to attend if their birthday falls within the month and they’ll receive some small goodies and photo opportunities when they stop by. The next birthday celebration will take place on March 12.

Within the office, Student Engagement hosts a monthly event series called “Commuter Corner” which brings commuters together for activities and food during commuter-friendly times. These events are meant to create a low-stress environment for commuters to build community and to feel recognized on campus. The planning of these events are supported by the newest commuter initiative, the Commuter Ambassadors. Starting in 2025, Commuter Ambassadors are dedicated groups of commuter students who help the Office of Student Engagement in the brainstorming, planning and promoting of commuter programs. The Ambassadors serve as representatives of the commuter student population, bringing feedback, suggestions and ideas to Student Engagement. Conversely, they help Student Engagement promote commuter initiatives to the broader community. Most notably, the ambassadors shared their feedback about Commuter Days in the Caf and will be helping to promote the initiative.

The Office of Student Engagement recognizes that commuter students are a diverse and integral part of the campus community, each experiencing their own unique journey at Seton Hall. With that in mind, programs like the Commuter Ambassadors and Commuter Days in the Caf are meant to shine a light on these students and make sure they are feeling connected to Seton Hall and to each other.

Categories: Campus Life