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Students on a Penn Dining Plan can either use dining dollars or meal swipes to pay for food at retail and residential locations across campus.

Penn Dining oversees residential dining halls, such as Quaker Kitchen and Falk Dining Commons in Steinhardt Hall and retail dining services — including Gourmet Grocer, Starbucks in 1920 Commons, and Pret a Manger in Huntsman Hall. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with members of the Penn Dining team to learn how the University selects business partners and decides which payment methods are accepted at different dining locations.

In an interview with the DP, Penn Business Services Director of Communications & External Relations Courtney Dombroski explained that Penn Dining assesses the “needs of students” when determining whether to offer meal swipes or dining dollars at campus dining locations. 

According to Dombroski, Penn Dining “will assess that information, look at usage,” and then make decisions “with regard to access and being fiscally responsible.” 

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Unlike dining systems offered by other universities, Penn Dining Dollars are part of its meal plan and can only be used at establishments within the “Penn Dining ecosystem.” 

According to their website, Penn Dining partners with Bon Appétit Management Company to oversee dining facilities and “ensure that consistency, quality, and sourcing are specifically overseen by a reputable organization with the tools to do so.” 

Director of Hospitality Services Wendy Sparks — who oversees dining services on campus, including the partnership with Bon Appétit — told the DP that the Penn Dining program aims to promote “the student experience here at Penn” and is “here to support student life and the academic mission.” 

Sparks explained that the program is built around residential buildings and retail options to “make sure we are built for the academic mission.” 

According to Sparks, Penn’s partnerships with Starbucks and Pret a Manger came after Penn Dining surveyed students on their preferences for on-campus dining options. 

Penn Dining has direct oversight over Starbucks and Pret a Manger in Huntsman as part of the “Penn Dining ecosystem.” According to Sparks, like other retail options, both locations employ Bon Appétit employees. She explained that, on the other hand, residential options employ hourly Penn employees. 

Sparks also discussed upcoming renovations to the 1920 Commons in May. The renovation is set to occur in three phases, culminating in a “grand reopening” scheduled for January 2029. Based on preferences expressed in student surveys, Sparks said she feels “pretty confident in saying we will be having a Starbucks there” but added that the University has not ruled out introducing other retail options, such as a “locker [or] ghost-kitchen type option.”

“We really listen to the students and want to make sure we’re meeting their needs around the hours we’re open,” Sparks said. “Our goal is to make sure we have variety and late-night options available for our students within the framework of Penn Dining.”

Staff reporter Candice Felderer covers admissions and can be reached at felderer@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies philosophy, politics, and economics.