The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has selected Aramark Collegiate Hospitality for a new long-term partnership covering campus dining, retail food service, catering, and hospitality. The agreement is designed to bring more variety, convenience, wellness-focused choices, and community-centered experiences to UCCS students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Key takeaways

• Aramark will operate and enhance dining, retail, catering, and hospitality services across UCCS.
• The program will include national brands, local restaurants, regional partners, and student-created concepts.
• Services will extend to the Ent Center for the Performing Arts and other campus events.
• The partnership is Aramark Collegiate Hospitality’s first with a University of Colorado institution.

The partnership gives UCCS an opportunity to make dining a more visible part of campus life. For students, that could mean easier access to meals between classes, more choices for different dietary preferences, and spaces that encourage connection beyond the classroom.

A broader dining experience for students

Aramark plans to introduce expanded food and beverage options alongside its proprietary concepts and partnerships with established restaurant brands. Local and regional food providers will also have a role, helping the program reflect the culture and character of Colorado Springs.

Student innovation is another notable element. UCCS and Aramark expect to create opportunities for student-developed food concepts and entrepreneurial initiatives, giving students a practical way to explore hospitality, business, marketing, and culinary ideas.

Menus are expected to emphasize quality, convenience, health and wellness, sustainability, and variety. Digital tools will support ordering and other parts of the guest experience while helping improve service delivery across campus locations.

Dining designed to build community

The agreement goes beyond everyday meals. The partners plan to add themed events, cultural celebrations, social dining programs, and other hospitality experiences intended to increase student engagement and strengthen campus connections.

That focus is especially relevant at a university with more than 11,300 students and over 800 faculty members. Dining venues can serve as informal gathering places where students meet friends, participate in cultural events, or find a welcoming break during a busy academic day.

Expanded campus hospitality operations

Aramark will oversee catering and event hospitality throughout the university, including operations at the Ent Center for the Performing Arts. The expanded scope is intended to support campus events, performances, meetings, visiting guests, and community partnerships with a consistent hospitality experience.

For UCCS, the arrangement aligns dining and event services under a single partner. That could make it easier to coordinate large gatherings while creating more opportunities to showcase local food and hospitality talent.

A new relationship within Colorado

The UCCS agreement marks Aramark Collegiate Hospitality’s first collaboration within the University of Colorado System. Aramark currently serves about 300 colleges and universities nationwide and has worked in higher education dining for more than five decades.

UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet said dining is an important part of the university experience and that the partnership will bring greater variety and continued improvements. Aramark President and CEO Barbara Flanagan described UCCS as a strong partner for developing a future-focused program shaped around wellness, convenience, personalization, and meaningful dining experiences.

• Aramark Collegiate Hospitality Selected to Transform Campus Dining and Hospitality Services at University of
  Colorado Colorado Springs, Aramark.
• Aramark Collegiate Hospitality Selected to Transform Campus Dining and Hospitality Services at University of
  Colorado Colorado Springs – Company Announcement, Financial Times.