BY CALEB TOBIN
Meal plan changes, dining hall hours, and expanded academic offerings were all topics discussed at the 2024 State of the Hill presentation.
The presentation, held on April 8, was opened by President John Denning, C.S.C. with a prayer for Lauren Rauseo, a student who was badly injured in Spain while studying abroad.
Denning said the College is currently reaching the end of its current strategic plan, which involved transitioning to D1 athletics, a $75 million fundraising campaign, and renovations to Boland Hall, Holy Cross Center, and other residence halls.
He also outlined a new strategic plan that will be drafted and submitted in September 2024. The new plan includes identifying new academic opportunities in nursing and allied health, improving graduation and retention rates, and a fundraising effort centered around athletics programs and facilities.
Denning also said the College seeks to stabilize undergraduate enrollment at 2,500 students and graduate enrollment at 250 students. The College will graduate almost 50 graduate students this year.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Peter Ubertaccio said Stonehill needs to find areas of growth at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Ubertaccio said the College is looking to offer a nursing program.
“If we had it, we would enroll a decent number of students in those programs,” Ubertaccio said.
Ubertaccio also said the College has reduced obstacles for students looking to transfer to Stonehill.
A big portion of the presentation centered around the changes to the meal plan for the 2024-2025 academic year. Bon Appétit was selected as the new food service provider for the College back in February.
Pauline Burke, vice president for student affairs, outlined the upcoming changes.
The new meal plan will be a block meal plan. Residents will have the option of purchasing 225 or 300 meal swipes per semester. The plan also includes $75 in retail dollars, similar to the existing Hill dollars, and five guest swipes. Commuters will be able to buy swipes in blocks of 20, 40, and 80. Dunkin’ will not be included in the new swipe system, but students will be able to use retail dollars at Dunkin’.
“If a family wants to add swipes, you can buy blocks of swipes. Say you want extra money for retail, I would add that to your Hill Dollars,” Burke said.
Burke also said that many current Sodexo employees have opted to stay at Stonehill amid the switch to Bon Appétit, so students will still see many familiar faces at the Commons and other establishments next semester.
The Commons and Holy Cross Center will become all-you-can-eat locations. The layout of the Commons will change and there will be one entrance where students swipe their card. Once past the entrance, students will be able to eat as much as they like but cannot take food to go.
Hours for on-campus establishments will also be changing. The Hill will be open 6-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6-1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Ace’s Place will be open 9-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Gigi’s Cafe will be open 11-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11-3 p.m. on Fridays.
The Commons will be open for breakfast from 7:30-10 a.m., 11:15-2 p.m. for lunch, and 5-8 p.m. for dinner. The 10-11:15 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. time blocks will have limited options available, and the Commons will be closed from 3-5 p.m.
A full-time dietician will also come to campus next semester to assist students in navigating any dietary restrictions they may have. The College currently has a part-time dietician.