Pitt Students Gain Dining Access at Carlow University Amid Growing Campus Needs
In a move to broaden dining options for its students, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) has expanded meal plan access to include Carlow University’s dining facilities starting in September. This development follows Carlow’s 2022 decision to allow its students access to Pitt’s meal-swap locations.
Managed by Chartwells Higher Education, both universities’ dining services are now part of an initiative to alleviate overcrowding issues at Pitt. However, opinions are mixed among the student bodies regarding the practicality and fairness of this expanded access.
Avery Hawranko, a Carlow sophomore majoring in biology, expressed her frustration with the meal swaps, citing recurring issues at Pitt’s dining spots like Chick-fil-A, where she has had to pay out of pocket due to system failures. “Everytime I have tried to use them, they haven’t worked,” Hawranko said, highlighting her dissatisfaction with the current arrangement.
Hawranko also raised concerns about the limited dining options at Carlow, questioning the necessity of opening their facilities to Pitt students. “Pitt students have so many options, and I don’t know why they would feel the need to come to Carlow when there are other places to eat,” she stated.
Matthew Sterne, Pitt’s vice chancellor for business services, defended the collaboration, emphasizing the benefits of increased dining flexibility and convenience, especially for those residing or spending time near Carlow’s campus. “Partnering with Carlow expands the variety of places students can eat and adds convenience,” Sterne commented.
The partnership comes as Pitt grapples with accommodating its largest class size to date. This has led to some students being housed at the Hampton Inn, located about a 13-minute walk from Carlow University. Kate Piro, a first-year data science major at Pitt, acknowledged the rationale behind the collaboration but remains skeptical of its impact on managing the increased student population. “I understand they were trying to help, but I don’t know how much it worked,” Piro remarked.
Pitt is actively working to expand its dining options, as explained by Sterne. New facilities such as Happy Boba and several dining concepts at the new Recreation and Wellness Center are set to open, offering more variety.
Some students, like Sadie Feingold, a first-year marketing major, have had positive experiences at Carlow’s dining hall, despite the walk. “The staff were all really welcoming,” Feingold shared, adding that the new options provide a welcome change from Pitt’s usual dining venues.
Rebecca Vitalie, an elementary education student, plans to try Carlow’s dining services in the future, noting that while not conveniently located, it offers more options without significantly increasing meal plan costs. However, she remains cautious about its effectiveness in reducing overcrowding at Pitt’s dining halls.
“The Eatery can get very crowded, specifically in between classes around noon,” Vitalie noted, hoping Carlow’s facilities might provide some relief. Yet, she remains unconvinced of its reliability as a long-term solution.
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