Catering and retail food service options at the SMC Campus Center will shift starting April 1, 2023. The retail food service and catering agreement with the current vendor, Chartwells, will end March 31. Chartwells will continue to oversee the Market at UMB, located on the first floor of the Campus Center, and fulfill catering commitments until the end of March. Chartwells will transition out of the space by the middle of April.
UMB Student Affairs is actively working to identify food and beverage vendors over the short term. New temporary options will be announced in the next couple of weeks. The UMB community is also encouraged to patronize the additional dining options available across campus and in the local community.
Temporary Catering Model
Under the previous catering model, Chartwells was the exclusive caterer in the SMC Campus Center for all events except those hosted by student organizations. Under the new, temporary catering model, all events in the Campus Center have access to a variety of local full-service catering companies.
All catering arrangements must be made and coordinated through the Campus Center’s Event Services. To choose a catering company or local restaurant from the current authorized list for your next event in the SMC Campus Center, please contact smccatering@umaryland.edu or 410-706-3782.
A number of caterers on the authorized list can accommodate green and sustainable events. Additionally, the UMB community can order catering for small and mid-sized events through the Local Food Connection, a resource of local vendors developed by the Office of Community Engagement.
Future of Dining and Catering in the Campus Center
Updates regarding the temporary catering and dining model will be provided on the SMC Campus Center webpage, as well as The Elm, Campus Life Weekly, and The Elm Weekly. UMB Student Affairs looks forward to working with the UMB community to develop permanent catering and dining options within the SMC Campus Center, with a focus on the student experience and sustainability.
We will seek input from the UMB community through meetings with student leaders, stakeholder groups, and Universitywide surveys. Student Affairs leaders also aim to enhance relationships with local, minority-, and women-owned vendors as part of the University’s commitment to inclusive procurement.
If you are interested in serving on a work group to help envision the future of dining and catering services in the SMC Campus Center over the mid-term and long-term or to submit feedback, please contact umbstudentaffairs@umaryland.edu.
This change represents an exciting time for the UMB community to revamp and innovate food service within the Campus Center.
Questions?
If you have questions about the changes in food service, please review the FAQs. Additional questions can be emailed to umbstudentaffairs@umaryland.edu.