Whether finishing a crazy exam, returning from a work out, sleeping until noon, taking a break from homework, meeting friends, or just needing something to eat, many students are more than familiar with the experience of on-campus dining. It’s something virtually everyone that attends a university experiences.
The University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point has had many different dining experiences over its 120+ year history, from ala carte restaurants to third party catering services to full self-operational services, the common theme never changes, every faculty, professor, student, and so many more all need to eat.
Early Days
University Dining wasn’t always here this way. When the Stevens Point Normal school first opened in 1894, there were no amenities such as on-campus dining. Most students lived in houses they paid either a weekly or monthly rate for and unfortunately, there is not much information on what they did for food, but its most likely safe to assume that they bought most of their own food items and ate at these houses since campus only consisted of Old Main at first.
1960s, a time of change and tradition
In the 1960s, the university contracted out to Ace Foods, Inc. from Milwaukee, WI. Ace Foods provided meals in cafeterias and dining rooms, and even operated a snack bar in the then College Union building (now the DUC). They served three meals a day six days a week (The Pointer, 1962)
In 1971, the university began switched contractors to Saga Food, and students had a few options in the University Center (DUC) for food. There was a coffee shop, a cafeteria-style place, and a “fancy” restaurant called “The Pinery”. Based on reports in The Pointer, students didn’t view The Pinery positively, as it was considered “fancier” with table cloth, waitstaff, decorations, and items that needed to be paid for with real money. (it also seems like seating availability has always been an issue for students, some things never change).
The University officially ended their contract with Saga in 1983 and partnered with a new company called Canteen Corps according to this 1983 Pointer article.
At some point prior to 2008, the university again switched contractors and began partnering with a company called Chartwells to provide food services to students, but many complained about the food quality and other aspects.
2008-onwards, a time of Self-operation
After years of negative student feedback, the university ended their contracts, and finally created their own self-operational service and department, University Dining, in 2008. The department has continued to try and make changes depending on the trends, nutritional value, and other factors.
The Elizabeth Pfiffner Debot residence center was remodeled to support this new venture and continues to try to plan production and operations where they can fully support the growing populations of students. Here is a full renovation plan from the 1980s prior to more recent 2020 renovations (courtesy of UWSP Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center). It includes reasonings as to why certain areas should be expanded, how the university watched their numbers go up in terms of both students and production, and how there was a need more then than ever for the remodeling as the university began to grow and pursue more.
As the university entered the 2020s with the COVID-19 pandemic taking shape, they began thinking what this would mean for dining and how to go about future operations while maintaining student health and safety. They developed a “Repopulating Campus Plan” in May of 2021, with new safety measures and features implemented in dining locations like Upper and Lower Debot and the DUC Food Court.
Current University Dining director, Laura Ketchum-Ciftci, says that the university and Department of Summer Conferences decided redo many aspects of on-campus dining when the DUC was remodeled, and added the current food court during the renovation process. Abby Kufahl, a student in the History 296 – History and the Public class conducted an interview with Laura on May 5th, 2026.
Today, University Dining has a variety of options students and faculty can choose from, registered dietitians to chefs, from allergen friendly options to balanced diet items. There is no doubt that on-campus dining will continue to change as food trends come and go, nutritional plans change, and as new horizons are explored.
Sources
Primary Sources:
“Union enlists Food Service”, The Pointer, September 27, 1962, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center, https://cdm17556.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/pointer/id/10698/rec/57 , accessed May 10th, 2026
Wisconsin State University, The University Center Operations Guide, Manuscript, Stevens Point, WI: University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center, https://cdm17556.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/uwspseries260/id/15592/rec/51, accessed May 11th, 2026
“Canteen ends twelve-year food service Saga”, The Pointer, May 12th, 1983, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center, https://cdm17556.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/pointer/id/17525/rec/14, accessed May 10th 2026
Haight, Ben, “New Dining Service Director brings new ideas to UW-SP”, The Pointer, February 26th, 2009, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center, https://cdm17556.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/pointer/id/35305/rec/17 , Accessed May 9th, 2026
Huebschen, Kristi, “U.C. Food Facts (or where can I find an open table?), The Pointer, December 10th, 1981, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center, https://cdm17556.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/pointer/id/18948/rec/1, accessed May 10th, 2026
Photographs:
University Center, 1959-1978 and Undated, photograph/postcard University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, UWSP Series, https://cdm17556.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/uwspseries260/id/15552/rec/12 , (accessed May 11th, 2026)
Courtesy of Ira T.
Secondary Source:
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, University Dining, “Annual Report 2024-2025”, https://www3.uwsp.edu/stuaffairs/Documents/Annual%20Reports%20-%202024-2025/UD%20Annual%20Report%202024%202025.pdf, University Dining, 2025, accessed May 5th, 2026
Oral Interview:
“Laura Ketchum-Cfitci – University Dining Interview”, Abby Kufahl, May 5th, 2026
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