Unpacking Sodexo on Campus: Why We Can’t Ignore the Controversy at New Paltz – The New Paltz Oracle

Type “New Paltz farms” into your search engine, and you’ll discover a lot of local spots brimming with fresh food. As spring rolls in, local greens like arugula and kale will thrive, strawberries will bloom, and free-range hens will continue to lay eggs. However, many students at SUNY New Paltz may miss out on this vibrant food scene. They might not realize it, but they often enjoy these local flavors when they eat at the campus dining hall, thanks to Sodexo, a large food service provider.

SUNY New Paltz does not manage its dining services directly. Instead, it partners with Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), a nonprofit that operates independently. CAS has various responsibilities, including providing dining options, managing the bookstore, and offering other services. Established in the 1950s, CAS was created to protect the university from potential liabilities while providing essential services.

Historically, dining services were managed in-house at colleges until about 30 years ago. "Back then, we handled everything ourselves," says Steven Deutsch, CAS’s Executive Director. "Now, outsourcing is common for efficiency and quality." This trend reflects broader changes in food service across institutions like hospitals and prisons, favoring large contracts with corporations like Sodexo, Aramark, and Chartwells. These companies dominate the market and can offer better prices and expertise than smaller operations.

Sodexo has been a fixture on the New Paltz campus for over 20 years. The last time CAS reviewed its contract, there were protests from students who were unhappy with Sodexo’s track record. In 2013, students preferred to stick with Sodexo for fear of what switching might bring. “We had to pick the lesser of three evils,” student senator Annemarie Courtens remarked back then.

Recent data shows student dissatisfaction with campus dining. A spring 2025 survey revealed that most students preferred local eateries to Sodexo-managed options. Many were unhappy with the quality of food offered, which they found to be overpriced. For some athletes, sticking to a healthy diet is a struggle because the campus dining options don’t meet their needs. “I often buy groceries and only use dining dollars for snacks,” said Erin Savarese, a sophomore athlete.

Interestingly, even though Sodexo claims to source food locally, this may not tell the whole story. The farms mentioned on its "Sustainability" page are no longer suppliers. “They should not be on their website,” said Jim Hyland, a former owner of a farm listed there. However, Sodexo does work with some local distributors like Red Barn Produce, which sources from several local farms. “They focus on buying local whenever possible,” said Kevin Terr from Red Barn.

Despite efforts to provide fresh food, students feel constrained by limited options and dining regulations. Employees must follow specific guidelines when preparing meals, which can impede creativity in the kitchen.

Space is another significant challenge. New Paltz has limited dining facilities compared to other similar-sized institutions. Deutsch pointed out that their dining space is only 60% of what is needed for the student population. Though a $51 million renovation plan is in the works to update the dining hall, students will initially face a fully retail dining experience during the redesign, which means more fast-casual options will replace traditional dining.

Long-term, many students wonder if continuing with Sodexo is the best choice. While there are challenges in switching to another provider, some believe a self-operated model could offer them more control and better alignment with student preferences. Robert Nelson, President and CEO of the National Association of College & University Food Services, noted each campus’s situation is unique, and there’s no "one size fits all" for food service.

Ultimately, the story of Sodexo at New Paltz highlights ongoing tensions between corporate food service and student needs. While students might not have much say currently, the push for better options remains a common theme in campus dining discussions. As the future unfolds, both past practices and student activism will play crucial roles in determining what dining at New Paltz will look like.

Learn more about food service models in higher education through studies by the National Association of College & University Food Services here.

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