Chartwells Higher Education, a recognized leader in contract foodservice management, has officially announced a partnership with Landmark College to create one comprehensive approach towards campus dining
According to certain reports, the stated approach focuses on fostering neuro-inclusive dining experiences across colleges and universities throughout US. More on the same would reveal how such an effort should be able to create more welcoming and supportive environments that are mindful of diverse sensory and social needs of students.
To understand the significance of such a development, we must take into account the word published by Chartwells’ 2025 Campus Dining Index, which revealed that one in five students expressed interest in neurodivergent-friendly community sensory spaces, and the same number were interested in particular table cards indicating openness to meeting new friends.
“True inclusion is about creating neurodivergent-friendly environments where students feel comfortable and empowered, and dining spaces are often overlooked, although they can be some of the most challenging environments for students with sensory sensitivities,” said Dr. Adam Lalor, Vice President of Neurodiversity Research and Innovation at Landmark College. “This partnership is an opportunity to apply our research to creating dining experiences that reduce barriers and set a new standard for supportive dining.”
Taking a deeper view of how Chartwells’ latest brainchild addresses the given need, we begin from the promise of flexible seating and social cues. This translates to how the underlying design packages a vast assortment of seating options, including solo seats, small tables, and community tables, giving students the choice to pick their preferred social setting.
On the other hand, we have table cards coming into play to let guests clearly indicate if they’re open to conversation or prefer not to be disturbed.
Almost like an extension of it, Chartwells’ approach also boasts a sensory-friendly design. We get to say so because spaces are likely to utilize intentional color patterns to aid natural wayfinding, along with sound-absorbing materials like acoustic panels, soft furnishings, and diverse textures that all come together to conceive a controlled and comfortable sensory environment.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in specialized atmospheric zones, capable of providing different experiences, such as quiet zones for focused dining, social zones for interaction, wellness zones, and even “spice zones” for adventurous eaters.
Hold on, we still have a couple of bits left to unpack, considering we haven’t yet touched upon the availability of consistent and transparent food options. You see, safe foods will be consistently present with no garnishes to provide reliable choices for students who prefer familiar items.
Chartwells will also provide educational signage to highlight seasonal produce. This includes describing flavors and textures to make it less intimidating to try new foods.
Rounding up highlights would be a collection of robust to-go options. These are essentially expanded grab-and-go options and various packaging choices, including multi-compartment boxes committed to keeping foods separate.
Among other things, it ought to be acknowledged that Chartwells plans on working closely with schools on programming, while simultaneously promoting existing university services that support neuroinclusivity, such as tutoring or test-taking support.
In case that wasn’t enough, the company is also implementing comprehensive training for its associates to better support neurodiverse guests, covering specific guidance for back-of-house teams on food preparation and “safe foods,” or providing services that help students familiarize themselves with spaces and resources at the beginning of their academic year.
The latter is likely to be carried out through dining tours or “dining buddy” programs.
Making this development even more significant, though, would be Chartwells’ own stature. For better understanding, the company is currently a recognized leader in contract food service management, hospitality, and guest service at over 320 colleges and universities in the United States.
“We believe that an inclusive campus empowers every student to succeed. With approximately 53% of Gen Z identifying as neurodivergent, and this number projected to reach 70% or more for Gen Alpha, we’re evolving our approach to meet the unique and evolving needs of our students,” said Eva Wojtalewski, CEO of Chartwells Higher Education. “We understand there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and this approach represents our overall commitment to understanding, adapting, and creating truly inclusive dining experiences.”
