December 5, 2025

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

University Dining Ghost Kitchen Makes Headlines

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UMW Executive Chef Peter Stine with a plate of "Chicken Feed Fries."

UMW Executive Chef Peter Stine with a plate of “Chicken Feed Fries.”

University Dining is making headlines with the launch of 1301 Hen House, Fredericksburg’s first ever “ghost kitchen”! The Free Lance-Star recently ran a feature article and posted a great video about this unique venture and the University Dining team that brought it to life. You can view the video and read the article here.

In addition to gluten-free chicken tenders, the menu includes a variety of “Chicken Feed” curly fries, “Chicken Coop Salads” and “Barnyard Bite” donut holes. Deliveries are currently made through the regular Grubhub app, but there are plans to offer campus delivery through the campus Grubhub app later in September. More information is available on Facebook, Instagram, or by e-mailing Dining@UMW.edu.

University Dining Updates

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All University Dining locations are open to everyone: students, faculty, staff and members of the public. In addition to the reduced prices for faculty and staff at the Top of the UC, Bodacious Burgers, and “Eagle Meals to Go,” University Dining is offering free or deeply discounted items for faculty and staff once each week. Details can be found on the “Dining Tips for Faculty and Staff” tab on the University Dining website.

Passover items, such as matzo, matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, charoset, beets, and hard-boiled eggs, will be available at lunch and dinner from March 27 through April 4 at the Top of the UC. For additional information contact Rose Benedict, University Dining Marketing Manager, at rbenedic@umw.edu or 540-654-2169.

 

Say ‘Thank You’ To Dining Workers

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It's All Thanks to Them graphicThe University Dining management team wants to let all of the dining employees know how much their hard work, dedication, and friendly service are genuinely appreciated by everyone here at UMW. Almost every day we get comments from students or members of the faculty and staff about how much they love and appreciate our workers, and we’re hoping you’ll share those sentiments with them by writing “Thank You” notes, signing display banners, or submitting THX messages online in preparation for our Employee Appreciation Week that begins on March 1st.

Please stop by the Dining Concierge desk on the 2nd floor of the University Center during the week of February 22nd to sign our banner, write messages on postcards, or drop off your own notes of appreciation. There will be a host at the Concierge station between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day, but you can still drop off a note or sign the banner if the station is unattended. We know that many of you have favorite team members, but we do want all of our staff to get recognized.

Photo Opportunities! We’d love to take photos of you holding up messages of appreciation! You can do that, too, when you stop by the Concierge! We’ll put the photos up on our monitors and on EagleVision during the week of March 1st. During that week all of our staff members (we hope!) will be wearing buttons with their pictures on them (with no mask!), so you can see their great smiles! We invite you to give them lots of great feedback, and let them all know how much you appreciate their service.

We’ve got lots of special “thank you” events planned for them that week, from candy bars, to ice cream treats, to donuts and prize drawings, but your personal words of appreciation mean more to them than any prize we can give them. For more information, contact Rose Benedict, University Dining Marketing Manager, at rbenedic@UMW.edu or 540-654-2169.

University Seeking Feedback

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There have been many changes in UMW campus life due to COVID-19 and the resulting increase in virtual learning and teleworking. To better serve the UMW community, University Dining would like to learn whether the faculty and staff are aware of the current dining options (especially those that are designed exclusively for the faculty and staff); whether these options are being used; and whether there are new or different options that might better meet dining needs and expectations.

Members of UMW’s faculty and staff are invited to complete the online feedback form in order to give their views on these and any other aspects of University Dining services. For additional information contact Rose Benedict, University Dining Marketing Manager, at rbenedic@umw.edu.

University Dining Reopens

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All University Dining locations will be open and serving students, faculty and staff as of Monday, February 1st. As was the case last fall, all service will be carry-out only, but a few new options will make it easier to get food without waiting in long lines.

Grubhub orders for Top of the UC meals no longer have to be placed one day in advance. Lunch orders are accepted until 8 a.m. and dinner orders are accepted until 2 p.m. each day. You may place orders up to 24 hours in advance, select your desired service time, and pick up your meal in Chandler Ballroom, avoiding any lines at the Top of the UC.

Eagle Meals to Go, featuring hot meals, packaged and ready for a quick pick-up, will debut in the Eagle’s Nest Market on Monday. The menu includes Mashed Potato Bowls, Mac & Cheese Bowls, and Entrée Plates, with selections changing weekly. The debut week menu includes Four Cheese Mac & Cheese with Bacon,  Mashed Potatoes with Popcorn Chicken, and a Rotisserie Chicken entrée plate with mashed potatoes, gravy, and seasonal vegetables.

Discounted Meals for Faculty & Staff at the Nest: Members of the faculty and staff can now get “4,5,6 Meals” at the Eagle’s Nest. These options include the “Eagle Meals to Go” items, Bodacious Burgers, and Value Meals (special combos normally reserved just for students with meal plans). Details about this new offer and other dining tips for members of UMW’s faculty and staff are on the University Dining web site through the new Faculty and Staff Dining Tips tab. TIPS

For additional information contact University Dining Marketing Manager Rose Benedict, rbenedic@umw.edu or 540-654-2169.

Stop Hunger Food Drive

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Campus Dining, the UMW Athletic Department, and the President’s Staff Advisory Council are again sponsoring the annual Stop Hunger Food Drive to benefit the Eagle Resource Closet and Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. The drive will officially launch on Monday, November 2nd and conclude on Thursday, November 12th. Non-perishable food donations may be placed in collection bins located at the Eagle’s Nest in Woodard Hall, the Office of Advancement at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center, and at the Dining Concierge desk on the second floor of the University Center. Additional campus collection sites are still being determined and will be listed on the Campus Dining web site when they are confirmed.

The UMW athletes will be accepting food and monetary donations next week at the Dining Concierge Desk in the University Center between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. They will also have discount-priced food items available that can be purchased and then donated to the drive.

New this year! In cooperation with the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank,  a “UMW Athletics and Dining Virtual Food Drive” option has been created. Visitors to this site can choose to purchase various food packages for the food bank or make general monetary donations, using a credit card, and all of the donations will count toward our campus Stop Hunger Food Drive. To visit the virtual food drive site go to https://tinyurl.com/y3fddrfz

For additional information about any aspect of the Stop Hunger Food Drive please contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu or 540-654-2169.

 

Change in Dining Service

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Due to the limited number of people now using dining services, and in keeping with the University and government directives regarding social distancing, Campus Dining Services will transition to providing one single serving time as of Saturday, March 28th. As of Saturday meal service will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily in the Chandler Ballroom. A full hot dinner meal will be available to “grab & go,” and guests will also be given cold boxed meals to use for breakfast and lunch on the following day. Guests coming to dinner on Friday, March 27th at the Top of the UC may get carry-out breakfast and lunch meals to use on Saturday.

An updated dining schedule can be accessed by going to UMW.SodexoMyWay.com and clicking on the Dining Update tab. For additional information contact Dining@UMW.edu.

Faculty and Staff Thanksgiving Lunch

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Campus Dining will host a Thanksgiving Lunch Buffet for UMW faculty, staff and their guests on Tuesday, November 19th in the Chandler Ballroom. The lunch will feature classic roast turkey,  stuffing and gravy along with all the trimmings. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and close at 1:30 p.m. The cost is $7.00 for faculty and staff and $11 for guests. For additional information contact Leslie Jacobs at ljacobs@umw.edu or call 540-654-1931.

Campus Dining News

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Campus Dining Upcoming Events and Offers

“Meals & Deals” dining coupon books are now available for purchase from cashiers at the Top of the UC or the Eagle’s Nest. Four types of coupon books are being offered – some for dining at the Top of the UC only and some that include dining at the Top of the UC, Bodacious Burgers, and Simply To Go Meal Deals. Every coupon book includes one or more bonus Panera coupons that are good for any grain bowl or sandwich at the UMW Panera.

“Fuel Up for Success: Mindful Eating” is an opportunity to get Tips, Tricks and Recipes for creating well-balanced meals with limited cooking facilities from George Mason’s Resident Campus Dietitian Veronica Hayes. This event will be held at 6 p.m. in Monroe 116 on Monday, October 21.

“Oktoberfest Celebration Lunch” will be held at the Top of the UC on Wednesday, October 23rd.  The special fare will be offered between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and is included in the regular lunch price. The faculty and staff dining room is open from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p .m.

“GSMA  Celebration: Rainbow Night”  Campus Dining, in partnership with PRISM, will be hosting “Rainbow Night” at the Top of the UC from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring rainbow cakes and rainbow sherbet. This feature is included in the regular dinner price. The “Stone Steakhouse” event, featuring hand-cut rib eye steaks cooked to order, will also be available for an additional $5.00 from 5 p.m. while supplies last.

For additional information on any of these events contact Campus Dining at 540-654-2165 or e-mail dining@umw.edu.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner Volunteers Needed

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Campus Dining will be hosting the annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, November 20th at the Top of the UC. Approximately 1,700 students are expected to attend the dinner, so many extra hands will be needed in order to serve such a large number of guests.

Each year many members of UMW’s faculty and staff volunteer to help serve this and other holiday dinners, and they always have lots of fun! Volunteers can bring spouses, significant others, or older children to help serve, and they all get to enjoy the bountiful Thanksgiving feast for free!

Volunteers are asked to serve for one of the following shifts:

4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.

5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.

6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu or call 540-654-2169.