Montclair State University, Gourmet Dining LLC and Saxbys Announce Student-Run Experiential Learning Cafe
New cafe will provide students with on-campus experience that will propel post-graduate success
Montclair, NJ (03/12/2024) — Montclair State University, Gourmet Dining LLC, and Saxbys have announced the newest location of The Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform (The Saxbys E.L.P.), a network of cafes designed for and run by students. The latest addition to the dining scene on campus will open with a special event on April 2, 2024 at 10 a.m. on the first floor of the Feliciano School of Business building.
Established in 2015, The Saxbys E.L.P. supports students by providing them with in-depth entrepreneurial opportunities to enrich traditional classroom learning. Every semester, a new student will serve as the Student Cafe Executive Officer, or SCEO, each of whom will run their own dynamic, bustling B Corp in the center of campus. Tying seamlessly into Montclair State University's vision of providing students with experiences that enable post-graduate success, Saxbys student leaders continue to fast-track to leadership roles after graduation and outpace national averages for on-time graduation and full-time job placement.
"Montclair University's commitment to co-curricular learning for all students aligns seamlessly with Saxbys commitment to providing transformational opportunities for the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. Through The Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform, this innovative partnership will undoubtedly drive student success while creating career-ready graduates ready to lead," said Nick Bayer, Founder & CEO of Saxbys.
Dr. Dawn Meza Soufleris, Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life at Montclair State University, shared a similar sentiment, "This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to deliver top-notch entrepreneurial and experiential learning opportunities to students. When students lead and run every aspect of the cafe, it brings excitement to campus dining choices, and to the overall campus vibe. The concept and fun menu is also going to be another game-changer regarding student engagement. Food is life. It's one way we universally connect with each other. This will quickly become one of the busiest and favored campus hang-out locations on our campus at Montclair, run by our students and for our community."
The partnership was facilitated by New Jersey-based Gourmet Dining, Montclair's on-campus dining service provider, and is part of the multiple engaged learning programs that Gourmet continues to initiate on campus. "Gourmet Dining is a huge advocate of engaged learning and serving the community," says Anthony Frungillo, executive vice president of Gourmet Dining. "It is our goal to bring together great partners that can mutually benefit each other. In this case, Saxbys and Montclair were a perfect fit."
The campus community will be invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of the cafe, and this bustling new space will require a strong team of student leaders. To apply for the role, and to learn more about Saxbys' one-of-a-kind micro-credential badges and paid on-campus business leadership opportunities, visit hellosaxbys.com.
Montclair State University Contact: Andrew Mees
Phone: 973-655-3101
Email: meesa@montclair.edu
Saxbys Contact: Sajeda Virji
Phone: 484-506-8563
Email: sajedavirji@hellosaxbys.com
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About Saxbys: Saxbys is an education company disguised as a coffee company: a one-of-a-kind hospitality platform delivering coveted, career-launching outcomes for students and higher education partners. In 2015, Saxbys pioneered The Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform (The Saxbys E.L.P.), a network of cafes entirely designed for and run by college students. The Saxbys E.L.P. emboldens the next generation of changemakers by providing undergraduates with entrepreneurial opportunities, complementing classroom learning with tangible real-world experience. Founded in 2005 by Nick Bayer and headquartered in Philadelphia, Saxbys operates 28 cafes across eight states; 23 of which are part of The Saxbys E.L.P. network, and include Boston University, Georgia State University, Drexel University, Bowie State University, and an array of other incredible partners. Find the Saxbys location nearest you at hellosaxbys.com or follow @saxbys on Instagram.
About Montclair State University: Montclair State University is a research doctoral institution ranked in the top tier of national universities. Building on a distinguished history dating back to 1908, the University today has 13 colleges and schools that serve approximately 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctorial, masters, and baccalaureate programs. Situated on a beautiful, 252-acre suburban campus in Passaic and Essex Counties just 14 miles from New York City, Montclair State delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university in a supportive, sophisticated and diverse academic environment. Effective July 1, 2023, Bloomfield College has officially become part of Montclair and will be known as "Bloomfield College of Montclair State University."
About Gourmet Dining LLC: Gourmet Dining LLC is the premiere food service company for higher education institutions in New Jersey, delivering high quality custom dining solutions to Universities and Colleges, both large and small. A family-run company founded in 1987, Gourmet approaches each client as a part of the family, maintaining deep local roots and continuously evolving, long term partnerships. In 2014, Gourmet aligned with Compass Group North America, and functions as an autonomous unit under the Compass umbrella.
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