In a recent post, I noted that UMass Amherst did not fare particulary well in terms of national prestige in the latest magazine rankings. However, our Food & Dining Services operation recently won first place among large universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada. According to the news release, this competition included categories such as “variety of menu selections, including foods at the dining halls and other venues on campus, merchandising, presentation, marketing, nutritional soundness and overall impression.”

I guess that’s something to be proud of. I personally have never had food in the dorms but the dining choices in the Campus Center have always satisfied me. Now if we could only refocus that excellence on UMass Amherst’s academic mission . . .