WT Dining Hall to Unveil $3 Million Upgrade

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — The West Texas A&M University Dining Hall is on track to reopen next week following a $3 million upgrade.

The Caf, as it’s commonly known, boasts a completely redesigned layout with upgraded equipment, as well as an expanded menu offering personalized options at six entrée stations.

“We can’t wait to welcome our students, faculty and staff back to a dining experience that’s more vibrant and delicious than ever before,” said Michael Ives, WT’s Aramark food service director. “The Caf is an important space for the entire WT community, and we hope that these exciting changes will be well received by Buffs.”

Plans are in the works for a grand reopening celebration in the spring 2026 semester.

The entrée stations each feature state-of-the-art equipment designed to cook in smaller batches, ensuring fresher, higher-quality food. A standalone grill station will allow for shorter wait time, and the True Balance station, which provides meals free from the top nine allergens, is now fully separated to reduce cross-contamination, house-roasted meats and a dedicated rotisserie.

A new food lab and teaching kitchen allows chefs to offer culinary demonstrations for students, with rotating food concepts each semester, beginning with “Road Trip of America,” which showcases regional dishes. The teaching kitchen also will offer an expanded late-night menu.

Signature sandwiches selected by Chef Mike Berry will be available in a deli section, and cooked-to-order foods, including stir-fry entrées, will be available at an international station. Menus also are expanded.

Bubblers will offer lemonades and agua frescas in a newly updated beverage station.

Aramark Collegiate Hospitality operates the University’s food services.

Renovations began following the conclusion of the spring semester, with demolition of an old serving line, equipment, flooring and wall finishes. In the interim, food service has been conducted in the attached Alumni Banquet Hall.

Phase III of the cafeteria project is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026 and will include renovations to the upstairs dining space, the addition of an elevator and updates to the main entrance.

By the completion of the final phase, more than $6 million will have been invested in improvements and renovations for The Caf since 2024.

Providing welcoming environments and student-centered facilities are key principles of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Michael Ives, Aramark food service director for West Texas A&M University, oversees the addition of a new international station in the University Dining Hall. The Caf is scheduled to reopen next week following a $3 million upgrade.

—WT—