Why Saint Louis University Connects Dining Investment to Student Retention

How do you make the case for a major dining or auxiliary services investment to a skeptical administration? For Ben Perlman at Saint Louis University, the answer starts with retention. In this episode of Thought Leaders in Foodservice, Envision Strategies' Sojo Alex sits down with Ben to explore the connection between auxiliary services, student belonging, and enrollment outcomes. Ben argues that students rarely leave because of academics: they leave because they don't feel like they're part of a community. And dining, he says, is one of the most direct ways a campus can signal to students that they belong. The conversation also touches on SLU's current campus life facilities master plan, the volatility of international graduate enrollment, and how AI is reshaping the programs students want to pursue. It's a strategic perspective on dining investment that goes well beyond food costs and meal plan participation.