Dining Services

Sharing food is an important element for building a cohesive community.

This principle has guided the work of Dining and Auxiliary Services in their partnership to support the delivery of catering services to Haverford College. Balancing staffing availability with the need to prioritize student meal plan requirements, the framework provides multiple food service options for event planners to choose from.

Catering Policy

Financial and risk management considerations require that all catering requests equal to or exceeding $300 be directed to Auxiliary Services (via EMS), which maintains the College’s right of first refusal in responding to those requests. Also as a matter of liability concerns, no food from outside sources may be served or consumed at events or meetings taking place in the Dining Center. Additionally, before ordering food/beverages from any outside vendor, purchasers must ensure that the College has an active Certificate of Insurance (COI) on file for that vendor. View a list of active COIs or email hc-events [at] haverford.edu. If the vendor is not listed, it is the responsibility of the individual ordering from an outside vendor to obtain a valid COI with Haverford College as a named certificate holder and provide that document to the Office of Auxiliary and Administrative Services to keep on file.

If individuals plan to use an outside vendor for catering orders exceeding $300, they must first receive permission from Haverford College's catering manager and complete a Request for Off Site Catering waiver. When that waiver is complete and signed by the catering manager, the waiver must be attached with the receipts submitted to the Controller's Office.

For events exceeding $300, Haverford College will not approve using outside vendors to cater an event unless the catering team is not available to cater or the catering team is not able to provide the religious and/or cultural food that is necessary for the success of an event.

Steps to Follow to Request Catering (faculty & staff)

1. Book Space in EMS
2. Request Catering Service Order in EMS
3. Choose catering items from the catering menu. If you have any questions/concerns with menu items, please contact jboock [at] haverford.edu (Jennifer Boock) and include your reservation number in your email.
4. You are all set. If the catering team has any questions or concerns about your order, our Catering Manager will connect you to discuss.

Student Events Catering (students)

1. Confirm Budget with Students’ Council
2. Book Space in EMS
3. Email hc-studentcatering [at] haverford.edu to request catering for your event. Please include your reservation number, budget, time of your event, menu ideas you are looking at having and number of guests when you reach out.