Chartwells, which serves more than 320 colleges nationwide, including Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences since 2010, will become the shared dining services vendor for Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences beginning July 2026. The 10-year contract will continue when ACPHS and Russell Sage merge for fall 2027 to become Russell Sage University, pending final regulatory approvals.

Russell Sage had partnered with Sodexo for 30 years to provide dining services on its campuses in Albany and Troy, New York. Chartwells was selected among multiple proposals after a review process that included students and employees from both Russell Sage and ACPHS.

“Food is an important part of our daily lives, brings us joy, and literally fuels our learning every day,” said Russell Sage President Matthew Shaftel. “We welcome Chartwells as our new dining services provider and are excited about combining services with ACPHS as a big step in our merger process toward Russell Sage University.”

While details, including meal plan options and cost, will be shared in May after further negotiations, planned enhancements include regular access to popular options, such as sushi, boba tea, dumplings, and the Halal Shack, greater use of technology, a focus on nutrition and sports performance, and resident dining plans designed to meet student needs. Other enhancements include employee meal plan options, temperature-controlled food lockers for pick-up orders, and a food truck for special events.

Dining services will continue in the McKinstry Dining Hall in Troy, while Albany dining services will be offered at the dining facility in the ACPHS Gozzo Student Center. Smaller-scale food options will still be available at Russell Sage’s Buchman Pavilion in Troy and Kahl Campus Center in Albany. Centering the main dining facility in Albany at ACPHS gives Russell Sage students access to a complete Albany dining experience, with a variety of offerings and ample seating for casual dining. As always, students will be able to use their dining plans in any dining facility across our campuses.  

“Chartwells demonstrated a clear understanding of our community’s needs and a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and student satisfaction,” said Trish Cellemme, vice president for student life at Russell Sage.

Chartwells has shared that dining associates will have the opportunity to join the Chartwells team with pay and benefits equal to, or better than, what they receive today. Chartwells team members will be on campus in the coming weeks to discuss next steps.

“Our dining associates have been an integral part of the Sage family for three decades, and we hope these important relationships will continue even as we move forward with Chartwells,” Shaftel said. “Sodexo and their dedicated employees deserve our thanks for their service and the many relationships they’ve formed with students and our entire college community.”

FAQs

Although Chartwells has been selected as our dining services vendor, we are still negotiating the details of the contract. We will share plan options and costs with students and employees as early as possible in May.

Dining plan requirements based on housing selections will not change, though please note that beginning in fall 2026, new students choosing on-campus housing are required to remain on campus for three years (up from two years previously). This applies to new students at both ACPHS and Russell Sage.

Pricing information will be available in May. Our goal is to keep the plans as affordable as possible for students.

Chartwells has shared that all dining associates will have the opportunity to join the Chartwells team with pay and benefits equal to, or better than, what they receive today. Chartwells team members will be on campus in the coming weeks to discuss next steps.

Details about the dining offerings are still being negotiated and will be announced in May; however, we know that McKinstry will remain an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility.

Food options that are less robust than at the dining facility in the ACPHS Gozzo Student Center and McKinstry at Russell Sage’s Troy campus will still be available in Kahl Campus Center on Russell Sage’s Albany campus and Buchman Pavilion on Russell Sage’s Troy campus. The coffee areas in the library on Russell Sage’s Troy and Albany campuses are still under negotiation.

Although the contract details are still being negotiated, we anticipate offerings at the dining facility in the ACPHS Gozzo Student Center will look similar to what they are now.

Summer food service is still being discussed as we work out the contract details. More information will be available as early as possible in May.