Catering

Requests for catering services must be made through KSU Hospitality Services or one of the three contracted companies. Please follow the steps outlined below to plan your event. 

1. Please visit reservations.kennesaw.edu to book your event space on campus through the EMS Client Portal. If assess to the EMS Reservation portal is unavailable the Hospitality Services Catering Request Form should be submitted. Please be advised an event reservation number is required and can be obtained by contacting Event Management Services at events@kennesaw.edu.
2. The KSU Hospitality Services catering menu is displayed after a location for your event has been selected. Upon review of your request, a confirmation/quote for services will be forwarded to the requesting party. 
3. If utilizing state funds, complete the Food Approval Form. If Foundation funds are the source of payment, proceed to the next step. Please indicate your funding method to the caterer.
4. Upon receiving approval, from the department lead, an email response to KSU Catering is required to confirm services. Approval and conformation is required no less than 7 days prior to your event.
5. You are responsible for processing all resulting invoices and ensuring timely payment to the caterer.  

For services provided by KSU Hospitality Services, orders should be placed via reservations.kennesaw.edu (EMS Portal) or via the Hospitality Services Catering Request form is the EMS Portal is not available for your event.

We recommend that you book your event at least two weeks in advance. Menu and service details must be submitted seven business days prior to the date of the event. All cancellations must be received no less than 5 business days prior to the event. Cancellations received 3 days or less will incur a penalty of 50% of the subtotal. Cancellations received 24 hours or less will incur a penalty of 100% of the subtotal.  Cancelations due to University closures will not incur a penalty.

Should Hospitality Services or the three contracted caterers be unavailable to perform the services you request due to high volume of confirmed KSU bookings or if they are unable to accommodate a specific menu for cultural or dietary requirement, you may submit the Secondary External Caterer Request Form to request a caterer of your choosing via external caterer exemption process. 

To ensure appropriate safety and sanitation practices are followed, the use of secondary external catering providers requires University Dining approval prior to confirming services with the requested caterer.  When submitting the Secondary External Catering Request Form, please ensure a copy of the catering quote and the supporting documents are submitted 10 business days before the scheduled event. If you are unable to upload supporting documents to the form, please forward these to ksucatering@kennesaw.edu. All requests are based on the approval or denial of University Dining Director and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Licensing and insurance are required by law, and it’s our responsibility to do our due diligence to ensure that food is safe for our guests to consume. Even if external caterers have previously provided service on KSU premises, that does not legitimize a legal precedent for food safety on repeat business.

Due to health regulations, leftovers cannot be removed from any event space, for any reason. While onsite, all contracted caterers ensure that food is temperature-controlled and served in safe conditions. When guests take food, the shift in the environment puts guests at risk of foodborne illnesses. This policy is strictly enforced. 

When departments, Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) or guests order and pay for food delivery or pick up, and the food is delivered for consumption within one hour of delivery time, it is considered drop‐off service.

Food must not require set up and/or on‐site service (e.g., chafers, heating sources, banquet attendants, servers, etc. and must be temperature controlled) to qualify as meal delivery or pick up. Food that requires temperature maintenance cannot be served as a delivery or pickup service; full catering must be acquired.

An example of acceptable items would be pizza or sandwich delivery, food from a fast-food vendor, and prepackaged snacks, baked goods, or bottled beverages. An approval request is not necessary for food delivery or pick up; however submission of the Catering Services Confirmation Form, including quotes or order forms, is required.

Additionally, food trucks are exempt from the catering contract, however the Secondary Catering Request Form must be completed and pre-approved by University Dining.