Ramadan and Halal Dining at Smith

For many Muslims, adhering to halal dietary practices is an important part of their faith, culture and daily life. Smith College provides halal meals in designated dining areas, ensuring meals are prepared in accordance with halal dietary practices. Meats served in those areas are halal certified. Dining Services is committed to offering meals that meet halal standards. Having access to halal dining on campus allows Muslim students to feel comfortable, supported and respected in their dietary choices. The college values transparency and continually strives to improve its halal dining offerings based on student feedback. This approach enables students to make informed choices based on their dietary preferences and requirements. If you have any specific questions or need more information about halal dining at Smith College, please feel free to contact Dining Services.

Academic Year

  • All meats during the academic year served in Cutter/Ziskind and Lamont including beef, chicken, lamb, deli selections, and breakfast meat are halal. All chicken tenders are halal at Cutter/Ziskind but not at other dining rooms.
  • The Cutter/Ziskind kitchen is not certified halal by any third party.
  • Pork is never served in Cutter/Ziskind or Lamont during the academic year.
  • In May, when we serve meals for alum reunions, we do serve alcohol and may serve pork products at Cutter/Ziskind. For Commencement brunch we do revert back to Halal only.
  • While the meat served in Cutter/Ziskind is halal, there may be other products served in the dining room that are not considered halal e.g. vinegars, marshmallows, desserts.
  • All fresh chicken (except for chicken tenders/nuggets) served in all dining rooms is halal. Only Cutter/Ziskind offers halal chicken tenders. 

Please note: Except for Cutter/Ziskind and Lamont all of our facilities serve some meals cooked with pork and alcohol. Meat served in Cutter/Ziskind is halal. 

Ramadan

  • Ramadan meals along with halal meat including breakfast food will be prepared and served from Cutter/Ziskind throughout the month of Ramadan (February 28-March 29, 2025).
  • Food for Suhur (dawn meals) are available for pick up during standard dinner hours in the glassed room off Ziskind dining room.
  • Students can request to opt out of the meal plan during the month of Ramadan to satisfy their own meal requirements. Please email Patty Hentz, Director of Residential Dining, at phentz@smith.edu.

Summer

Tuesday, May 26–August

  • Plans for summer meals are being developed and will be shared soon. 
  • All meats/chicken will be halal throughout the summer. 
  • No pork products will be served.

Year-round

If you have any questions about Halal meat, require additional cooking time for Halal meat(s), or want to inquire about food ingredients, please speak with the chef on duty or a dining staff member.

  • Halal chicken is available at the Campus Center Café and can be cooked in a separate pan upon request. If requested a separate pan can also be used for cooking eggs or sandwiches.
  • If you are attending a catered event on campus, we encourage you to ask the event organizer to request a halal dietary accommodation for you. Please note: Catering kitchens on campus also prepare foods with alcohol and pork.
  • Dining Services and The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life websites have information about religious and dietary accommodations.

Orientation

  • During orientation period halal meat is available to groups whose coordinators submit dietary accommodation requests to Dining Services. Please ask your program coordinator to request a halal dietary accommodation regardless of where you are assigned to dine. This helps with accurate counts and to avoid long waits.

If you have any questions about halal meat, require additional cooking time for halal meat(s), or want to inquire about food ingredients, please speak with the chef on duty or a dining staff member.

For More Information

Rick Rubin, Dining Manager at rrubin@smith.edu or 413-585-2318

Kim Alston, Muslim Student Advisor at kalston@smith.edu or 413-585-2753

Updated: January 2025