George Mason Dining has vetted a select list of catering businesses to serve food and beverages at the university premises. All caterers have passed our initial screening with appropriate business permits, food and safety standards, and insurance to ensure the safety and quality of food at university events. Follow the guide below for the catering process at Mason Square.
Help us to keep our community safe. George Mason entities should follow procedures and university policies regarding handling food and beverages during an event within the university premises. To help our campus partner plan a successful event on campus, please use the resources below to prepare for your catering events.
Event organizer submit an event space reservation via 25Live before proceeding. Event coordinators will provide support for external client requests.
Event organizer select food vendors from the approved caterer list. To nominate a vendor to become an approved caterer, expect the approval process to take 4-6 weeks after receiving all required information and documents.
Selected caterer reserve the appropriate pantry for the event, choose from the FUSE or Van Metre location.
Please adhere to the procedures and guidelines, such as food safety, distribution, sustainability practices, allergen disclaimers, and pantry reservation policy.
The pantry space at Mason Square is a commercial-grade, licensed food prep space exclusively available to approved catering partners. Designed to support catered events at Mason Square, the pantry enables on-site food preparation and serving, elevating your guests’ event experience to a higher level.
Disclaimer: Please be advised that this list of Approved Licensed Caterers is subject to change throughout the year. Contracts between George Mason and the off-campus caterers expire annually in June. In addition, certificates, permits, licenses, and other necessary documentation may expire prior to your planned event(s). Auxiliary and Business Services (ABS) cannot guarantee the approval status of any listed caterers at the time of your event. The off-campus caterer is responsible for ensuring that all the required documentation is valid and up to date to be listed as an Approved Licensed Caterer. ABS recommends that you verify the current approval status of your chosen caterer(s) closer to the event date to ensure compliance with all necessary documentation. You can email [email protected] or call 703-993-2840 to confirm the status of your preferred caterer.
Don’t see your preferred caterer on the list? Encourage a caterer to apply for the Approved Caterer status (Processing Time: 4-6 weeks)
Food Truck on Campus: Food truck events must be reviewed and approved. Please complete the Food Trucks on Campus Request Form for processing.
We recommend that you check the approved caterer list first to find a caterer that has done business with George Mason entities.
If you prefer a catering company that is not currently on the list, the company must first apply to become an approved caterer. Application approval is on a case-by-case basis. Failure to receive the proper caterer status can result in a delayed or failed payment.
Auxiliary & Business Services
[email protected]
703-993-2840
Businesses interested in providing George Mason catering/food services must complete the approved caterer process. This process typically takes about 4-6 weeks.
Not providing the required documents is the primary cause of delay in the approval process. George Mason event organizers should work with their desired vendors to ensure their applications are submitted in advance.
Current George Mason-approved caterers who are interested in catering at the FUSE building, please follow the instructions below:
Any food and/or beverages sold or passed out cannot conflict or compete with the university’s exclusive contracts, including but not limited to Coca-Cola, Canteen Vending, Chartwells, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Panda Express, and Manhattan Pizza. Contact Auxiliary Services & Operations at [email protected] or 703-993-2840 for additional details.
All campus events can only supply Coca-Cola beverages per the pouring rights agreement. See the full list of Coca-Cola products here.
Using non-Mason-approved caterers incurs the risk of food safety and contamination from common allergens. When sourcing food outside of the approved caterer list, event organizers are required to present the Non-Approved Caterer and Allergy signage (PDF) on each table where food and/or beverages are displayed.
All university events that serve food and beverages must adhere to the food safety standards outlined in the Virginia Department of Health Food Safety Basics. The event organizer must designate an onsite staff member as a contact to oversee food safety standards during the event, and the food safety basics must be reviewed and readily available at the event as a reference.
Approved caterers must follow George Mason’s sustainability guidelines, which prohibit selling, providing, or distributing the following items on George Mason premises:
Approved Caterers Process
[email protected]
703-993-2840
Pantry Reservation/ Report an Issue
[email protected]
703-993-2095
Mason Square Event Reservation
[email protected]
703-993-2095
Yes. State funds cannot be used (per Fiscal policy) and we recommend using Mason Catering as your caterer if you will be serving alcohol. Entities serving alcohol must be an Approved Caterer with a liquor license.
If you’re serving alcohol at an undergraduate event you must submit the Staffing Form. All other events can contact Police and Public Safety for a quick consultation to determine if a police presence is necessary for your event.
Yes, pre-packaged items can be purchased from an Authorized Food Provider and distributed. Vendors do not need to apply to become an approved caterer for this.
The responsibility for safe food handling falls on the individual who is distributing food on campus, whether it is a caterer, Mason faculty, staff, or student. Please follow food safety guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health’s Food Safety Basics website.
A caterer is an entity that provides catering. A caterer, by definition, must control the entire food and/or drink process from start to finish (storage, preparation, cooking, delivery, and distribution). If the process is not continuous (examples: grocery store purchases, pizza, and similar delivery services), they are considered an Authorized Food Provider. Only caterers that are on the Approved Caterer List at the time of the order or activity may provide catering for on-campus activities.
An Authorized Food Provider is a commercially licensed business where prepared food and/or beverage is packaged and available for take-away consumption, including but not limited to a grocery store, supermarket, restaurant, drive-thru, cafe, coffee shop, snack shop, convenience store, or similar fixed place. A food provider differs from a caterer in that the food provider does not distribute food to the customer for consumption. All food and/or drink must be provided in their final form from the food provider (raw materials cannot be combined, mixed, or cooked to make different products) for distribution. The event/activity organizer is responsible for ensuring all standard food handling safety protocols are followed. Please follow food safety guidelines from the Virginia Department of Health’s Food Safety Basics website.
Please follow the directions on the Become an Approved Caterer webpage. Note the process can take 2-4 weeks. If your event is less than two weeks away, please consider using an existing Approved Caterer.
Per Virginia regulations, live animals may not be allowed on the premises of a food establishment, with the exception of service animals. For more information on animals on campus, please review University Policy 1402.