Benedict College pledges to increase plant-based menu offerings.

Benedict College is working with its food service contractor, Perkins Management Services, to increase plant-based menu offerings by 5% through 2024.

The partnership with Charlotte-based Perkins Management, which has signed the Forward Food Pledge, will make Benedict the first Historically Black College and University in the country to make such a commitment, according to a news release from the Columbia school.

"Benedict College is always seeking innovative and healthy ways to improve its food service program for students, faculty, staff, and guests," Benedict president and CEO Roslyn Clark Artis said in the release. "As a transformative college, we support plant-based culinary cuisine as a new food option."

As part of the initiative, Benedict is launching Meatless Monday in conjunction with Columbia-based nonprofit Let's...