What better way to get alums back on campus for a visit?

San Jose State University has opened the South Bay’s first Steak ’n Shake — that’s the Midwest’s cult-favorite equivalent of In-N-Out Burger — in the Student Union food court.

The franchise is up and running ahead of the Steak ’n Shake now under construction in Campbell.

At SJSU, the seared-on-the-grill hits include the Original Double Cheese, Signature Steakburger (6 ounces), Frisco Melt (two burgers with Swiss and American cheeses and “sweet ‘n tangy” Frisco sauce on grilled sourdough), foot-long hot dog and grilled chicken sandwich. The chain’s thin, crispy fries and chili are available as sides. Breakfast biscuits and more are offered from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

And the student employees are whirling not just the classic shakes, but also Nutella, Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Cup variations. The in-house specialty is the Butterfinger-Spartan Shake.

Spartan Shops, which runs the franchise, chose a summertime opening in order to get employees trained and up to speed before the fall semester rush of student and faculty customers.

However, this being a public university, “anyone is welcome to come and dine on our campus,” now and during the school year, said Stephanie Fabian, director of marketing for Spartan Shops.

That applies not just to Steak ’n Shake but also to the 10 other restaurants. The culinary team at Spartan Shops runs a number of their own trendy concepts:

— Smokin’ Sammy’s (that’s Sammy as in Sammy Spartan, the SJSU mascot) was added a year ago after a survey determined that students wanted barbecue on campus, Fabian said. Pulled pork, brisket, tri-tip and links are smoked onsite and available with house-made greens, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw or corn salad. (Yeah, we know what you’re thinking: Where were the irresistible smoked meats when we were slogging through four years at State?)

— The Waffle Coop for chicken and waffles, including a waffle cone filled with chicken strips that’s easy to eat while racing across campus.

— In the Mix restaurant, with Caesar, Tex Mex, Spinach and Chinese Chicken salads served in boxes made from recycled plastic bottles. The Sparta Salad goes Greek, naturally, with chicken, romaine, kalamata olives, tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers tossed in a tzatziki dressing.

— Bricks Pizza, offering both slices and personal-sized versions with Chicken Bacon Florentine, Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian, Spinach Dip, Vegetable, Pepperoni and Spicy Spartan Sausage toppings.

The other eateries at the Union Square food court include an outpost of the Sunnyvale-headquartered Le Boulanger, with its soups, sandwiches and salads; plus franchises Panda Express, Subway, Taco Bell, Jamba Juice and Starbucks.

About half the Food Court restaurants are open all summer long on weekdays; the full array will reopen for longer hours when students return to class Aug. 23. During summer, the new Steak ’n Shake is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, as is Waffle Coop. Bricks and In the Mix are open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. Smokin’ Sammy’s and Le Boulanger are closed for the summer.

Although members of the public have to find appropriate parking off-campus in order to eat on campus, there’s a feel-good reason for doing so: Your business helps support the more than 700 students who are employed by Spartan Shops, which offers work schedules that take into account class, study, midterm and final schedules.

Find other hours, menus and more at www.spartanshops.com/unionsquare/.