Destinee Marking
Senior writer
[email protected]
Since the decision to outsource Dining Services was finalized in June, the campus community has waited to hear what company would become Murray State’s new culinary mainstay.
The wait is over as the Board of Regents Subcommittee on Dining Services met Monday, Oct. 8 to approve a new dining services contract with Sodexo.
According to its website, Sodexo is a food services and facilities management company committed to enhancing organizational performance and improving quality of life.
The contract will take effect Dec. 17, 2018 and expire in June 2029.
David Looney, executive director of auxiliary services, outlined the contract during the meeting.
The details of the contract discussed during the meeting include:
- A clause that allows termination of the contract with a 90-day notice.
- Sodexo has exclusivity to catering in the Curris Center and Winslow Dining Hall.
- Murray State continues to retain the rights to approve meal plan prices and hours of operation.
- Buildings and equipment will continue to be property of the University.
- Sodexo will provide a maintenance and repair budget, proposing $1.6 million over the span of the next 10.5 years.
- Sodexo will provide the University with nearly $590 thousand over the span of 10 years in “meal plan scholarships.” The contract does not specify how the University must allocate these funds.
- Current Dining Service employees’ employment will be terminated Dec. 14. They have the option to apply to be employed by Sodexo. Beginning Dec. 15, they will be paid by Sodexo.
Looney said the proposed changes to take place within the next year and a half include refreshing Thoroughbred Room, Winslow Dining Hall, Fast Track and concessions. Sodexo also wants to bring Einstein Bagels and a Starbucks to campus, but it is under discussion.
By the 2021 fiscal year, Looney said Sodexo has expressed they would like to bring Chick-fil-A to campus. Other projects include a micro market and more Winslow and Thoroughbred Room renovations.
Interim President Bob Jackson said this decision will be beneficial to the University in numerous ways.
“At the end of the day, with our approval, this would help Murray State University in the areas of student recruitment,” Jackson said. “It will help us in the area of student retention. Having many name-brand options in this area will be very helpful to us.”
J.T. Payne, Student Government Association president and student regent, said since being on the Board of Regents, he has not supported anything more confidently than this.
“I think it’s huge for students that are already here,” Payne said. “I think it’s going to be a huge recruiting tool. And the main thing that I really love, and that I think we have to look at is there is a significant amount of capital investment that this company is going to do for us. To be exact – 9.3 million dollars throughout the 10-year contract.”
Payne said he understands Sodexo taking over Dining Services may raise some concerns among students, but he believes the company will consider student opinions.
“Sodexo, or any company that would have come in, they are going to do things that wow students and that students love,” Payne said. “They’re going to listen to students because if students are happy and students like the dining options, they’re going to buy more.”
As Murray State is the last public institution in Kentucky to outsource Dining Services, Payne said this has been a long time coming and something that needs to happen.
Including Murray State, Sodexo provides services to six colleges and universities in the state of Kentucky.
