Aramark to revamp campus food service

Major changes are coming this fall with regard to the way Northwest Missouri State University provides meals to students and faculty members who dine on campus.

During Friday's regular session of the Northwest Board of Regents, the university's governing panel awarded a new competitively bid contract to Aramark Educational Services, which serves as the school's dining, vending and catering vendor.

Aramark will now continue as the university's food services provider for the next five years with an option for a five-year renewal. Chartwells, another large national corporation specializing in institutional food service, was the only other bidder.

As part of the new deal, Aramark and the university have agreed to revamp both the food court on the lower level of the J.W. Jones Student Union and the way in which students pay for their meals.

For years, students who eat on campus have begun each term with a declining-balance account from which meal costs are deducted throughout the semester. Since the food court, which serves as the campus' main dining facility, operates on an à la carte basis, those who purchase seconds or buy more expensive meals run the risk of zeroing out their accounts.

Starting in fall 2013, however, all meal costs will be included in the standard room-and-board fee, meaning, according to Vice President for Student Affairs Matt Baker, that students will be able to eat as much as they want whenever they want.

Baker said Northwest's current declining balance system is atypical of most colleges and universities and creates a number of disadvantages. For one thing, he said, nutritious offerings at the various food court stations often cost more than junk food.

Too many students, he said, may be passing up on salads and other healthy fare in favor of burgers and fries in order to save a couple of bucks.

"Now, if they want to, students will be able to go into the food court ten times a day and say, 'I want an orange' or 'I want a cookie,'" Baker said.

Other food court changes will include expanded hours. Stations are currently open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and offer limited service over the weekend. When students return to class in the fall, the dining area will offer full service from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. seven days a week.

Baker said Aramark is also planning an $8.5 million food court renovation over the summer plus installation of other dining options at various campus locations.

These are to include an Einstein Bros. bagel shop, a Red Mango frozen yogurt concession and a Chick-fil-A store on the second floor of the union. There will also be a Starbucks Coffee shop in the B.D. Owens Library and a Papa John's Pizza restaurant in The Station, a student lounge and meeting facility on the north side of campus.

Students who opt to do so will be able to set up a declining balance account to pay for food and beverages purchased from the franchise counters, which will also accept cash and credit cards.

Baker said the renovations and additions will be paid for with revenue generated from food sales, and that room-and-board fees will increase by a projected 2 percent during the 2013-2014 school year.

All campus dining facilities, including the food court, are open to the public as well as Northwest students and staff.