Computer sales, dining changes eyed

University officials are contemplating changes in Computer Sales and in the management of Dining Services for the 1998-99 academic year.

Computer Sales

The University is considering closing the computer stores at the Medical Center and in Fauver Stadium this summer.

"Computers have increasingly become commodity items, available through a wide range of outlets. Many students arrive on campus with computers, and those who wish to buy them after they arrive can do so most economically by ordering them from off-campus sources," said Richard Miller, senior vice president and chief operating officer.

"It is becoming more and more difficult to offer computers for sale on campus at competitive prices without our incurring a financial loss."

To ensure that appropriate resources remain available to the University community, the concept is under review with the Executive Computing Committee and The College Teaching and Learning Roundtable.

If the stores were closed, the Barnes & Noble Bookstores on the River Campus, at the Medical Center, and at the Eastman School would increase their product lines of computer accessories and software. Departments that have acquired computers and related equipment from campus computer stores would be able to do so in the future through normal University procurement systems. Students needing assistance in computer purchasing decisions could consult the University Computing Center.

Dining Services

UPDATE: Dining Services Decision Announced 5/4/98

To satisfy changing desires of students, faculty, and staff, over the past several years Dining Services has increased menu choices and expanded the number of sites and open hours. The Meliora, Danforth Dining Center, Douglass Dining Center, Wilson Commons, and Eastman Commons Dining Center all have taken part in this effort.

Despite substantial program modifications in 1997-98, however, operational difficulties and customer dissatisfaction remain, Miller said. In addition, "it has been difficult to make reliable predictions of financial performance, which are necessary in order to plan expenditures for other campus programs."

The University has resumed discussions with three of the four firms that submitted bids to provide dining management services a year ago. Aramark, Bon Appetit, and Marriott submitted detailed proposals, conducted focus groups, and made presentations to students, faculty, and staff.

At the time, the University concluded that "self-operation" still seemed to be the best course, Miller said, "although we recognized that any one of the potential vendors could have met our needs and had done so on many campuses like ours across the country."

Selection of an off-campus partner, to be completed shortly, will be based on:

• the ability of the firm to meet the University community's expectations for food quality and variety,
• confidence that the new partner will operate within predictable financial parameters,
• assurance that there will be ample job opportunities for students, as there are now,
• assurance that hourly employees covered by the University's labor agreement with Local 1199 will continue as University employees under that contract, and
• assurance that salaried managers will have the opportunity to continue as employees of the University or within the vendor's organization.

Regardless of the dining management decision, next year the kosher deli in Wilson Commons will move to Douglass Dining Center to make way for a grill, and student dining plans previously announced for next year will remain in effect.

The entire University community will be involved with any selected vendor in considering program modifications for the 1999-2000 academic year, Miller said.

"We appreciate the feedback--positive and negative--we have received from a number of groups, including the Student Senate and Residential College Commission, and from individuals over the past year," Miller said. "We will be working expeditiously to improve the services now offered."