With the establishment of the new Aramark Fresh Food Company, set to be complete in the fall of 2015, meal and block time flexibility will increase based on student input.
In light of the new food establishment, Bill Broyles, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, said there would be some considerations made about the concern of dining time slots by students.
“We have found that it is best to give the customer what they want. So, if that means opening up the food establishments at an earlier time, then that will definitely be looked into,” Broyles said. “We will have a lot more options. This is not another Perry Cafeteria. The food will be prepared differently, the way that it is presented will be different and the staff will be different. When we open the new place, we will have a lot more flexibility to respond to customer needs, such as opening earlier.”
Some Mississippi State University students question the sufficiency of block meal times and desire flexibility within the time schedule for dining, while others are content with dining hours.
Meal plan holders are allowed to use block meals twice a day at a $6 retail value at various locations across campus. Some of the main choices for dining here at Mississippi State University include the Colvard Student Union, Marketplace at Perry and Templeton Real Food Cafeteria. The Perry Cafeteria and the Templeton both offer unlimited buffet-style meals.
Broyles said in the seven years of operation with Aramark at Perry Cafeteria, there has never been a reported complaint about the time and schedules of block meals.
“Just as it takes a large amount of student participation to keep these places running, it takes an enormous amount of staff and supplies to initially open these establishments,” Broyles said. “The staff members and supplies would have to be increased in order to make the opening time earlier.”
The Perry cafeteria opens at 7 a.m. on the weekdays and at 10:30 a.m. on the weekends. Students may use two block meals per day at these cafeterias for a value of $6. However, some students feel that block meal times do not start early enough.
Shelby Nickol, freshman broadcasting major, said earlier block meal times would present her with a more convenient schedule for the day.
“I would like to be able to go and eat my breakfast at the Perry before I go to work out in the mornings at 7,” Nickol said. “It would definitely help to ease my schedule in the mornings.”
Hayden Austin, freshman golf management major, said block meal times are sufficient.times are fair as they are,” Austin said. “I do enjoy eating breakfast at the cafeteria, but I eat around 7:30, which is plenty of time to get in a meal before my 8 a.m.”
Broyles said the opinions of students are highly valued, and MSU strives to meet the needs of students.
Categories:
New cafeteria presents flexible meal hours
Abby Adcock
•
April 11, 2014
0
More to Discover