After a year off, a committee on food service at Olivet is making a comeback this semester.
The 12 students appointed by the Associated Student Council will have a chance to offer feedback on all areas of Sodexo food services on campus, said Woody Webb, vice president for student development.
“Food service is important to our students and to the university,” Webb said. “We want to know how students feel about their experience and how we might improve our service.”
The Food Service Committee provides Sodexo general manager Ed Daugherty with another opportunity to solicit student feedback, in addition to surveys.
“If I’m not listening to the students, then I’m not going to be successful,” Daugherty said.
Daugherty first arrived at Olivet in spring 2008 - the last semester that the food committee met. He said his arrival was on the heels of a rough stretch for food service at Olivet.
“There were some problems with the former GM—and not just that, [there were problems with] the food program in general,” Daugherty said. “There were a lot of people who had thoughts on how it can be improved.”
Interest in the food committee in spring 2008 declined, Daugherty said, as Sodexo addressed the problems.
He also said the committee did not meet last year because he was busy in his first full year on the job.
“We kept talking about getting one going, but we just never got it off the ground,” Daugherty said. “Now that ... I’m in my second year, I think it’s important that I continue to get feedback from students [and] experience what they experience.”
The committee will start up again later this month, with its first meeting to be held on Friday, Oct. 16. Those attending the meeting will include Webb, Daughtery or another Sodexo manager, two resident directors, Kendall Cramer (student supervisor for Sodexo) and 12 appointed students.
At the meetings, Webb said, students “will be encouraged” to discuss their experiences with Sodexo as well as that of their friends.
The committee “provides a formal and consistent means for students to provide feedback both positive and constructive,” Webb said.