In March Hopkins students will begin to see campus-wide changes in dining take effect as part of the University's "Dining Vision" program.
The program, initiated in Fall 2004 to improve students' dining experiences, came in response to the Commission on Undergraduate Education (CUE) reports, which cited poor student response to on-campus food, and the need for a sense of community as reasons to improve food quality and service.
For years, Hopkins has earned a place on The Princeton Review's "Is This Food?" list. The list, compiled annually, is based on students' ratings of campus food. The University, currently ranked 11th worst, aims to make great changes with hopes of a "Best Campus Food" ranking in the top ten by 2008 and top five by 2010.
"We are all in agreement that dining on this campus is not where we want it to be. c9 We are absolutely determined to exponentially improve dining services," said David Furhman, director of dining programs. The Housing and Dining Service's "Dining Vision" is a "roadmap of where we want to take dining," he said.
To identify areas for improvement, University officials visited 12 institutions deemed to be among the best in dining. Although all 12 programs were very different in terms of size, location and student life, seven key similarities were found that were instrumental in the formation of the current action plan. These include strong support from administrators, a direct correlation between investment level and quality, culinary expertise, outstanding customer service, focused and streamlined programs, updated and contemporary facilities and viewing dining as an opportunity to weave social and academic life.
With these goals in mind, the "Dining Vision" intends to make dining a top priority for the University by implementing many dramatic changes to the existing programs available to students.
The changes include a renovated Terrace Court Cafe and the closing of Wolman Station. The updates at Terrace will transform it into a more contemporary dining facility, pro-
viding a nicer dining setting for students. Wolman Station will be transformed into an expanded and innovative grocery store named the "C-Store" at which students will be able to shop for groceries, meals and other items.
Charles Commons will serve as another main dining facility on campus which will feature contemporary, innovative menus.
A private dining area, fireplaces and couches are among some of the features administrators hope will hopefully spark socializing and further integrate student dining with student activities.
Terrace and Charles Commons are expected to open in Fall 2006, while the C-Store will debut in November or December 2006.
Levering and MegaBYTES will also be renovated slightly.
Sodexho's five-year contract will terminate at the end of this academic year. This fall, Housing and Dining Services sent a qualitatively focused request for proposals to food service providers.
From specific brand name foods to certified bakers, interested companies that respond to the request have to meet more stringent demands than in the past.
Furhman says the Housing and Dining Services Office has "received many exciting proposals," and remarks that this change from previous dining policies "represents the renaissance that will be dining on this campus in the future."
In early April an independent selection committee comprised of students and staff members will choose from among the five proposals selected. One of the proposals comes from Sodexho.
Students will also have new meal plans to choose from for the next school year. Freshmen will be able to choose from plans providing 14 or 19 meals per week, but sophomores living in residence halls will have many more choices, including plans that are entirely composed of "dining dollars," which will take the place of the "points" system currently in place.
Sophomore Amanda Klein thought the new "Dining Vision" will bring welcome changes.
"I am definitely looking forward to the possibility of a new food provider; I think that'll be a nice change for everyone. I think that the points meal plan is a good idea too because I hate having so many wasted blocks at the end of the semesters," she said.
Junior Christina Shum said she was excited about the new dining proposal. "It seems that the University is really serious about making big changes on campus, and I can't wait to see what they are going to turn out like," she said.
"I am also excited to see how much the food improves."
Other students, such as senior Christopher Kovalchick, feel the new dining proposal is too little, too late.
"It's nice to see they are finally improving dining on campus, but it doesn't really affect me since I will be leaving. When I was a freshman, the dining plans were awful; sometimes I only went once a week. I just wish that our complaints were acted upon sooner," he said.
Beginning Mar. 17, Terrace will be closed for extensive renovation and remodeling into a more contemporary facility.
"You won't even recognize it," remarked Furhman.
In the meantime, seating will be expanded in Wolman Station to make room for students who would have otherwise dined at Terrace. A heated tent with walls will be constructed over the patio to allow dining during inclement weather, and food will be served continuously from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to allow for the greater number of dining students.
