As the semester winds down, students living off dormitory food will have an opportunity to give feedback on their dining experience.

Sodexho Inc., the French-based food service company and exclusive caterer and cafeteria manager, uses an annual survey conducted by the university to gauge student opinions on rendered services. Arthur Scheuber, Vice President for Administration, said the average rating of cafeteria food usually ranges from “average to above average.”

“I would agree that we have been average,” said General Manager of University Dining Dan Auger. “The challenge is how to get better than average. I would hope that the work we have done over the summer shows an improvement with the scores.”

Auger said surveys for this semester are “getting ready to go out right now.”

Sodexho representatives attend student organization meetings to seek feedback and to provide students with updates. They also maintain comment boxes in all dining halls.
Erin Ruckoldt, a sophomore in the College of Communications, is the student meal coordinator at McCormick dining hall. She said comment boxes receive about five entries per day. Ruckoldt said one of the more frequently occurring requests is for a wider array of vegetarian and vegan options.

Patrick Roman, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said average to above average ratings reflect students’ opinions, though he said he hears more below-average opinions expressed than excellent ones.

“Most of the negative remarks I’ve heard have been made on the elevator or in the dorm wings. The general attitude I’ve seen while students are eating has not been unsatisfactory,” said Roman.

 Marquette has maintained a relationship for at least 20 years with Sodexho, a contract which predates the tenure of all administrators consulted on its longevity, and is guaranteed for at least another eight years.

When asked how much Marquette spends on Sodexho’s services per year, Scheuber said the matter was covered by a confidentiality agreement within the contract.
Cafeteria employees’ compensation is determined by Sodexho. Full-time employees are members of the Local 1 of Service Employees International Union.
Likewise, Marquette has an exclusive relationship with Pepsi, a contract negotiated separately from Sodexho.

Pepsi was given an exclusive contract with the university in 2002 after bidding and online polls of students, said Executive Director of Alumni Memorial Union and Auxiliary Services Todd Vicker. Though Vicker said the contract with Pepsi was “long term,” the exact terms of the contract are confidential. How much Marquette spends on Pepsi products each year is also confidential.

Vicker said the contract was exclusive because providing service at an institution of Marquette’s size requires a “very sizable” equipment investment so as to ensure profit on the company’s investment.

Popularity: 15% [?]