The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Hungry students look for more options

By Robert Carrasco

Is $6.99 too much for a salad? How about $5.49 for a sandwich wrap?

Advocating for the student body, Student Government Association president Allison Garcia  recently went to Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s administration to argue the campus’ cafe, managed by Chartwells, offers limited food options and might be too expensive for a low-income student body.

“I’m trying to change up the menu,” Garcia, who said that in the two years she’s attended the campus, the menu has changed very little.

SGA will press for an expanded menu and lower prices for the student body, Garcia said.

Earlier this semester,  she approached CFO Darrell Morrison about improving the menu and providing students better deals and discounts. To hear more, listen to JagCast, Episode 2 with Allison Garcia.

“A&M-San Antonio hired Morrison in the summer, so I let him get cozy, but then I set up a meeting with him,” Garcia said. “This was the first thing on my list, bringing down those food prices.”

Morrison explained he’ll work with student leadership and listen to students’ preferences to finding a way to improve services.

“I have had meetings with SGA leadership to discuss issues relating to food service on campus,” he said. He asked Chartwells to form a student committee in conjunction with SGA to provide more direct feedback on campus food service.

“I have also discussed menu changes and enhancements with Chartwells such as Starbucks and lunch specials. There are more to come,” he said.

Four campuses in the Texas A&M System contract with Chartwells, according to the company’s website. Regional Marketing Director Haley Rose confirmed the company has a contract with A&M-San Antonio, but referred all other questions on contract details back to Morrison.

Morrison confirmed the current contract with Chartwells started Sep. 1, 2014, and extends to Aug.  2016, but the contract is continually rolling from year to year.

Business Transactions Impact Students

A  Dec. 5 New York Times article reports on the growing number of universities adding required dining plans and contracts that help university overcome funding shortages.

Texas A&M announced a 10-year deal in 2012 with Chartwells, a subsidiary of the British-based Compass Group, that included a $22.7 million signing bonus and $25 million in capital investments,” the article states.

Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services’ slogan reads “where hungry minds gather.” But lately, student leaders are gathering to discuss whether items are reasonably priced and if they can get new items, like pizza.  

Has it been a burning issue on campus? University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson, who fields comments and concerns from students via her S.H.A.R.E portal on the university website, said it hasn’t, at least in conversations with students during her first year as university president.

“I’ve had two comments about prices in the cafeteria. On occasion I talk with students about food trucks and variety but it has not been a burning issue,” President Teniente-Matson responded in an e-mail.

Not all students feel negative toward the pricing in the cafeteria.

I think the pricing is phenomenal for a school this size and the cost is about the same of anywhere else I’d go around here, definitely cheaper than running over to Mama Margie’s,” said history major senior Jake Lyda, of a Mexican restaurant in the area.

Others who are looking to tighten their financial belt, so to speak, are looking for other options for lunch.

“With a single income household I need to save money where I can, so I usually eat here in the cafeteria, but I bring my own food,” said special education junior Tabitha Miller.

One of the difficulties students face at the Main Campus is food scarcity. Unless you bring lunch, there’s only one food provider.

Garcia says the demand is not high enough to lure corporate food vendors yet.

“We are too large to have a mom and pop food service, but too small to have the big name companies like a Starbucks and Chick-fil-A setup on campus,” she explained.

Garcia now looks to find a way to get students in the cafeteria so students can buy more food here on campus which she hopes will lead to better deals for students.

“I want to add in promotional deals, like Mad Mondays where you buy a burger and chips and get a free drink for $5 dollars.

The prices will drop a little bit, but only so much because [Chartwells] needs to make a profit. Hopefully, these promos will get students buying more food,” Garcia said. “Once they start doing that, then you’re going start seeing those food prices drop.”

Change is on the horizon for the TAMU-SA Cafe, but students must do their part to help.

I do expect Chartwells to add more options and be willing to listen to feedback. Please remember, however, that Chartwells is a business and whatever they do has to make a profit. If students request changes, they must support those changes by purchasing,” Morrison said.

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