REGENTS TO CONSIDER NEW FOOD-SERVICES CONTRACT

The traditional cafeteria serving line could be a thing of the past when Southeast Missouri State University goes to a new food-service operation next academic year, school officials say.

University officials have opted not to continue with ServiceMaster, which had operated the food service on campus since 1986.

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents will consider awarding a new food-service contract and is expected to set board charges for the 1994-95 school year when it meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Show Me Center.

As of Monday afternoon, however, no final recommendations had been made by university officials regarding the food service contract and the board charges, two items that are connected.

"We are looking at two companies right now, and we're just trying to figure out which would be the best," said SueAnn Strom, vice president of student affairs.

The university received bids from ARA, AmeriServe, Mariott, Morrison's Hospitality Group and ServiceMaster.

University officials are looking to improve the food service by offering name-brand food on campus, such as McDonald's or Pizza Hut, or the vendor's own special brands.

Some members of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce have expressed concern that offering name-brand fast food on campus would hurt local restaurants.

Strom said all of the vendors have talked of setting up food courts.

Any final plans on what food services will be offered will be negotiated after a vendor has been chosen, she said.

University officials, she said, are trying to determine what will meet the needs of students and "be responsible to the community."

"We're trying to provide the best possible product and the best possible service provider at a cost that's reasonable to the students," said Strom.

While ServiceMaster won't be running the show, the current food service employees are expected to be retained, said Dave Loucks, a ServiceMaster official and director of dining services at Southeast.

Loucks said he's witnessed numerous food service takeovers. "Honestly, I've never seen it where the employees are not hired.

"We have many employees who were here when the university ran it themselves," he pointed out.

If the new company were to fire all the current employees "it would be a public relations nightmare," said Loucks.

ServiceMaster employs 26 full-time workers and about 300 student workers at Southeast, he said.

Food services traditionally employ a lot of student workers. "We are an entry-level job on campus. We have a lot of students who work a couple of months and then find a better job," said Loucks.

While those jobs should be safe, Loucks said the new vendor will bring in a new management team. Loucks said he'll be leaving to take a new assignment with ServiceMaster.

In other business, the regents will consider hiring a firm to help develop a strategic plan for the university and transferring the geography program from the College of Science and Technology to the College of Health and Human Services.