For the second time in three years the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is changing its food service provider. Officials and students hope that the move will save millions and increase food quality on campus.
Some 300 dining employees were laid off when UW-L's contract with food service provider Sodexo ended this month. However, nearly all of them re-signed deals with new provider Chartwells. UW-L officials said despite some chaos the move is well worth it.
Since her freshman year, UW-L Student Association President Kaylee Otterbacher has fought to raise the bar on the campus dining experience.
"We do comment cards, we do open forums. We can talk to chefs and managers and our dinning service, but we feel like the changes we wanted aren't always being implemented,” Otterbacher said.
But now students are hoping to taste a major upgrade thanks to a switch from provider Sodexo to Chartwells.
"I was actually on the selection committee that chose Chartwells,” Otterbacher said.
Otterbacher said students picked the new provider after it promised to bring healthier food to the table.
"If students come to our new Chartwells service and say, 'We need more gluten-free options,' we need a service that is going to listen to us and implement those gluten-free options,” Otterbacher said.
The switch will cost students and the university less.
"We are going to be saving about half a million dollars over what we spent just last year,” said Larry Ringgenberg, the director of University Centers at UW-L.