The Decision Makers

Students, faculty and anyone else who buys food on campus everyday has something to say about the way the contractor does business, but a few key groups have the final say over the basic terms of the company's relationship with your school. Key decision makers on campus food service issues are often the Vice President for Finance and the Purchasing Director, but titles and roles vary from school to school.  Here are some questions that are important to figure out at your school:

• Who monitors the contractor's activities?
• Who has the authority to change the contract?
• Who decides what prices and regulations will be imposed?
• Who will decide what the next contract looks like?

Every school has its own hierarchy through which decisions about its food service contract are made. Getting your voice heard in this process starts with identifying the key players:

• In addition to the school's top administrator (the president, chancellor, etc.) and the head of the finance department, which school employees are responsible for this contract? Which purchasing administrator? Who in the accounting department? Who in student and/or auxiliary services? Does the school employ its own director of dining services?
• Are there elected governing bodies on campus that have a say over food service issues? Is there a role for student, resident, or faculty councils? Is there a dining committee that includes students? If so, how are those students selected to be on the committee?
• What is the highest level at which food service contracts must be approved? Is there a Board (of Governors, Trustees, etc.) that has to sign on?

Once you know who makes the decisions around your food service contract, you will know who you need to deal with to change the way food is served on your campus.