By Theresa Schliep
After terminating the Sodexo contract prematurely, Fordham invites four food providers to campus. Kate Mackiee/The Fordham Ram.
A previous version of this article had Deming Yaun’s name spelled incorrectly. It has since been corrected.
With the current Sodexo contract ending in June 2016, Sodexo will likely avoid a $3 million penalty for landing on The Princeton Review’s worst food list again this year, a dining services contract liason announced Wednesday.
“The Princeton Review [is] the thorn in my side,” said Deming Yaun, Fordham’s dining services contract liaison.
“Sodexo had promised the goal was to be off The Princeton Review list by August 2016, but now that the current agreement ends June 30, I doubt there will be any penalty.”
Fordham is currently ranked number 13 on The Princeton Review’s 2016 ranking “Is it Food?” which evaluates colleges with the least edible food. Fordham topped the list in 2012, causing the university to reevaluate its relationship with Sodexo, but they ultimately continued Sodexo’s contract in June 2013.
Yaun spoke mainly on the university’s Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new dining service at Fordham’s monthly Student Life Council meeting on Jan. 27. The RFP is set to be completed at the end of March.
This action counters the university’s 2013 decision to extend Sodexo’s contract at Fordham for another 10 years. Fordham has instead made arrangements with the catering service to end its current agreement on June 30, 2016.
Fordham reports that its “internal survey processes” find that 80 percent of Fordham students have stated they are “satisfied or highly satisfied” with Sodexo’s services.
“It is highly publicized that in the Sodexo agreement there are penalties for not meeting certain satisfaction criteria we have abyss satisfaction criteria based on internal survey processes…in the three years we have been doing that, [Sodexo] has met those goals every time,” Yaun said.
Five original bidders have been narrowed down to four, including Sodexo and three companies that the university will not disclose at this time, Yaun announced.
“We are not identifying the companies interested and participating in the process, but we are pleased Sodexo is participating,” Yaun said in an email to The Fordham Ram. “With the issuing of an RFP, we are starting with a clean slate: every firm that submits a proposal has chance of being selected, based on the contents of their proposal.”
The request was introduced to the Fordham community in a university-wide email in early December. Yaun reported that the RFP was under works throughout the summer of 2015.
“Preparing the RFP took months and months and lots of consideration and talking to professionals throughout the industry to advise us,” he said in reference to the process. “In discussions with [Sodexo] last May through this summer, it just became apparent that hey, maybe we need some more.”
Students will be involved in the bidding process, according to Yaun. The dining proposals from the companies involved are due Feb. 16, and will be on display for students to review. There will also be visits to facilities in which the companies are already operating in early March.
Executives from the companies will also host formal presentations open to students on March 7-9. Furthermore, a student committee that will work collectively with Dining Services to choose a new dining provider will soon be open to students.
Yaun established that they will keep the Fordham community informed throughout the RFP process.
Fordham University’s room and board, which includes dining, is among the most expensive in the nation. According to the Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System, Fordham’s room and board ranks ninth highest in the country, at an average cost of $14,491 per year.
Fordham’s most expensive unlimited meal plan is $3,625, while all block plans are $2,572.50. In comparison, New York University’s most expensive meal plan is $2,800, Columbia University’s is $2,582, and Syracuse University’s is $3,610.
None of those schools appear on The Princeton Review’s “Is It Food?” ranking, except Fordham.
Student opinion varies regarding food services at the university.
Thomas Capozzi, FCRH ‘19, said, “I went in with a bad impression from word of mouth, but I grew to like it.”
“Personally, I have no problem with the food,” said Julian DiFiore, GSB ’18. “I think kids expect more for what they’re paying but in reality, this is college food that feeds over 5,000 people everyday. I’ve been to other colleges where the food is ten times worse, and they’re perfectly fine with it there. Also, I think the personal atmosphere the Sodexo workers make is great.”
Other students feel that while Sodexo’s services have potential, they are not being fulfilled at Fordham.
“It feels wrong to constantly criticize Sodexo because there are visible efforts being made by not only Fordham students, but also Sodexo staff that I completely appreciate,” said Kate Marinkovich, GSB ’18. “Having said that, I do have complaints…. I have visited friends at other colleges where Sodexo is the food provider and have had awesome food. ” Marinkovich said that it shocks her at the great quality of Sodexo services at other schools, in comparison to their poor service here.