Photo by Marjorie Cerejo

Students accustomed to the campus food court may be in for a change.

UHCL picks up tab for Chartwells' loss
by Tia Woods
UHCLIDIAN Staff

Due to revenue loss, Chartwells, UH-Clear Lake's food service provider, has agreed to a management fee contract with the university to provide food services on a month-to-month basis effective Jan. 2.

The agreement between Chartwells and UH-Clear Lake is on a profit loss basis, according to Shirley Hart, UH-Clear Lake's executive director of operations. This means if Chartwells shows a profit, it will pay the university 100 percent of the profit. If a loss of revenue is shown, the university will pay Chartwells 100 percent of the loss. The university will use revenues previously earned from Chartwellsą contract to reimburse the company for its losses.

"They have not shown a profit since they renovated the Patio Cafe three years ago," Hart said. "The construction costs exceeded the cost estimated in the contract." The volume of students, faculty and staff dining on campus is lower than other UH campuses. UH-Clear Lake is a commuter university without the heavy traffic flow of other campuses.

Photo by Marjorie Cerejo

Chartwells is now operating on a month-to-month contract.

After reviewing the original contract, Chartwells proposed a management fee agreement to UH-Clear Lake. The UH System granted permission to UH-Clear Lake to enter into this separate agreement.

After reviewing the original contract, Chartwells proposed a management fee agreement to UH-Clear Lake. The UH System granted permission to UH-Clear Lake to enter into this separate agreement.

Hart is in the process of submitting a new proposal to solicit food service vendors for UH-Clear Lake.

"Hopefully by midsummer we will have a new vendor contract in place," Hart said.

Chartwells will submit a new proposal when UH-Clear Lake releases the bidding to outside vendors, according to Michael Lee, director of Patio Cafe.

Lee, the liaison between Chartwells and UH-Clear Lake, confirms that the food service staff at the university is aware of the new month-to-month agreement and possible vendor change.

Although Lee could not comment on the financial status of Chartwells, he is certain that jobs will be available through Chartwells for the current food service staff at UH-Clear Lake.

"Chartwells has told all my employees that they will be taken care of regardless of what the future holds," Lee said.

Until a new contract is established, Chartwells will continue to run food service operations.

Although a new proposal is in the making, Hart is very interested in the expectation and needs of faculty, staff and students regarding food service in the future. She would also like to obtain more feedback from students on campus.

"I receive feedback from faculty and staff, but I am lacking information from the students," Hart said.

A committee exists to serve the needs of all customers who use food services on campus. The UH-Clear Lake Food Service Committee, an advisory committee chaired by Hart, meets two or three times a semester to discuss improvements and obtain feedback from the campus community. The committee members include faculty or staff from all four schools, a member from the Professional and Administrative Staff Association, a member from the Support Staff Organization and two students elected by the Student Government Association every fall semester.

"Feedback is needed by the students in order for food services to be successful," said Rebecca Thompson, vice president and committee coordinator for the Student Government Association. "Students can be proactive with responses by e-mailing the SGA with feedback and possible solutions that will benefit faculty, staff and students."

For more information contact the SGA at (281) 283-2556 or e-mail SGA@cl.uh.edu.