Summer of Transparency ’09: Transparent Since 2009
We’re over a month into the summer of 2009. But Summer of Transparency ’09 (since 2009) has just begun!
If you’ve spent some time perusing our website, you may have already come across our database of food service contracts. Our goal is to add to this database in an effort to expose the relationship between universities and food service companies. Thus is the essence of Stir It Up and thus is the essence of the Summer of Transparency ’09.
If you’ve spent some time perusing our website, you may have already come across our database of food service contracts. Our goal is to add to this database in an effort to expose the relationship between universities and food service companies. Thus is the essence of Stir It Up and thus is the essence of the Summer of Transparency ’09.
But that’s not all(!!!). What exactly is the point of the Summer of Transparency ’09 you may ask (besides an excuse to show pretty pictures of the sun)? The answer is, that for students preparing to launch (or continue) food service campaigns in the fall, the summer is a perfect time to accumulate information about the food service operation at your university. Getting this information over the summer allows you to hit the ground running when school is back in session. Though campuses often resemble ghost-towns over the summer, the administrators who have access to the documents and information that you need are still working (vacations aside).The key document to uncovering information about campus food service is the food service contract. When food service is contracted out to companies like Aramark, Chartwells or Sodexo, a contract is negotiated between the two entities as the legal basis for their relationship. Obtaining this document will shed light on the financial relationship between the university and the company, the expiration of the contract and other interesting information. Several other interesting documents that your university may have on file are profit-and-loss statements, RFP proposals and financial audits of the food service company.
How do you get these documents? First you have to identify the university administrator from whom to request the information. Unfortunately there isn’t a universal standard as to who to ask. Fortunately even if you ask the wrong person that person should be able to direct you to the appropriate person. Here’s a guide to important food service decision-makers and, for those who don't hit the link, here are the titles of some administrators who may be able to help you: Director of Purchasing/Procurement, University Counsel and Vice President of Finance/Business.
The second step is to send a request. Sometimes an informal request will yield the information that you are looking for. In other instances a formal letter (hard copy or email) is required. At state institutions, the public is entitled to most university documents (including the food service contract). Here is a guide to filing a public records request.
At private universities, the situation is trickier. The public does not have the legal right to view or obtain copies of such documents. There is a strong moral argument for students having a right to such documents, however. Not only are your tuition dollars supporting the institution itself, your money is directly supporting the entire food service operation through meal plan money and retail food purchases. Though it may seem like common sense that students should have access to the documents of an institution that they pay for and is there to service them, administrators at your school may not share this opinion. So if you attend a private school be prepared for (though don’t necessarily expect) a struggle. Stir It Up will document students’ experiences trying to obtain these documents as accounts are relayed.
We will be adding to our contract database all summer and beyond (Fall of Transparency ’09 will begin in a more timely fashion). So please continue to send us contracts so that we can share it with the public. Summer of Transparency ’09….commence!
