Brief Summary of Dining Services at Ohio University

The mission of Ohio University Dining Services is to provide the highest quality dining and consumer experience possible for the diverse university community and guests, in support of the educational mission and residential concept of our institution.

The Dining Services Department is a division of Finance and Administration. It is responsible for the operation of all food services on the Athens campus.

Dining Services consists of five dining halls, full service catering, three convenience stores, two grab n go’s, a full service bakery and vegetable processing area, warehouse for Dining Services and the entire campus, Front Room Coffee House, Café Bibliotech (small coffee house on the 2nd floor of Alden), Latitude 39 (a fine dining restaurant), Bobcat Essentials (clothing, gifts, computer supplies, and snack items), and West 82 Food Court with the following seven concepts:  Southwest/Mexican, Italian/Pizza, Asian, N.Y. Deli, Grill, Grab n Go, and a salad/soup station.  We employ over 1,000 students, 165 cooks and custodians, and 39 management staff.  We offer a production manager internship program where students may earn up to 10 undergraduate or graduate credits and we have a nationally recognized student manager program. We serve approximately 3.2 million meals per year and have 7,800 students on a meal plan.  According to FoodService Director Magazine we are the 13th largest self-operated college dining service in the nation.  National benchmarking surveys conducted by the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) has ranked Ohio University Dining Services as one of the most efficient college food service operations eight years in a row.

Specific departmental duties include:

• Preparation and serving of three meals a day (2 on Sunday) in five dining halls throughout the academic year.
• Operation of a mini mall at Nelson which includes two retail food operations (Sunset Strips and Nelson Style Pizza), Nelson Market, ATM and a self-service post office.
• Operation of Markets (convenience stores) at Nelson, Boyd and Jefferson.
• Operation of all food concepts in Baker University Center. These include the Front Room Coffee House, Latitude 39 (a fine dining restaurant), Bobcat Essentials (clothing, gifts, computer supplies, and snack items), and West 82 Food Court with the following seven concepts:  Southwest/Mexican, Italian/Pizza, Asian, N.Y. Deli, Grill, Grab n Go, and a salad/soup station.
• Operation of Café Bibliotech (small coffee house on the 2nd floor of Alden)
• Banquet and catering services for university organizations and the general public.
• Assistance in the administration of the Bobcat Cash debit card system.
• Administration of all campus vending contracts, including residence hall laundries.
• Purchasing of all food products.
• Staff training and development.
• Support of the University's academic mission through internships and field experience.

Awards

• 2007 National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) Richard Lichtenfelt Award for outstanding service to NACUFS, Rich Neumann, Director of Dining Services
• 2005 - Ambassadors Award from Personnel Plus for employing workers with Disabilities, Boyd Dining Hall.
• 2005 - Mary Harrington employee of the year award, Roger Crow, Stores Clerk at Nelson Dining Hall.
• 2004 - Mary Harrington employee of the year award, Jane Blackford, Cook 1 at Jefferson Dining Hall.
• 2004 - Boyd Dining Hall Honorable mention in the NACUFS Loyal E. Horton Menu Contest.
• 2003 - Mary Harrington Employee of the Year Award Rodney Dowler, General Manager Nelson Dining Hall.
• 2002 - NACUFS Presidents Award - Rich Neumann, Director of Dining Services.
• 2002 - Ohio University Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award Rodney Dowler, General Manager Nelson Dining Hall.
• 2002 - Ohio University Outstanding Classified Employee Pat Gibson, Administrative Coordinator.
• 2001 - Employer of the Year Award - Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities.
• 1993 - NACUFS Presidents Award - Rich Neumann, Director of Dining Services.
• 1992 - Ohio University Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award Mary Jane Jones, Associate Director, Baker Center.

Rich Neumann, Director of Dining Services; Kent Scott, General Manager, Nelson; Rich Haft, General Manager Bromley, and Jim Yute, General Manager Shively have earned the FMP (Foodservice Management Professional) designation from the National Restaurant Association.

Rich Neumann, Director of Dining Services is Secretary/Treasurer of NACUFS and Past President of NACUFS Midwest Region.

Dining Services has a nationally recognized student manager and student employment program which has been featured in national food service publications. It is the only university in the U.S. to offer a student manager training class and production manager internship for college credit.

Margo Muse, Atco worker, won a "Personal Achievement" award in the spring of 2002 given by the Association for Persons Supported Employment. Margo worked at Jefferson Dining Hall from fall quarter 2001 through June 2002 and has done an excellent job.