After prowling and wading through red tape for nearly two years, Loyola and Tulane’s collaboration of dining options is now in full gear, offering more than 500 entree choices on both campuses with no restrictions.
At the beginning of the fall 2007 semester, both universities and Sodexho, a food and facilities management services company, introduced a new system to integrate Wolfbucks, Wavebucks, Greenbucks and Pelican Plan points interchangeably. Ideas for the plan began in spring 2006 and a year later, both student government associations gave 50 students $50 each in two separate test groups to try the system.
Initially technological problems hindered the initiative, but glitches with hand-held devices, wireless systems, and cash registers have been solved. Training for staff members at both universities began in the fall as well.
Loyola students expressed discouragement when Tulane’s Lavin-Bernick Center food court denied access to Loyola students between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m in August; however, Jeanne Charlebois, Sodexho’s District Marketing Manager, said the problem has been resolved since Oct. 1, allowing unlimited access. She said the feedback from the program has been extremely positive.
“All students are able to use the facilities at all hours of operation. There are no restrictions, which is a success,” said Caitlin Craig, Loyola Dining Services’ Marketing & Customer Service Manager.
Craig also sent a memo to every Loyola student who has a meal plan to remind them of the spring semester meal plan options. Meanwhile, Sodexho has created a Web site, www.uptowncampusdining.com, to guide students with maps of crossways and entrance points between campuses, as well as information on upcoming dining events. Lisa Norris, Tulane’s associate sirector of Dining & Vending Services, said that throughout November, Loyola students made 2,602 visits to Tulane Dining Services, while Tulane students have made 259 visits to Loyola Dining Services. She said, “I am sure this program will continue to grow as we move forward.”
Mixed into the chaos of synchronizing systems is World’s Healthiest Pizza, which signed a contract with Sodexho in early August to accept meal plan cards. In an online poll WHP conducted last year with Loyola and Tulane students, 66 percent said they would select a pizza retailer that accepted meal plan cards over those that do not.
The system is not yet in place because Tulane is concerned with the vulnerability of sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, embedded within the students’ identification cards, said Jeff Leech, co-founder of WHP. Loyola’s meal plan cards do not contain such information.
Leech said WHP recently proposed another system to Sodexho in which gift cards could be used on the campus. Though not in place yet, Leech said the program could be easily implemented and would not cost the university anything.
Rosie Dao can be reached at [email protected].
