The new semester brings changes on campus to buying food and drink.
Director of Auxiliary Services Fidel Cabuena made changes to staff, hours of operations and purchase locations to make Food Services more self-sustainable.
“As a part of our Food Services reorganization we consolidated our service programs mainly to reduce our labor costs,” said Cabuena.
The location of Java Jitters is now inside Danner Hall to the right of the entrance. A plan for the old location of Java Jitters is currently in the works.
“We are planning to open the old Java Jitters location [the first floor of Locke] as a vending kiosk with an assortment of new vending machines that will provide a better menu selection,” said Cabuena.
“I hate the changes, moving Java Jitters to Danner Hall has made the lines ridiculously long,” said Delta student Xander Williams, 20.
Without Java Jitters in Locke, students now only one location in Danner in which to purchase food.
“Over the years it has been the [San Joaquin Delta Community College] District financial practice and strategy to transfer funds from the Bookstore to cover the negative balance of food service however the bookstore’s revenue and profits have been declining,” said Cabuena. “If we continue to operate Food Services without making any major operational and staffing adjustments it is projected to incur losses that the Bookstore cannot sustain.”
Along with the relocation of Java Jitters, the Food Service Department has cut hours of operations.
Last semester Java Jitters, opened at 6:45 a.m. closed at 1 p.m. during the school week.
The cafeteria opened at 7 a.m. and was open until 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1 p.m. on Fridays.
The new hours for both Java Jitters and the cafeteria are now 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mon.- Fri. with no grill, or Mexican food menu items available on Fridays.
“Some staff lost the full-time status, while others staffs’ hours were reduced,” said Cabuena “With the reduction of the staffing profile we do not have the staff to run the grill on Friday’s.”
Food costs have also risen.
According to Cabuena, the cost of food for the students rose to cover the Food Services purchasing costs.
Students may have also noticed a loss of vending machines and microwaves on campus.
There used to be at least four microwaves available to the public on campus, one in Java Jitters, two in Danner Hall and one in the Cunningham building along with a large number of snack machines around campus. This semester there is only one in Danner.
“We just signed an agreement with a new vending vendor, Canteen, and should have new vending machines shortly,” said Cabuena, “also there are new microwaves on order and should be in Danner Hall within a week.”
With all of these changes, getting food on campus is more complex.