Downtown Campus students will now be able to purchase hot meals and coffee without going off campus. Madison College, in coordination with the Business Enterprise Program has established a café that will serve coffee, freshly-made burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts.
The café will begin operation by the end of the month and will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It will be located in the old cafeteria, and all food will be prepared on site.
The Business Enterprise Program is a part of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation working with both State and Federal Governments to assist visually disabled entrepreneurs in achieving gainful self-employment.
Clerical Assistant and DTEC Store manager Don Wesolowski has had previous experience with a similar Business Enterprise Program-sponsored dining operation when he worked at US Forest Products Laboratory.
“If it’s anything like that, it’s going to be great,” Wesolowski said.
Madison College’s contract with BEP is not a monetary agreement.
“We are allowing them use of the space in exchange for their providing food service for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Kathleen Paris, Downtown Campus Manager.
The contract will complete at the end of the semester, at which time the college will reassess the viability of the collaboration.
The college was forced to close the previous school-operated dining facility as well as the Downtown bookstore at the beginning of the semester as a result of major financial losses incurred through operating costs.
However, the school acknowledged the necessity of nutritious, on-campus meals for busy students and has planned, and is administering a solution just halfway through the semester.
Although the Downtown Campus does not stand to profit from this venture, Paris says the gains will be made in terms of nourished students and faculty as well as the reward of helping generate adequate income for the disabled vendors.
“We will have a more welcoming gathering space where students can meet over a cup of coffee or have lunch together,” Paris said.
Student Lab Assistant Bill Herbst, 35, has had many students share their concern about the lack of food options on campus.
“There used to be a room right above us,” Herbst said. “Now I just wait until I get home.”
Herbst, like many others, is unimpressed with the quality of the food options in the vending machine. However, he was disappointed to find out the café doesn’t operate during the evening hours when he works.
“It’s not going to help me, but at least it’s here for somebody,” he said.
Students can look forward to exceptional quality coffee provided by the local Just Coffee Cooperation. The supplier was selected Madison’s Favorite Coffee Roaster for 2010-2014 as well as Madison Magazine’s Best Silver Medal for 2013.