5 things: College enrollment continues to decline

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

New data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Research Center show total college enrollment declined 4.1% since last spring, with community colleges once again the higher education sector hit the hardest. The decline—the fifth semester in a row of declining overall enrollment—is even more marked at the undergraduate level, where NSC data show an enrollment drop of 4.7% for spring 2022.

Read more: A 5th Straight Semester of Enrollment Declines

Hawaii is missing out on tens of millions of federal dollars each year to provide meals for needy children, according to a new report from a local group of nonprofits. Over the past two decades, the report estimates Hawaii has been short-changed by more than $200 million for school meal programs.

Read more: Hawaii's keiki nutrition programs facing financial crisis

The University of Vermont Medical Center has joined Race to Zero, a global climate action campaign backed by the United Nations and says it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Burlington hospital is among the first three health care organizations in the United States to commit to the campaign and has already been incorporating measures in all its operations to reduce its carbon footprint, including large-scale recycling and composting, transitioning to "green" buildings and securing partnerships with more than 70 local producers that allow about 42% of its food budget to be spent within 250 miles.

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Read more: Two iconic Vermont organizations announce steps to address climate change

Plans for a public-private partnership between Murray State University, a nonprofit and a developer to improve campus dining and housing facilities moved forward when the university’s board of regents finance committee voted unanimously in favor of a motion authorizing MSU president Bob Jackson to execute a predevelopment agreement with RISE Real Estate and proceed with the development of a suitable financing model and land lease agreement for the project. The first construction phase will include the replacement of Winslow Dining Hall with a three-story structure designed to look “like a food court” on the main floor with total seating for 550 people, plus additional meeting space and campus housing office space.

Related:5 things: Elior to shutter Preferred Meals prepared meals unit

Read more: Murray State board finance committee advances plans to improve dining, housing facilities

A high schooler went viral on TikTok for his “Cafeteria Cooking” series, which shows him making gourmet foods during his lunch period. The series of videos involve TikTok user Danny cheffing it up at school with friends acting as his sous chefs and creating items such as an elaborate-looking breakfast toast using just a mug, a Tupperware lid and the cafeteria’s microwave, while another shows him trying to make ice cream from scratch by using basic chemistry knowledge.

Read more: High Schooler's ‘Cafeteria Cooking’ TikTok Series Shows Him Making Gourmet Meals During Lunch Period

Bonus: Foodservices Heroes span the onsite universe

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]