UK Explores Dining Outsource

The University of Kentucky is studying the possibility of outsourcing its dining services, a move that could affect 243 full-time and part-time employees and 501 student workers, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader.

UK has hired a consultant for $55,524 to explore the issue and prepare a request-for-proposal that will go out early next year. UK officials have said the university's self-operated dining department could be one of the bidders for the project.

The consultant, Envision Strategies, was brought in as a subcontractor by Sasaki and Associates, the firm that is updating UK's master campus plan. In addition, a task force of faculty and staff will study the issue.

With construction of new dorms, UK needed to rethink its dining service altogether, says Robert Mock, vice president for student affairs.