February 2007

2-17-07

Parent’s Advisory Board Meeting MinutesMembers Present: Lee Ann Jones, Dawn Foote, Debbie Andrews, Kristi Boardman, Matt Thielen
Guest Speaker: Brenda Windmueller (Food Service)

Brenda Husman (Director Residence Life) gave the group a tour of 4th floor Mickelson Hall. Housing matches will be made the first week of March 2007. The campus is looking at more incentives at keeping students on campus. There is talk of allowing Seniors to have a room at Mickelson, but to have the single room for the price of a double. There will be one kitchen and one set of bathrooms per floor.

The goal in the strategic plan for Fall of 2008 is to have 71% of the students living on campus. Currently there are approximately 67% of the students living on campus. Studies have shown that approximately 8% of those students that don’t live on campus, don’t finish their education. Matt said that “You have to be residential to be a successful college”. Different financial packages are also being looked at for those students living on campus vs. those living off campus. There could possible be more monies for those students living on campus.

The campus now has an admissions counselor in Omaha. The Spring enrollment at Dana is currently 560 with a fall projection of 600 students. With our current housing capability the campus could house 90 more comfortably.

Matt gave a report of a study given to the students living on campus with regard to their connection to campus, their Quality of life on campus and if they would recommend this to another student. The survey was given to Freshman males and females on the Freshman floors and the leadership floors. The scores were all above a 3 with some as high as 4.2. There will be 2 freshman floors in Rass next fall.

The Parents newsletter will spotlight housing for the month of March. There should also be some type of mailing coming that will address these issues from a parents view.

Brenda Windmueller who is the Director of Food Service spoke to the group. The company that holds the contract is part of a much larger company from France. They do catering and meals for the students. They try to balance the meals from mind, body to soul. They have posters and table tents relating to healthy bodies. They try to add variety to their meals. There is always an entrée, soup bar, pizza bar and salad bar. They are doing Monotony Breakers on a monthly basis. Examples are Stir Fry, Steak dinners, Picnics, Holiday Dinners, midnight breakfast during finals, Mardi Gra theme parties.

Hours of operation:
M-F
7:00 – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast Approximately 20-25 students served a day
11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch Approximately 250 students served a day
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner Approximately 200 students served a day
Saturday and Sunday
11:30 – 1:00 Brunch Approximately 75-80 people served
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner

The Dragon’s Head is open for lighter meals from 9:00-5:00 and 5:30 – 8:30 on M-F. Students can do one meal exchange for a meal in the Dragon’s Head. All students living on campus are required to have some type of meal plan. There was some discussion regarding the limited hours of operation for dinner on the weekends. It was suggested to close the cafeteria on Sunday evenings and open the Dragon’s Head for more hours of operation. There is currently a four week menu rotation. They are in the process of building their own website. Sodexho caters many functions on and off campus.

Suggestions given to Brenda:
- Have an organization doing the serving at one of the meals. i.e. Steak night, have the football
serve the dinner. The baseball team could serve hot dogs.
- Smoothies – They are expensive to do and the cost might have to be added into their food plan.
- Brain food packages available during finals. Allow parents to order and pay for this to have it sent to their son or daughter.
- Packages of cookies to be ordered by parents for a student’s birthday. This has been done in the past.

Brenda said they are looking into possible deli cases to display fresh baked items, sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, wraps, and meat and cheese cups. etc.

Movie night in Jan – Approximately 130 students

Mavericks Hockey game – Approximately 60 students

YMCA numbers:
Sept – 450
Oct – 605
Nov – 650
Dec – 420
Jan – 400

The YMCA is working with the college for Intramural sports.

Winter Dance – 100 Students

The Campus Life Advisory Committee are looking into what the students are saying and talking about issues with different departments. This committee consists of 14 students who are mostly 2nd year students.

The next PAC meeting will feature someone to speak on Financial Aid.

Matt suggested that if you are interested in the President’s comments regarding Dana and Midlands College that you go to the article in the Chronicle of Education publication. (Chronicle.com)

Respectfully submitted:
Debbie Andrews