News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2005

ABAC DINING HALL RENOVATIONS NEARLY COMPLETE

TIFTON—With a new look and a new food service provider, the dining hall at Abraham Baldwin College is taking a bold approach when it comes to satisfying the appetites of ABAC students.

Donaldson Dining Hall Director Kurt Hoffman said, “It was long overdue. The old layout was dated, but with the renovation and modernization of the facilities we can keep up with the changing trends and tastes of the students.”

Sodexho took over the ABAC food service operations July 1, and the renovation began soon after.

The estimated time of the total completion is early November. The dining hall seating has been divided into two sections. “We are still waiting on things like bar stools and chairs for the seating areas and accordion screens to divide the section,” Hoffman said.

The dining hall is set up into six stations, along with a beverage station and a yogurt machine. The first station is a grilling station where students can get fast food items such as burgers and fries. The entrée station will feature comfort foods such as chili. The station will also serve vegetarian entrees and feature a central carving area.

A deli station will be available for students to fix all sorts of sandwiches and breads. No campus eatery would be complete without pizza, and ABAC’s dining hall has a station just for that, with all sorts of toppings. A student highlight has been the international station that serves stir-fry, pasta, garlic bread, and more. Finally, a dessert station has been set up with treats such as cookies, muffins, and various other pastries.

The dining hall staff will be receiving new uniforms consisting of chef jackets and hats as part of the upgrade of the facility. There are currently 15 ABAC students working as part of the staff.

“The students really like it, and the response has been outstanding. They are the ones that ultimately drive this, and it is being well-received,” Hoffman said.

The Faculty/Staff Luncheons will begin again in the Magnolia Room now that renovations are almost complete. The luncheons will be held every Thursday beginning Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The cost is $5.50 per person.

There are other changes taking place elsewhere in ABAC’s food services. The convenience store at the John Hunt Town Center is in the process of getting a lot more variety as a result of student input. Items such as steaks, hamburgers, fresh sandwiches made daily, and fruit/granola cups may become additions to the store’s inventory per requests by students. And brands such as Haagen-Dazs, Eddy’s, and Stouffers may be found in the store’s refrigerators soon.

Catering through Sodexho and the dining hall is also in the works. “We’ve ordered a catering truck and are currently doing a lot of catering for the Rural Development Center. And we hope to get some ABAC students to be waiters and waitresses once the catering is in full swing,” Hoffman said.

###