Coca-Cola helps fund USU
Coca-Cola is everywhere.
Ever since Utah State University negotiated a long-term contract with Coca-Cola, it seems soda is on everyone’s mind.
Steven Jenson, director of Housing and Food Services, said the contract, which was completed in December of 2001, will generate the much-needed funding to improve academic programs, provide scholarships, upgrade the present food services, as well as build new scoreboards and a Jumbotron for the Spectrum.
“The deal was extremely attractive for us,” said Fred Hunsaker, vice president of Administrative Services, when the contract was signed last year. “It is a lucrative arrangement that will clearly benefit students, most importantly, but also faculty and staff.”
In return for allowing exclusive Coca-Cola beverage rights on campus, Jenson said USU will receive a total of $7 million over a 12-year period. “Exclusive rights” means Coca-Cola products will be the only ones sold at all vending and food services across campus, as well as all concession booths at sporting events.
USU previously had contracts with several food companies, but thought more benefits could be generated with a single private company, Jenson said.
“We are very grateful for Coca-Cola being willing to step up to the plate,” he said. “We are very excited about the benefits we are receiving.”
To best utilize the funding, Housing and Food Services will use a portion to improve the food services available on campus. Over the first two years, the plan is to further reconstruct The Hub in the Taggart Student Center.
The contract money has already gone toward re-roofing The Junction, re-upholstering the chairs in the Sky Room and developing the new Quad Side Café. It will also be used for future projects, such as building a student learning center with a computer lab, advising opportunities, and a place for studying.
“What we are trying to accomplish is to try and make food a lot more convenient for students across campus,” Jenson said.
To carry out promotions and marketing on the Utah State University campus, Coca-Cola has hired Danielle Dustin, a sophomore marketing student, to aid in the relations. Her responsiblity as a Coke campus manager requires her to keep up good relations between the university and the company, as well as do future work with monitoring student satisfaction.
“My main job will be to carry out promotions on campus,” Dustin said. “Basically, I just implement the ideas that Coke has into our university.”
Considering concern for student satisfaction, The Quick Stop in the Taggart Student Center will remain the only location where students can still buy Pepsi products.
Jenson said the university will greatly benefit from the 12-year contract in a time when many schools are suffering from budget cuts.
Hunsaker said last year, “The bottom line is that President [Kermit L.] Hall negotiated a deal that will put millions of dollars into university programs. We are extremely pleased.”
-mdinger@cc.usu.edu
PLEASE NOTE: While the amount of contribution to USU from Coca-Cola is substantial, it is not $7 million as sometimes reported. The actual total contribution and other benefits will not be determined for 12 years and is contingent upon sales in the beverage vending, dining, concessions and retail outlets.