Clark College will close food program temporarily

During interim, cart vendors may feed campus

Some of Clark College's 14,000 students make their way to class on Jan. 7. Community volunteer Jan Oliva and college President Bob Knight announced Wednesday night the launch of the Ensuring a Bright Future campaign to raise $20 million for the college. The fundraising campaign is the most ambitious in the school's 80-year history.

By Susan Parrish
Columbian staff writer

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Map

Reader poll

While Clark College's cafeteria is closed, what kinds of food carts should it offer?

International cuisine, including Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern. 8%
Good ol' American food. Nothing too weird. 10%
A mix of all of those, and don't forget Mexican. 45%
The college shouldn't allow food carts, which compete with nearby restaurants. And the college bakery will remain open, anyway. 37%

198 total votes.

Clark College is hosting an information session for food cart vendors at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the main campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Vendors should meet at the fountain past the Welcome Center.

The school's culinary arts program has provided the campus' main food service, but is being suspended for two years while it is revamped to best meet campus food service needs. The college is considering bringing food carts or trucks to campus as an interim solution while both the program and kitchens are being renovated.

The program currently "isn't in a position to meet the food service capacity for the whole campus," said Tim Cook, vice president of instruction.

The kitchen will close this summer and will reopen in fall 2014 with a new program. Clark College's professional baking program will continue and the bakery will keep its regular hours.

In the 2013-2014 school year, second-year students will finish classes at Clark and get hands-on kitchen experience in off-campus internships.

Interested vendors should email foodcartsatclark@clark.edu or call 360-992-2288.