Hundreds of employees at Texas A&M University who are not educators have reason to believe they will lose their state jobs.
That follows a Friday meeting were facilities services employees were told the university will send out requests for proposals that could privatize some functions.
System Chancellor John Sharp announced the first proposal would manage and operate dining services on the flagship campus, followed by custodial, building maintenance, and landscaping services.
Vice Chancellor for Communications Steve Moore says employees will be involved in the review process over the next three to five months.
Moore says any recommendations will go to the Board of Regents, and if any proposals are approved then contract negotiations would start.
A&M System Vice Chancellor Steve Moore visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
News release from the A&M System Office:
Chancellor John Sharp announced today that The Texas A&M University System has released the first of four Requests for Proposals to outsource various support services at Texas A&M University, the system’s flagship campus.
The first RFP seeks a private entity to manage and operate the university’s Dining Services, which includes catering and 34 locations that serve Texas A&M’s 50,000 students as well as faculty and staff. Future RFPs will include custodial services, building maintenance and landscaping services.
“With Dining Services losing over $1 million a year, we needed to take immediate action from a budgetary standpoint,” said Sharp. “All of us within the A&M System have a responsibility to maximize revenues going to the faculty and their research. They are the reason we are here. Through the RFP process, we have an opportunity for the private sector to examine our support services and potentially generate additional revenues for our academic functions.”
Ten of the 11 universities within the A&M System have previously elected to outsource their respective dining services operations. Sharp indicated that once responses to the RFPs are received, a multi-disciplinary team will be appointed to conduct a careful and deliberate review of the proposals over the next several months.
“It is important to note that we have made the decision to issue RFPs, not lay off employees,” Sharp said. “Our employees-their jobs, salaries and benefits-will be a key consideration in the evaluation of any proposal from the private sector.”
Sharp expects the three remaining RFPs to be released over the next two weeks.