Jamie Waterbury, Operations Manager for Dining Services, shared that regardless of the student body size, it is a challenge at the beginning of the year to get the staff prepared for an influx of students. Once all staff are trained and get in a routine, however, the fluctuation of enrollment from year to year does not impact how Dining Services runs. In the 2022-23 school year, Minnesota State University, Mankato Dining services provided approximately 25,000 meals in the dining center and 15,000 meals in retail areas weekly. He anticipates these numbers will be even higher for the 2023-24 school year with the large incoming class. 

A total of 360 staff members make up the Dining Services team in order to effectively serve such a large population. Of the 360 staff members, 250 of those are student workers. Students have the opportunity to work in all domains of the operation, including catering, dishes, serving and preparing and cooking food, to name a few. In addition to providing so many students with employment, students are prepped for life after graduation by gaining experience in interviewing with opportunities for promotions and leadership roles, including supervisor and student manager positions. Waterbury highlights that the student workers gain more from the experience than just having a job. “They are learning how to supervise people, they are learning what it takes to run an operation,” he says. University Dining Services accepts donations supporting the student employment and leadership development gained through working within the dining center.

Dining Services take the dietary restrictions and preferences of the community very seriously, taking necessary steps to make students feel safe and comfortable eating in the dining hall. In 2016, Minnesota State Mankato hired a full-time campus dietitian, Taylor Nixt, to work with all students with dietary restrictions or disordered eating behaviors. During orientation and at the beginning of every school year, Nixt has consultations with these students to create an individual plan. Through consultations, dietary needs are addressed on a case-by-case basis, and most are accommodated by the Simple Servings station in the Dining Center, which does not have any of the eight major allergens present and has fully separate cooking equipment and storage areas to minimize opportunities for cross contact. The goal of these consultations is for students to feel comfortable with their meal plan and understand what they should or shouldn’t eat. Waterbury shares that “depending on the level of severity that they have, we’ve gone as far as giving the chef a binder and saying these are the things they can eat. We will cook their mom’s recipes.” Being intentional and going through this process not only puts the students at ease, but also the parents. 

While serving such a large population, Dining Services has various sustainability initiatives to reduce food waste and promote recycling. Ninety percent of the paper goods used across the University Dining are compostable. In addition, an effective program called Waste Watch, powered by Leanpath, is used to track food waste, which allows for cooks to be more efficient, therefore resulting in less food waste and less carbon emission. Since turning more to compost, Dining Service’s food waste has reduced from a previous 50 trash bags per day to only two. 

Minnesota State Mankato’s Dining Services is not just about providing meals; it is a vital part of campus life, with a focus on diversity, sustainability, safety, and community engagement. As the University continues to grow and adapt, so too will its Dining Services, ensuring that it remains an essential and ever-improving part of campus life.

Big ideas and real-world thinking on campus and in the community.

This year marked the second highest number of registrations with 650 families, comprising 2,342 individuals, a majority of which were first-year students’ families. Nikki Stock, co-chair of Family Weekend and director of New Student and Family Programs, shared “the fact that [students] want their families to come makes me think that Minnesota State Mankato is a place that they are proud of being.”

The success of Family Weekend is the result of a group effort, with a total of 20 individuals involved in the planning process. These individuals represent various university departments including Student Activities Team, Campus Recreation, New Student and Family Programs, Residential Life, Athletics, and more. Todd Pfingsten, co-chair of Family Weekend and director of Campus Recreation, said “it’s clockwork and people have just bought into this is the culture we are going to create, and we get the support.” This collaboration ensures a diverse and engaging lineup of activities and events. During Family Weekend, families had the opportunity to enjoy a wide array of activities, including the traditional football game. This year a total of 980 football tickets were sold; more than ever before, with previous ticket sales being less than 500. The event also featured fun and games in the campus dome, a visit to the Maverick Bullpen for bowling and billiards, and a new addition this year was an outdoor petting zoo. Pfingsten shared that at one point the staff helping in the dome looked at each other and said “look at the energy in this place.” One of the crowd favorites was "Stuff-a-Plush," an event that allowed families to create their own Maverick Bear. The "Price Is Right" game show is another tradition that adds an extra layer of excitement to the weekend.

When asked about the weekend, Stock said “it just seemed like one of the best years; people were engaged and there was high participation.” The event continues to grow and adapt to meet the evolving needs and expectations of both students and their families, but the principle of keeping the weekend free or low cost stays a priority. For those interested in supporting Family Weekend to ensure the event can stay nearly free of cost to families, please consider donating to New Student and Family Programs. 

Big ideas and real-world thinking on campus and in the community.

Hosting Films on Campus

1. You must pay for Public Performances rights for any movie, film, TV show that is not shown in a class time in the scheduled room.
2. Costs for rights range from $250 to $1000 per film
3. Documentary costs range from free to $500
4. If you would like to host a movie on campus, please complete the following:
   1. Reserve your space through university scheduling
   2. Review the license website:
      1. Major motion pictures and TV
      2. Documentaries
      3. International Films
   3. Contact william.tourville@mnsu.edu to secure film licensing 

FAQ

Hand out #1

1. Can we show a movie in a classroom for free?
   1. No, films can only be shown during scheduled classrooms during the class period.
2. How much planning time do we need to show a film?
   1. Minimum of two weeks to secure rights
3. I own the movie. Do I still need a license to show it outside my home?
   
   1. Yes! The rental, purchase, lending or download of a movie does not provide the right to exhibit it publicly outside the home, unless the screening is properly licensed. This includes streaming
4. Do we need a license even if we don’t charge admission?
   1. Yes! A license is required for all public performances regardless of whether admission is charged
5. If I purchased a license to show a movie, can I show that movie
   whenever I want?
   1. No. Licenses are for a specific, designated time frame mutually agreed upon by the licensee and Swank Motion Pictures.

Public Performances

Public Performances: The following guidelines apply to public performances of copyrighted works at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:

• The public performance of videos, motion pictures, or other similar audiovisual works without permission from the copyright holder is prohibited.
• The public performance of non-dramatic works and musical works without the permission from the copyright holder is prohibited, except in the following circumstances:
  1. The performance is not a broadcast or otherwise transmitted to the public (for example, via an internet, radio, or television broadcast)
  2. The performance is without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage (i.e., is not a profit-making venture);
  3. The performance is without any payment of a fee or compensation to performers, promoters, or organizers of the performance; and
  4. There is no direct or indirect admission charge, or if there is one, the proceeds after deducting the reasonable costs of producing the performance are used exclusively for educational, religious, or charitable purposes and not for private financial gain.
     Even if the above circumstances are satisfied, if the copyright owner objects to the performance in writing at least seven days before the performance, the performance may not be held.
• Per the Office of the Chancellor, "public performance" is defined as follows:
  1. to perform or display the work at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered; or
  2. to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance or display of the work to a place specified by clause a) above or to the public, by means of any device or process, whether he members of the public capable of receiving the performance or display receive it in the same place or in separate places and at the same time or different times.

education: 

Electrical Engineering minoring in Math and Marketing  
Class of 2026

ABOUT ME:

I am legally from Belgium but originally from Cameroon. I enjoy reading, medium extreme activities such as ziplining, hiking, swimming and being outside, travelling, and spending time with other people. I love cooking when I have the time and energy along with hosting people in my home. I have been to 18 different countries. One for each year I’ve been alive, and I plan on making that a tradition until I die. (so 47 by the time I turn 47) I Grew up in Iran where I learned to speak a bit of German and Persian. Graduated high school at 14.

why i am passionATE about minnesota state mankato:

Minnesota State Mankato is like a family that grows on you. There are so many resources at such affordable rates. The University offers many events and activities in a way that feels like  a D1 school with the intimacy of a D2 population.

impact of donors:

Donors enable me to maintain my international scholarship. They continue to give me access to our amazing resources at no additional cost. They beautify our campus and make me proud to walk around and show my family back home where I’m studying. They inspire me to be generous in return.  

community involvement:

Encounter MNSU (a college Christian ministry), Student Ambassadors, Honors Program, Black Motivated Women, African Student Association, Int’l Students in College of Business  

make an impact today!

Your investment will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the empowerment of students, and the betterment of the University.