(WWJ) There's been a shortage of workers at Michigan State University dining halls this fall, and now the school is resorting to drastic measures to keep students fed.
In an unprecedented move, MSU asking faculty and staff to pitch in and work in the dining halls, on a volunteer basis without any extra pay.
In an email to MSU deans and directors, Senior Vice President for Residential and Hospitality Services, Vennie Gore, said the university's culinary services department is experiencing a severe staffing shortages.
“Many businesses in the local area and around the country are hiring, and we are all competing for the same available talent," Gore said.
Normally, 4,000 students work in dining halls on campus, but it's only about 1,200 right now; which has led to shorter hours, the elimination of dinner at some dining halls, and some dining hall shutdowns.
Gore asked that faculty and staff sign up to help in the dining halls, especially on evenings and weekends.
As for why students aren't taking on these jobs, MSU spokesperson Kat Cooper says concerns about the pandemic have a lot to do with it.
On top of that, Cooper told WWJ that new students tend not to want to work, as they're still acclimating.
"We've also seen over the past decade or so a trend that students who are first time students on Michigan State's campus don't want to work in their first semester," she said. "They're usually getting the lay of the land, they're understanding their workload and where their classes are, and the effort that will need to be put into those, and what the job options are."
To learn more about jobs in MSU dining halls, or to apply online, visit this link.