Family-owned and operated AVI Foodsystems has been announced as Washington College’s new culinary and hospitality partner, taking over management of all food services on campus beginning July 1. This includes full management of all dining options on campus, plus the catering division for special events.

Their vision for a revamped Hodson Culinary Center includes a large variety of venues ranging from traditional meat and veggie options to plant-based and clean foods. Specialty concepts include Trattoria (pizzas made daily from scratch), Homestyles (comfort foods), The Carvery (wraps and sandwiches), Nutribar (fresh salad ingredients), Roots (plant-based), Clarity (clean, allergy-free foods), and the Bake Shoppe for homemade desserts. They also envision an Exhibition Kitchen that would feature guest chefs, dietitians, and others and showcase campus, cultural and holiday events and well as menu innovations.

AVI has a from-scratch culinary philosophy, preparing foods from scratch and sourcing fresh ingredients locally in order to create authentic flavor profiles. They tailor menu plans to the audience as well, factoring in dietary requirements and other preferences.

“We fully understand the critical and integral role a great campus dining program plays in building and nurturing student relationships, friendships and exposure to new cultures and cuisines,” said Vince Lombardi, Executive Vice President for AVI’s Education Division. “We will work diligently to honor your history and traditions, adopt current team members as new members of the AVI family and provide a fresh, from-scratch culinary program that delights students, faculty and staff.”

While specific hours of service are still under review, AVI is prepared to offer serving hours that reflect class times, lifestyles, and events on campus. The company has initially proposed extending hours to 8 PM each weekday and to 7 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as a monthly “First Friday” event with a late-night dining experience that runs through midnight.

AVI is further committed to involving students in real-time feedback and opportunities to participate in menu development, citing a willingness to continuously adapt menus to better meet the needs of the campus. The company is also committed to sustainable food and environmental practices and intends to be an active, engaged member of the Washington College community in driving sustainable actions and practices.

All current Dining Services staff will be offered the opportunity to transition onto the AVI team, in positions that maintain or improve their current wages and honor their years of service. They will be joined by additional candidates to form an expanded management team under AVI leadership. AVI will also offer a student employment program that offers above-average wages for students.

AVI is the largest family-owned foodservice company, and the 8^th largest overall, in the United States. Currently they partner with more than 50 colleges and universities under their education division.

Washington College has announced a $20 million investment in campus improvements, largely focusing on enhancing the residential student experience. This long-term initiative kicks off with major renovations in numerous residence halls, but will also include energy services upgrades and a new dining services agreement.

The starting point for this important initiative is full-scale renovations to two of the campuses most iconic residence halls– Reid Hall and Minta Martin. This initial project marks just the first phase of a larger plan to overhaul housing facilities on campus. The College is also moving ahead with an energy conservation project that will reduce both costs and the overall carbon footprint.

“Our students have been telling us what needed priority attention, and we have been listening carefully,” said Mike Sosulski, President of Washington College. “Safe and comfortable housing is a critical component of the residential experience and we are moving swiftly to make positive changes.”

Updates in Minta Martin include fully renovated bathrooms, new flooring and lighting throughout, interior painting, and updated HVAC systems that will significantly improve air quality. The basement lounge area will also be refreshed with new furniture.  A kitchen is being installed as well.

Reid Hall will get the same overhaul as Minta Martin, plus new windows and a new roof. Work in Reid is already underway.

Renovations in Minta Martin – primarily a first-year residence hall — will start as soon as all students have departed at the end of the term. All work is scheduled to be completed by early August, just in time to welcome the incoming Class of 2026.

Other residence halls slated for upgrades include East, Middle and West Halls. Work in those buildings is set to begin in the Fall of 2022 and will include the same general scope of work as Reid and Minta Martin.

These improvements to student living spaces are largely made possible through a new Energy-as-a-Service agreement (EaaS)with FESCO Energy.  The result of this innovative partnership is the implementation of a campus wide energy infrastructure modernization project that will yield energy, water, carbon, and cost savings. Approximately 50% of the project funds will be used to enhance the student experience by rehabilitating the energy systems in Reid and Minta Martin, significantly improving the air quality in those locations. The balance of the campus-wide planned improvements focus on energy and environmental sustainability and operational improvements, and include lighting updates, interior and exterior water fixture improvements, new windows and replacement roofs, among others.

The campus-wide energy project with FESCO is expected to begin in April 2022 and to be completed by May 2023, though the HVAC work in Minta and Reid will be completed by the fall.

The College will also soon announce changes within Dining Services, which will include increased options to satisfy the full spectrum of dietary needs and preferences, expanded service hours and facility upgrades.

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu. 

Washington College will host a talk by Jesse Acevedo titled “Migration, Remittances, and Authoritarianism: Evidence from Latin America.”  Acevedo will discuss the relationship between remittances and anti-democratic attitudes.  This event is part of the celebration of Latinx Heritage Month.

Hosted by the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs, this webinar-style event is scheduled for September 22 at 7 pm. The webinar is free but registration is required. Registration is available here.

For years, scholars have had optimistic outlooks over the consequences of emigration and remittances in Latin America. Jesse Acevedo will discuss the limits of this optimism and present the fragility of the relationship between emigration and democracy. He will argue that migrant remittances have the potential to produce anti-democratic attitudes, which is amenable to the rise of punitive populists and anti-democratic behaviors in Central America.

“Remittances are a lifeline for many in Latin America and throughout the developing world, but their political impact — particularly on political attitudes —  is not well understood,” according to Dr. Christine Wade, Professor of Political Science and International Studies and Curator of the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs. 

About Dr. Acevedo

Dr. Acevedo is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Denver. His research focuses on political economy, democratization, and international migration. Specifically, he examines how emigration and migrant remittances affect local political attitudes and behaviors in Central America. His work engages in debates about whether emigration and migrant remittances support democratic and economic development.

About the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs

The Louis L. Goldstein Program in Public Affairs was established in 1990 to encourage students to enter public service by introducing them to exemplary leaders. Over the years, journalists, political activists, foreign policy analysts, diplomats, military commanders and government officials of both national and international stature have been guests of the Goldstein Program. The program also supports student participation in models and conferences, and other projects that bring students and faculty together with leaders experienced in developing public policy.

With just one week until the start of fall classes, students have begun to arrive on campus for the first full in-person semester in two years.

Members of the Class of 2025 arrived en masse on Monday morning for a full week of Orientation, joining fall student-athletes, Peer Mentors, Resident Assistants (RA’s) and a few other students who returned the week prior. Transfer students are also on campus for Orientation.

Upperclassmen are due to arrive between the 28^th and 29^th, with sophomores invited to participate in some class-specific welcome activities designed to help this cohort get better acquainted with the campus, their peers and the resources available to them. With classes offered virtually for the spring 2021 semester and some students remaining at home, this is the first time being on campus for some members of the Class of 2024.

Classes begin on August 30 and all instruction will be in person. There is no virtual learning option planned.

Washington College athletics are also back in action, with all Centennial Championship sports (Volleyball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, and Field Hockey) proceeding with regular trainings and competitions. Trap & Skeet and Rowing all compete in the fall. Fall student-athletes began pre-season trainings on August 18.

Welcoming New Students

New students and their families were officially welcome to campus by newly named president, Dr. Michael “Mike” Sosulski; Sarah Feyerherm, VP for Student Affairs; Dr. Michael Harvey, Provost; and Megan Efland, Council Member for the Town of Chestertown.

Sosulski spoke to the students about how happy he is to be there, interacting as real human beings and not just Zoom squares. “We are actually here together, and together we get to connect in all the ways that we have sorely missed,” he said. “We are getting our community back, and that is pure joy.”

Orientation week for new students includes a full slate of activities throughout the week and weekend, culminating with the New Student Convocation on Sunday August 29 and followed by the traditional all-campus picnic on the Hodson Green.

Health and Safety

The College continues to monitor all conditions locally and statewide and will scale COVID safety standards up or down in response to updated guidance, changing conditions, etc.

The COVID vaccine was included as one of a number of required vaccinations for all enrolled students for the 2021-2022 academic year.  Over 95% of the students are fully vaccinated for COVID, with the remaining percentage receiving approved exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Students with approved exemptions are required to participate in regular surveillance testing. Currently this is set to weekly, however the frequency may change.

The COVID vaccine is strongly recommended for employees of the College. Based on data voluntarily submitted to Health Services, close to 85% of the employee base is fully vaccinated. Any employee without a vaccine card on file is also required to participate in regular surveillance testing.

Overall, the Washington College community achieved a vaccination rate of 87%, with that number expected to increase further in the coming weeks. The goal was 85%.

The College is following current CDC guidance around masking, and anyone on campus is required to wear a face mask in all indoor public areas. This includes but is not limited to classes and labs, the Miller Library, the Johnson Fitness Center, Cain Athletic Center, Casey Academic Center and Hodson Hall (except when eating or drinking).

All enrolled students are also required to undergo gateway testing upon arrival. This includes students living off campus. For students living on campus, a negative test result is required in order to proceed with the check-in process. Students living off campus will not be granted access to campus facilities until they have completed the gateway testing.

As required of facilities who have residential occupancy when a public health emergency is declared, Washington College identified spaces for students who must isolate or quarantine. These spaces are available during the fall semester as well, with Corsica Hall serving as the isolation hall and Reid Hall serving as the quarantine hall. The College is also following CDC guidance around quarantine and isolation procedures for those who become ill, test positive or are identified as a close contact.

There are currently no travel restrictions imposed, though no overnight guests are permitted in the residence halls until further notice. Students are strongly encouraged to carefully consider the data around transmission and infection rates of any areas they may wish to travel to.

About Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. It enrolls approximately 1,200 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

Visiting Assistant Professor of English Sufiya Abdur-Rahman has been awarded the prestigious Iowa Prize for Literary Nonfiction for her manuscript, Heir to the Crescent Moon. The book will be published by University of Iowa Press later in 2021. Iowa’s programs in creative writing and nonfiction have an international reputation for being the best there are. 

One of the Iowa Prize judges, Susan Steinberg, said this about the work: “In swift, stunning passages, Abdur-Rahman’s brilliant memoir…fearlessly and honestly recounts what it is to inherit religion, to embody wisdom, to protect love, and to assume the immeasurable role of daughter.”

The Iowa Prize for Literary Nonfiction, open to both new and established writers, is awarded for a book-length manuscript of literary nonfiction originally written in English. The winning manuscript is published by the University of Iowa Press.

Abdur-Rahman teaches a range of courses for Washington College in creative writing, nonfiction, and journalism. She has been instrumental in developing curriculum for the College’s new minor in Journalism, Editing & Publishing. She is also creative nonfiction editor for the national literary journal, Cherry Tree.

About Heir to the Crescent Moon

In Heir to the Crescent Moon, Abdur-Rahman, the daughter of two Black Power-era converts to Islam, investigates her Muslim past and that of her parents in a search for self-discovery. From age five, she feels drawn to Islam even while her father, a devoted Muslim, tries to keep her from it. He and her mother abandoned their Harlem mosque before she was born and divorced when she was twelve. Forced apart from her father—her portal into Islam—she yearns to reconnect with the religion and, through it, him.  

Writing with quiet beauty but intellectual force about identity, community, violence, hope, despair, and faith, Abdur-Rahman weaves a vital tale about a family: black, Muslim, and distinctly American. 

About Sufiya Abdur-Rahman

Abdur-Rahman has previously published essays and criticism in Catapult, The Common Online, Gay Mag, NPR, The Washington Post, and other publications. She has been awarded fellowships from the Sustainable Arts Foundation and is a two-time alumnus of VONA writing workshops. She is Creative Nonfiction Editor for Cherry Tree, a national literary journal, at Washington College, where she teaches nonfiction. She lives in Annapolis with her family.