CU Snacks When you want it. Where you want it.

Dear CU Snacks customers and student community:

As you may know, the Center for Career Education is charged with managing the Columbia Student Enterprise program, in which students have an opportunity to gain first-hand experience running a small business, as well as gain valuable transferable skills for professional and career development.  For the past four years, CU Snacks has been a valued part of this program and students have benefited from this experience. We are writing to let you know regrettably the decision has been made to discontinue the agency's operations and not to reopen for business this fall.  This is a decision that was not taken lightly, was made after much deliberation and thorough consideration of all viable options, and in consideration of the significant efforts undertaken by committed student management and CCE staff.   Unfortunately, a number of business requirements prevented CU Snacks from becoming a successful, self-sustaining enterprise.  The resource investment, finances, increased need for appropriate equipment, and additional space has hindered CU Snacks from surpassing its start-up phase. While a number of efforts were undertaken this past year by the Center for Career Education and other Columbia University offices invested in CU Snacks to accommodate for a shift in the CU Snacks business model, this growth potential required more resources; mainly securing appropriate space that met mandatory health and fire code regulations. Despite months of active investigation, it has not been feasible to find a physical space on campus where CU Snacks would be able to grow appropriately and operate within these regulations.

Regardless of the ultimate decision to close CU Snacks, we want to acknowledge the significant contributions the stellar staff at CU Snacks has made throughout its lifespan. We know the successes of these student businesses are a testament to the work of every individual, and all involved have an invested stake in the agency. We at the Center for Career Education are proud of the work accomplished by each of our students in this endeavor, as the passion, skills and learning experiences have made the Student Enterprises a flagship program.

We want to remind you that the Center for Career Education continues to be a provider for experiential and entrepreneurial learning opportunities.  We hope you will consider continuing to pursue these opportunities either through the other agencies in our Student Enterprises program or through the various internship opportunities for the summer and academic year.  Also, please keep the Center for Career Education as the office to visit for all of your career related needs.

If you have any questions about CU Snacks, please contact Beth Vanderputten. If you would like to inquire further about our services, programs, and offerings, please visit our Web site. We look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Regards,

Center for Career Education