Question:
I am interested in getting feedback on food and beverage policies in computer classrooms. Please indicate which of the following are true. Please note that these questions do not apply to a dedicated break room or other area that is part of a training facility. The questions are specific to food in the computer classrooms themselves.

Choices:
We do not allow any food or beverages in computer classrooms.
We only allow beverages in computer classrooms.
We allow light snacks and beverages in computer classrooms.
We allow individuals to bring their own meals and beverages into computer classrooms.
We allow groups to have catered or delivered food in computer classrooms.

 

my response -- OTHER

I prefer a hybrid classroom set up. The computers are around the perimeter, and there are work tables in the center. There, they can have food and drink as long as drinks are covered and everything is cleaned up each day.

I am curious, though... what's the point of this poll?

Thanks for your thoughts. The purpose of the poll is to get some thoughts from my peers in this field. Due to some unpleasant incidents in classrooms I want to change our long-standing, very liberal policy to a relatively strict one. My management asked that I check with how my peers handle the food issue before enacting the policy.

I have taught in classroom situations that were handled like Always Learning mentioned--Having drink and snack away from the equipment--If the students were in a lab situation, they were free to go over to the drink/snack area and they would return to the lab when they were done.
I have also been in classroom settings where drinks and snacks were allowed at the computer stations and I only remember one incident, and fortunately it cleaned up without damage.
Another suggestion might be snacks-okay; drinks require a non-spill lid. In that case, soda would be okay, but coffee would have to be in a travel-type cup.
One question I have is, "Has allowing drinks and snacks ever caused a real problem for your classes?" If not, you may be fixing a non-existant problem.

Jay Truitt

Some of our classrooms are in locations that are geographically distant from where my staff normally works. 80% of the available classroom time is actually used by other departments, including about 50 different guest instructors who do not report to me. We are responsible for the classrooms, but are not physically able to monitor them on a daily basis. Unfortunately we have had some very unsanitary situations lately. The problem has been narrowed down to a handful of departments, but I'm not inclined to split hairs. Would rather a clear and easily administered policy.