TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Office of First Year Experience and Bama Dining have partnered this semester to offer Out 2 Lunch, a program designed to provide first-year students an opportunity to meet University faculty and staff outside the classroom.
To participate, each freshman or transfer student may invite one faculty or staff member to join them for a meal at any Bama Dining location. The student may use a guest meal or Dining Dollars to pay for the faculty/staff member and then be reimbursed for their guest’s meal after completing an Out 2 Lunch survey, found at www.fye.ua.edu.
Out 2 Lunch was developed to help ease the academic and social transition of first-year students to college by creating a casual atmosphere that can assist students in initiating conversations with professors or administrators.
A dialogue can begin with topics such as class materials, hobbies, career goals or bucket lists and can lead to benefits such as increased confidence and learning about opportunities for studying abroad and participating in internships and co-ops. Students may also gather valuable advice on graduate programs and various career options, and find a new mentor or friend in the process.
In 2011, the Office of First Year Experience conducted a pilot program of Out 2 Lunch through Freshman Forum and Ignite UA. Not only did the student participants appreciate getting to know their professors, but they also walked away from the experience with advice and perspective on their academic goals and career paths.
The faculty and staff members who participated described that they enjoyed the chance to learn more about their students and are looking forward to engaging with more students this year.
For additional information about Out 2 Lunch, go to www.fye.ua.edu or contact them at fye@ua.edu, 205/348-8404.
Contact
Kristi Payne or Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Phillips N. Thomas, UA Student Affairs, 205/348-8404, pnthomas@sa.ua.edu