The University of Houston Dining Services took it to another level in the Heights event salon of the Student Center South in January, when the team hosted its First Year Eats Mocktail Party for UH students who were attending their first semester. 

The early evening social provided a fun atmosphere to mingle with other students, meet members of the UH Dining Services team, and learn about the meal plans that are available and the department’s services. The room was set up with small high-top tables and a buffet of treats that extended along a wall. 

A mixologist was on hand to make drinks by the order from a list of raspberry spritzer, margarita, or sunrise mocktails while a deejay kept everyone bopping. Team members drew lucky tickets for fun prizes throughout the event. 

Three UH students: Mojola Okusaga, junior, management information systems major; Angel Albarran, junior, economics major; and Kayla Lewis, freshman, psychology major; all agreed that the Mocktail Party helped them break the ice with others. 

“There were mocktails and I really liked the food,” said Lewis. “It was really a great chance to meet people and to talk to new people.” 

“We were able to talk to each other at the little tables,” said Okusaga. “We were forced to be close to each other, have conversations, and introduce ourselves.” 

“We communicated, [after] that initial awkward period was gone,” said Albarran. “We talked about majors, what we’ve been through, where we’re from, and things like that. It made me feel like I was welcomed to the table without even saying anything beforehand.” 

First Year Eats program offers students help 

UH Dining Service’s First Year Eats program’s goal is to provide all the resources, comfort, and support to university students who are experiencing their first year on campus. This includes students who are freshmen or are transfer students who are attending their first semester at the university. 

UH Dining Services realizes that First Year Eats focuses on an integral time in a new student’s career. It’s a period when students are faced with adjusting to an unfamiliar environment with a new regiment that requires meeting class and eating schedules. 

“We can be a support to them, as a dining services program, whether that's reminding them that they can get great brain food at certain locations to help with studying or that they always have a friendly face and support in us,” said Alexcis Mendoza, district marketing manager, UH Dining Services. “Whether it's our cashiers or managers who are friendly, we're all here to help them get through college. This is our way of dedicating a specific program to first-year students.” 

Program encourages involvement, loyalty 

Impact studies show that students are more successful, both academically and socially, if they stay involved in extracurriculars and auxiliary services. Due to the many resources thrown at students in their first year, it’s easy for them to become overwhelmed by all the things they're seeing and learning. 

The program assists students in becoming more successful through the events, which offer them the opportunity to network and become ingrained in the campus culture. 

“First Year Eats is our way of saying, ‘Hey, this is a dedicated program: We are here for you,’” said Mendoza. “A huge part of the program is the loyalty piece that encourages and incentivizes students to stay involved in the events that we're hosting for them.” 

Prizes are available incrementally by the number of First Year Eats events a first-year student attends, checks in with on their loyalty app, and has their virtual card stamped. For example, a student who attends four events will receive four stamps and will be eligible for a prize. By attending eight events, that student would receive a larger prize. 

“It's our way of keeping students involved in the campus community and culture, which will drive their success, ultimately, at the end of their college career,” said Mendoza. 

Networking opportunities are available 

First Year Eats sets up monthly activities for students to stay in touch with their comrades and classmates. These can include cultural events, cooking classes, feel-good giveaways, and coffee breaks that are connected to the loyalty program. 

The program offers on-campus partnerships to expose students to other departments and organizations of the University, in keeping with UH’s mission of “Connecting Potential with Opportunity” and in having the students linked to the community. 

Allowing other departments to partner some of the events increases their impact and provides additional resources. For example, UH Dining Services partners with Cougar Cupboard, the on-campus food pantry that supports students who might be experiencing food insecurity. 

“We think that's so important for all students, but especially first-year students who are still trying to adjust to ‘Where am I going to get food when I'm not in the dining hall?’ or ‘How can I cook for myself?’” said Mendoza. “So, we partner with entities such as Cougar Cupboard to make sure that we're giving them all the resources we can now.” 

The program also finds support from the UH community for students seeking internships or on-campus jobs. 

“No matter what a student is interested in or what their future career looks like to them, we can kind of offer a functional area that may be able to aid them in their future success and help build their resume,” said Mendoza. 

Important introduction made on Day One 

Students are introduced to the First Year Eats program along with the meal plan program during New Student Orientation. UH Dining Services hosts tables during each of the orientation events.  

“I lead an amazing team of young marketers, communicators, innovators and storytellers,” said Mendoza. “Everyone on my team is either a current student and is an intern or is a UH alum. Not only is it our way of giving back to the UH community, but it also ensures that we continue to be sustainable in that talent cycle and really pour into our graduates.”