Students can use a SIDE Swipe to treat a faculty member to lunch. Graphic by Shelby Baitsholts, design editor.
In an effort to entice students and faculty and staff to engage more in conversation, Elon University is piloting a new free lunch program in Lakeside, McEwen and Colonnades dining halls.
The test run of Student Initiated Dining Engagement (SIDE) program allows students to invite faculty or staff members to lunch twice between now and May 18, according to an email from Smith Jackson, vice president for Student Life..
It was requested by SGA and the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council to expand the existing “Take a Student to Lunch” program.
With this new initiative in place, students now have the privilege to ask faculty and staff to lunch instead of only faculty and staff being able to invite students.
Students with or without meal plans are allowed to partake in the program. When at a dining hall, students should tell the cashier they are using a SIDE swipe and specify whether or not they have an All-Access meal plan. The cashier will then swipe the Phoenix Card of the student and faculty or staff member for tracking purposes only.
Neither the student nor the faculty member will be charged, and the meal will not count against the faculty member’s “Take a Student to Lunch” swipes.
There is no guarantee this program will continue in the future. At the conclusion of this year, a survey will be sent out to those who participated in the pilot period.