The LAUNCH First Year Eats
Living-Learning Program centers on food and community. First Year Eats connects learning community students across programs to enhance the students' LC experience and widen their networks.
First Year Eats emphasizes helping college students develop skills related to eating well in the new environment of residence hall living on a college campus: selecting, buying, preparing, storing, and even growing the items needed or wanted for nutritious meals while living in a residence hall. Additional opportunities to learn more about food and combatting hunger in American society are offered. Typical activities include Mug Meal Mondays, Crockpot Fridays, Shopping Healthy excursions, and occasional cooking classes. A “take what you need, eat what you take” pantry is provided in Clements for residents. All participation is optional.
First-year students from any major may participate. First Year Eats includes students from Regents’ Scholars, the LAUNCH Learning Communities (Brownsville Scholars, GTF Aggie Scholars, Century Scholars and Posse Scholars) and the Office for Student Success First-Generation Learning Communities (ACREW, FOCUS, and Ignite). First Year Eats allows students from different learning communities to mix across those groups and live together.
Office for Student Success First-Generation Learning Community participants (ACREW, FOCUS, Ignite) are highly encouraged to participate in First Year Eats. It is our belief that participating in First Year Eats, along with a student’s individual learning community, will give them an even greater first year experience. Students will not only get assistance with their academic transition, they will also have access to food, be abreast of proper eating habits, taught important nutritional information, and may participate in food related events weekly.
Some LAUNCH: Learning Communities (Brownsville Scholars and GTF Aggie Scholars) are required to live together in First Year Eats. Century Scholars are highly encouraged to do so. Note: University Honors and Terry Scholars live in other locations on-campus.
Students must be participating in either LAUNCH: Learning Communities such as the Brownsville Scholars, Century Scholars, Greater Texas Foundation Aggie Scholars, or Posse Scholars, or in Office for Student Success (OSS) First-Generation Learning Communities: ACREW (Regents' Scholars with President's Endowed Scholarships), FOCUS (Regents' Scholars), or Ignite (First Generation Non-Regents' Scholars). Regents' Scholars who are not required to live with their success program in another LLP may request First Year Eats.
Note: Cadets affiliated with these learning communities, University Honors students and Terry Scholars may participate in First Year Eats events although they are required to live elsewhere on campus.
Clements Hall will be the center of activity for First Year Eats. First Year Eats includes the following opportunities:
- Mug Meal Mondays (free mugs, ingredients, recipes and coaching plus an online cookbook)
- Crockpot Fridays (free ingredients and recipes)
- Shopping Healthy excursions
- Shared Clements Pantry - "take what you need, eat what you take"
- Everybody Eats (vegetable/herb grow bags for student rooms)
- Vertical Tower Gardens (education and access to vertical tower gardens)
- Cooking Lessons and other skill-building experiences
- Opportunities for service, leadership, or research to combat hunger on campus and beyond
First Year Eats LLP is a LAUNCH program funded by a TAMU I-School Innovation X grant and donations from sponsors including H-E-B Helping Here, Integ, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., and Feathercrest Farms. This means that activities and supplies will be free to participants.
As always, participating in First Year Eats programs as a resident of Clements Hall is optional.