Take Your Professor to Lunch Program
Although our university is large, there are many opportunities to become better acquainted with our teachers. Sharing lunch and an informal conversation is a great way to explore educational and research opportunities, to identify or confirm your career direction, as well as build an educational relationship — an important factor when requesting a future letter of reference.
This program is initiated by a College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate student inviting a teacher to lunch. Meal cards are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis during autumn and spring semesters.
How does it work?
- Request a set of meal cards. You may apply once per semester whether you dine with a teacher one-on-one or as part of a student group.
- Invite a College of Arts and Sciences teacher to lunch and confirm a date and time that you will meet. Please select a date at least one week in the future. This date must be finalized before completing the application. The date for your lunch must occur before the last day of final exams. You may meet with your faculty guest for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a more casual coffee meeting if preferred.
- You and your teacher will be notified via email within one week if approved and, if so, where you can pick up your meal cards – one for you and one for the teacher.
- Meet your teacher at any of the Traditions Dining Services locations located at Kennedy, Scott, and Morrill. The meal cards may only be used at one of these locations.
- Let the cashier know you are using visits on your card to gain entry.
- Have a thoughtful conversation with your teacher.
“Getting to know professors was really important to me, and I’m fortunate I was able to have this program to be able to do that at a campus as large as Ohio State’s. I’m forever grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to connect with so many amazing professors here.”
Michael Caruso, strategic communication
Student Eligibility:
Undergraduate students enrolled in a College of Arts and Sciences major on the Columbus campus. You may request a set of meal cards once per semester
Faculty Eligibility:
The teacher must teach in the College of Arts and Sciences on the Columbus campus. They must hold a position as a faculty member (professor, associate professor or assistant professor), an instructor, a lecturer or a graduate teaching associate (GTA).
To ensure your teacher is: 1) in the College of Arts and Sciences; and, 2) holds an eligible position, enter their name in the Ohio State search to view their position.
- Yes, a student group of up to three undergraduate Arts and Sciences majors including yourself may invite a teacher to lunch. Students may participate in this program once per semester whether dining one-on-one with a teacher or as part of a group. All students in the group must be eligible to be included. Information for all students will be required on the application. This includes:
- Full name
- Arts and Sciences major(s)
- Ohio State email address
- The student who completes the online application will be responsible for picking up the meal cards for all approved members of the group.
- Open your email with a respectful greeting, such as “Dear Professor X.”
- Provide options for when you can meet. The more flexible you can be with your time, the more likely you will be to find a meeting time.
- Respect standard working hours. Only request a meeting that occurs Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- If you have enrolled in one of their classes, let them know which class.
- Let them know why you would specifically like to meet with them.
- Thank them and sign your name.
- Share information about yourself that you are comfortable talking about. This helps them to get to know you. Where are you from? What brought you to Ohio State? Why did you select your major? What do you like to do outside of class?
- Share what you enjoyed about their class, what may have been challenging for you, or what surprised you.
- Ask what other courses they or others in their department teach that are related to your interests.
- Ask about their career path, research, or area of expertise and what drew them to it.
- Ask about research opportunities, advice on your career direction, or recommended graduate programs.
- If they are writing a recommendation for you, it’s helpful for you to share your on- and off- campus involvement, leadership, community service, employment, etc.
- Be respectful of their time and thank them for making time to meet with you.
Contact Jessica Rodriguez, Scholarship and Student Engagement Manager.