UC Arts and Sciences Offers Free Thanksgiving Dinner to Students

The University of Cincinnati is providing a free Thanksgiving meal for members of its College of Arts and Sciences. The event is scheduled for Nov. 20. It is designed for students, faculty, and staff who may not be spending the holiday with their families. Shannon Memory, a staff member who organizes the event, stated that she started the program at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business last year. She has now expanded the initiative to the College of Arts and Sciences.

Memory indicated that roughly 90 people from the Arts and Sciences community have already expressed interest in attending. The college is currently accepting sign-ups for the event. Those who wish to reserve a spot must submit an RSVP by Nov. 6. The gathering will take place in Tangeman University Center. Specifically, the meal will be served in rooms 400 A, B, and C.

The dinner is set to run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Staff will serve a traditional American Thanksgiving menu. The food will include turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and green beans. In addition to the food, the organizers have planned trivia games for attendees. The space is being prepared with festive decorations to create a holiday atmosphere.

Memory described the event as her favorite project since joining the university. She explained that the meal offers a chance for connection for those who are far from home. "A lot of students don’t have an opportunity to celebrate with family, because family is far away whether that’s a different country or locally, and some people consider the people here their family, like staff, faculty and peers," Memory said. She added that she enjoys asking students where they consider their home to be.

The organizer noted that seeing the positive reaction from attendees was a rewarding experience. "It is my favorite thing I’ve done since I’ve worked at UC," Memory said. "Seeing the joy it brought people and seeing students try our foods for the first time was awesome." The college aims to support its community members during a time when many are separated from their relatives.

The College of Arts and Sciences is home to a diverse group of students and faculty. The college also operates 12 research centers that focus on topics such as machine learning, environmental sciences, and urban policy. While the research centers work on complex issues, this holiday event focuses on immediate community needs. The college recently appointed Ryan J. White and Rina Williams as divisional deans for Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. They began their terms on Jan. 1, 2024.

Students at the university have multiple pathways for academic advancement. The college offers 15 five-year programs that allow students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree. These programs cover fields including biological sciences, Spanish, and psychology. This accelerated track reduces the time to completion from six years to five. The college also runs a 4+1 program designed to enhance student marketability in a competitive job market.

The upcoming Thanksgiving meal is part of a larger effort to foster community within the college. The event is open to all students, faculty, and staff associated with Arts and Sciences. Participation is voluntary. The college will continue to promote the event through its official channels. The RSVP deadline remains Nov. 6.

The event is the first A&S Thanksgiving hosted by the college. Memory brought her experience from the Business College to this new initiative. She hopes to maintain this tradition in future years. The university has not announced plans for similar events in other colleges at this time. The focus remains on the Nov. 20 gathering in Tangeman University Center.