Academic Centers for Excellence

The Out to Lunch Program is designed to promote faculty and student interaction outside the classroom. Students can pick up an Out to Lunch ticket at any ACE office or any University Housing area office. Students then take their professor to lunch for free at any campus dining facility. University Housing and Sodexho Dining Services covers the cost of the faculty member’s meal and the students pay for their own meal with their meal plan, Carolina card, or cash.

How does Out-to-Lunch work?

Step 1 - Invite a professor to lunch by:
Asking him/her before or after class
Calling his/her office
Emailing him/her

Step 2 - Pick up a ticket at any of the following offices:
Sims Hall ACE
Columbia Hall ACE
Bates House ACE
Thomas Cooper Library ACE
Capstone Scholars Office (behind Gibbes)
North Campus Area Office (Legare/Pinckney-Horseshoe)
Central Campus Area Office (Sims Hall)
South Campus Area Office (Bates House)
Resident Student Learning (Sims Hall)

Step 3 - Choose a place to eat!
The OTL tickets are good anywhere on campus except for Marble Slab or the Russell House Starbucks.

We recommend:
The Grand Market Place (in the Russell House)
Preston’s at Noon (in the Russell House)
Colloquium Café (near Gambrell & the Humanities Buildings)
Gibbes Court (Capstone), and
Bates Carolina Diner (Bates House)

Out To Loud

Step 4 - Have great conversation with your professor.
Suggestions for conversation topics:
Class material or an assignment
How the professor’s academic career has developed
Why the professor came to the University of South Carolina
What the professor enjoys about teaching
Your career goals and aspirations after graduation
Hobbies, USC Sports, or anything else!

Print a copy of suggestioned questions or topics to ask your professor!

If you need more convincing that this is a program worth partaking in, just look at what past student participants have said:

“Taking a professor out to lunch was certainly out of my comfort zone, but I am happy I did it!” -Kaitlin Bennett

“Out to Lunch is a great program at the University of South Carolina. I think it is a good opportunity to get to know one of your professors. That can always be helpful when you may need that extra point.
- Emilee Rikard

“The Out to Lunch program was a great way to get to know my English 101 teacher better and a great way to clarify what she expects out of my work.” -DJ Darby

“I believe that this was a good experience for me because I got to learn a little more about the person grading my tests and projects, and hopefully made a good impression.”
-Andrew Zaengle

“It was like having my own teacher conference, but outside of the classroom, which made it feel more relaxed. I also got to know my professor better and feel like I can relate to her more, which will most likely help me when I’m in her class.”
-Alyson Pickett

“Out to Lunch was a great experience because it helped me see a new aspect in my professor that I had never seen. In addition, he promised he would remember my name when our final grades are determined, leaving me happy.”
-Will Atwood

“I thought taking a professor out to lunch would be intimidating and awkward. I thought, “What in the world am I supposed to ask this man?” and “What can we possibly talk about for this long?” It turns out I learned a lot about my professor! We not only talked about his teaching career, but also about his personal life outside of school.”
-Meagan McInville

Need more information about the Out-to-Lunch program?
Contact Katie Patton, Graduate Assistant for Academic Success Initiatives 803-777-0447 or pattonk@mailbox.sc.edu