Dear Panther, We appreciate your help and welcome any feedback to further improve this program.

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2 Dear Panther, The Student Alumni Association would like to thank you for your consideration to serve as a Dining with 12 Panthers (D12) host. Without your dedication, our goal to connect alumni and students would not be possible. For many students, the process of meeting and connecting with alumni can be intimidating. However, we believe the best connections a student can make are with the students that came before them. Whether acting as a mentor, providing career related opportunities or giving advice, the connections made between current students and alumni are invaluable. We hope that hosting a breakfast, lunch or dinner at your home or another venue of your choice, will be as rewarding for you as it is for our students. This event offers an excellent opportunity to discuss your past experiences and inspire students to seek their career aspirations, as well as keeping you involved with the FIU community. This manual serves as a guide to getting you started with planning your event. If you have any questions, comments or concerns during the planning process, please alumni@fiu.edu or call A student facilitator will be assigned to assist you every step of the way. We appreciate your help and welcome any feedback to further improve this program. We look forward to your participation and future involvement. In the spirit of Blue and Gold, Duane Wiles Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations Executive Director, Alumni Association 1

3 The Student Alumni Association (SAA), a division of the Florida International University Alumni Association, sponsors, plans and coordinates programs and events for FIU students, alumni and prospective students. The SAA provides activities that enhance school spirit and FIU traditions both on and off campus for Panthers everywhere! SAA has been the largest student organization on campus since the spring of 2004, continuing to connect and involve students with FIU through learning and leadership opportunities, events, services and traditions, while fostering a sense of loyalty and pride. SAA Mission Statement: The Student Alumni Association fosters school spirit and traditions at FIU, encourages active relationships with alumni and students, and cultivates future alumni leaders. DINING WITH 12 PANTHERS This FIU tradition gives alumni and community partners the opportunity to host a breakfast, lunch or dinner for 12 FIU students. The purpose is to make our ever-growing community more accessible to students by having alumni and community partners share their on-campus and career experiences in a small group setting. Participating students will have the opportunity to: Connect with FIU alumni and friends in an informal setting Establish connections outside peer and academic groups Become more confident about networking with alumni Have a mentor The program host will have an opportunity to meet current FIU students and act as a role model by sharing life experiences and offering advice on how to succeed in school and after college. PLANNING PLANNING YOUR DINNER Once you decide to be a D12 host, contact the Office of Alumni Relations. A staff member will contact you to set a date and work on the logistics with you. CHOOSING A DATE, TIME AND LOCATION As a D12 host, you choose the date and time. 2 The program should be between 2 to 3 hours. You can host the event in your home, making the program more intimate. Inviting students to a D12 at a restaurant or hosting a meal in a conference room on campus has also been very successful.

4 HOW ARE THE 12 STUDENTS SELECTED Students sign-up online, and they are paired with you based on their major. Your SAA Student Facilitator will manage all invitations, guest list and attendee logistics. The D12 host will need to specify the specific major(s) you would like the students to be studying. We will cap the RSVP list at 20, to allow room for cancellations or unforeseen no shows. GUESTS AND ALUMNI You can choose to have other alumni as your guests or join you as a co-host of a D12. Based on previous programs, following are some recommendations: Including a few recent graduates can facilitate conversation and help students relax. Co-hosts can help with preparations, greeting students and facilitating conversation, and will be available in case you need to leave the room during the event. The host should plan the times for meal service, introductions and topics to be discussed with the students. A well-organized event makes the evening flow smoothly and allows the students to relax. MENU As the host of D12, you are responsible for selecting a menu and providing food for students. Remember your event can be as informal or as formal as you like. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Cook Comfortably If you are preparing the meal, choose foods that you already know how to prepare. Try to keep it simple and don t feel stressed about cooking a formal meal. You may have the meal catered, as this allows you more time to spend with your guests. Dietary Restrictions It s a good idea to keep track of the ingredients used to prepare the meal in the event one of your guests has allergies or dietary restrictions. If there are known restrictions, they will be provided to you in advance. Alcohol Please refrain from serving alcohol to your guests, as some of them will be minors and we do not want them to feel excluded or place you in an uncomfortable position. 3

5 SAMPLE PROGRAM WELCOME Allow for 30 minutes to welcome and get acquainted with the student guests. It s a good idea to mix alumni with students to encourage a mixed conversation and avoid having the two groups sitting apart. Your student facilitator can provide pre-printed place cards and name tags, in case you would like assigned seating for the dinner. CONVERSATION Once everyone sits down, we recommend you give a warm welcome. Give some background information about yourself and why you decided to host a D12. Invite students to introduce themselves. Afterward, we recommend you begin to share life experiences, offer advice, and take questions and provide answers. CONCLUSION It s a good idea for the host to inform guests that the D12 will end in 15 minutes. Politely wrap up conversations and say goodbye to one another. Provide student attendees with your business card. PREPARATION introduction sent by FIU staff TIMELINE AND CHECK LIST Provide SAA with the following information: Date you would like to host a D12 Start and End times A brief biography with a photo to let students know who you are Location of the D12 Co-host or other guest contact information The Office of Alumni Relations will provide you with your Student Facilitator and contact information to help plan the event. TWO TO THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO EVENT Your Student Facilitator will provide you with: A guest list of all participants Information about dietary restrictions or special circumstances of any student participant As a host of D12, please provide your Student Facilitator with the following: Attire Menu Your contact phone number for that day Directions 4

6 ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE Please notify the Student Facilitator of any changes or special requests, if necessary. As a host, you will be receiving the following: An updated guest list and student transportation plans from SAA. TWO TO THREE DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT You will receive the final guest list. All student participants will receive an as a final reminder. DAY OF EVENT Student Facilitator arrives to help set up an hour before the event begins. Students arrive and get acquainted Student Facilitators will provide pre-printed name tags to students, hosts, and other guests minutes after arriving, the meal is served. Allow for approximately one hour of conversation, questions and answers. Students depart. Student Facilitator helps clean-up and then leaves. The host will receive an survey for feedback and suggestions. Please take a moment to give us your thoughts about the program. 5

7 HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS PREPARE EARLY When hosting at your home, preparing for the event in advance will make it easier for you. Set the table and have the food already prepared or served, as this will save a lot of time and effort once the guests arrive. KEEP IT SIMPLE The goal of the event is to show students a warmer and more personal aspect of their university. Keep it simple so students will feel relaxed and comfortable. Remember students may be nervous enough without having to worry about formality. ATTIRE We recommend a business-casual attire to keep with the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the event. But you can make it a little more fun and plan a themed evening. Please let your SAA Student Facilitator know in advance what you expect, so the students can be informed. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY The SAA Student Facilitator will do his/her best to limit last minute cancellations, no-shows and late arrivals. If a student has not arrived on time, it is nice to wait a few minutes, but don t delay the event too long. It s okay to begin without late students and let them catch up after they arrive. CONTACT INFO Confirmed guests will have your contact number on the day of the D12 in the event they get lost. PHOTOS The SAA Student Facilitator will take photos and/or videos during the event. If there is an issue with taking photos, please let us know in advance. CONVERSATION You are the catalyst to create conversation. Many of the students may be meeting for the first time and not know each other. Consider having some conversation topics in mind. The student facilitator is there to help with talking points if necessary. STAYING IN TOUCH Before the event ends, the SAA Student Facilitator will give the group everyone s information. As host, please use this opportunity to teach students the importance of networking, meeting new people and follow-up. POST EVENT SURVEY After the event, you will be asked to provide feedback about your D12 program. The D12 program is ever growing at FIU, and your feedback is important to improve future events. 6

8 THEMES Meals at your home can be catered or home cooked. Sometimes having a theme for your event and asking students to actively participate can help get everyone acquainted. Here are some ideas: FIU TAILGATE: Gather FIU related decorations to create a Panther setting. Grill hamburgers, hot-dogs and other traditional tailgate fare. PATRIOTIC: Serve an all-american dinner and decorate in red, white and blue. TAKE-OUT: Order a variety of foods from one of your favorite restaurants. TACO/NACHO BAR: Set up a buffet to build your own tacos and nachos. MINI PIZZAS: Buy individual pizzas and have a variety of toppings, so students can create their favorite pizza. MARDI GRAS STYLE: Serve gumbo and jambalaya to celebrate Mardi Gras. CARIBBEAN NIGHT: Bring out the reggae music, blender and BBQ to create virgin piña coladas and vegetable skewers. FAMILY FAVORITES: Share family recipes and history about the food served. SUNDAES ON SUNDAY: If your dinner falls on Sunday, create an ice cream bar for dessert. SOUPER SUPPER: Serve a variety of soups. INTERNATIONAL TAPAS: Set up a buffet to build your own meal between American, Asian, Italian, Latin, etc. tapas. CONVERSATION Getting the conversation started at the table may take some encouragement. Here are some simple ideas to keep students talking: INTRODUCTIONS: Before the event, have everyone go around the table to introduce themselves, including where they are from, what they are studying and future aspirations. You could also incorporate an ice-breaker, which your Student Facilitator can provide. AN FIU EDUCATION: As an alumnus/a share your educational experience, and how the FIU network has helped you personally and professionally. Explain why it s important to stay involved with the University after graduation. CAREER ASPIRATIONS: Ask students about career aspirations and their dream jobs and ideal work locations. 7

9 SHARE YOUR STORIES: Advice and reflection are valuable topics to share with students. What you have done or could have done are great ways to help students plan for the future. Ask the students about their future plans and how they plan to attain them. During the event, the conversation will probably move freely and naturally and everyone will feel more comfortable. It s okay if students break into groups to talk conversation. Topics: Is anyone taking a semester abroad? What professor has had the biggest impact on you? What do you do outside of class? What organizations are you involved with? 8