Bernell Dorrough“Sometimes the best thing to do when you’re on overload is to step back,” said Melanie Osborn, assistant director of orientation.
Three years ago, Osborn joined Risa Zwerling and Karen Coburn in founding “Home Plate,” a program designed to give students the opportunity to take her advice. Home Plate was created to give freshmen (though it is not limited to freshmen) the chance to spend time away from campus and be involved in a home-like atmosphere. During the school year, St. Louis families open their homes to two or three Washington University students for free home-cooked meals in a family environment.
“Being a freshman is a very hard job,” said Zwerling, wife of Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
Zwerling created the program when her oldest daughter struggled with homesickness at college. After being invited to her professor’s house for dinner one night, Zwerling said that her daughter began to enjoy college much more. Zwerling attributed the change to the home visit.
Zwerling believed that students who are away from home sometimes crave contact with a family, so she began to call some of her friends, particularly those with “empty nests.” After gaining student interest in the program, Osborn matched up the students and families, and the program took off. These days, Zwerling has 30-35 families, most of whom are friends of the Home Plate staff or faculty at the University, opening their homes to students.
Both the students and the families must fill out a general application involving information regarding topics such as allergies and religious preference, then send it to Osborn for review. After looking over the applications, Osborn phones the students and families, in order to gain a better understanding of their interests and expectations. Students interested in a certain field of study may be matched accordingly. For example, if a couple of students are studying Spanish, they can be placed in a Hispanic home (if there is one available) where they would be able to utilize their language skills and learn more about the culture.
After making these matches, Osborn helps the pairs to schedule the first dinner. The students and families are required to have at least three meals each year, and are responsible for scheduling after the first. The family provides transportation (unless the student has his/her own).
Although there are a few guidelines, most families go beyond the minimum requirements. The average number of visits is around two a semester, according to Osborn. For Assistant Director of Development in the School of Art and the School of Architecture Aly Abrams, hosting her three students has been a wonderful and enlightening experience.
“It’s been fabulous,” said Abrams. “We let [the students] participate as part of the family.”
Among other things, Abrams and her students have gone to movies, celebrated birthdays and went shopping at the bookstore. Abrams even took two students to a synagogue with her.
“It gives the students one more person to connect to if they have a problem and just want to talk,” said Coburn, assistant vice chancellor for students and dean of freshmen transition.
Senior Adrianne Casagrand became involved in the program at Osborn’s request. She said that the sense of connection is her favorite part of the program.
“I was nervous, but I couldn’t pass up a meal,” said Casagrand.
Casagrand started visiting her family her sophomore year when the program began, and she still continues to see them along with the two other students.
Coburn said that being with other students, together in a home, really makes a difference.
“Sign up and get together a couple of friends who want to do it with you-the sooner the better!” said Coburn.
Casagrand said that being with others enhanced the experience since she got to learn more about those two students as well as the family.
“Honestly, it gets better every time I go,” said Casagrand. “It’s a really good program, you have nothing to lose, and you get a free dinner!”