Hi my name is Keeley, I am a fifth- year student here at UNC. I plan to Graduate May 2021 and pursue a career in visual communications and graphic design. These past Five years have taught me so much, as I reflect on my experience and think about the new students stepping onto campus, I have some not so secret “secrets” to share with you in hopes to make your life as a bear the best it can be! As I reach my last year here at UNC, I feel there are many things I wish I had known about and utilized as a UNC student. The support and services offered to students on UNC’s campus have become a staple for my college lifestyle and have helped me along the way. I currently am working for Student Affairs, and was asked to write a few blogs about services and support offered to students. I encourage all new and returning students to take advantage of these opportunities, as I have found they are a major benefit to being a college student at UNC. Hey, take it from me you pay the tuition, so be sure to get the best out of it because it is so worth it!
The University of Northern Colorado has many attributes to offer its students, I have found some of the most important and less discussed ones are the support and services on campus. These services range from the Student Health Center and Bear Pantry to Career Readiness and Handshake. All offering the support to navigate the ever-changing lifestyle of a college student.
This first blog I would like to let you in on a little secret, called Bear Pantry.
As a student here at UNC I have found there are many changes to life when entering college. UNC offers these resources like Bear Pantry, to help adapt to these changes. As a first- year student I was unsure of utilizing these resources UNC has to offer, and I'm here to tell you they’re here for you and they helped me along the way.
College is filled with many new experiences, that bring amazing opportunities, new connections, and gripping challenges. Many of these challenges are new to students as their world shifts into a new life style. One of the major shifts for many students is cooking on their own and providing food for themselves. UNC provides various dining locations and hours where students can purchase meal plans and get a meal each day. One location that is not part of dining services is the Bear Pantry and is often less discussed among students. Bear Pantry is one of the resources on UNC’s campus that offers students help in times of food insecurities. Bear Pantry offers free, that’s right FREE food for students each week.
How can you sign up? Here’s what you do:
- Make an appointment online and let the staff know if you have any allergies
- Choose up to 10 free items
- Bring your UNC ID
- Pick up your food and/or personal need items
The food items provided changes weekly and ranges from snacks to essential food needs. As a student working and going to school full-time I found this to really help me in times of need. It is easy, welcoming, and specifically there for students. This was something I did not know about my first few years of college and am happy to have found it. There also is the option to donate meal swipes and extra food to Bear Pantry for those who want to. The Bear Pantry has become a great resource on-campus for those with food insecurities.
Remember, these campus secrets are not a secret, tell your friends, get involved, and encourage those around you to visit! These support and services are there for you, specifically designed to make your college experience the best it can be.
