The Center for Academic Support put on an open house highlighting new projects and resources available to students and faculty this Tuesday, Oct. 23. The event included mini flyers, informational pamphlets and an assortment of food, some of which was a part of one of their newest endeavors, the Brain Food Project.

The idea of the Brain Food Project, says Academic Support program coordinator Sandra Mills, has been two years in the making. The goal of the project is to provide students with food during study sessions, so as to increase their efficiency. Often, students get hungry and end up leaving in the middle of a good study session. By providing “brain food” Academic Support aims to help with that.

“My hope is that students come in and have a snack, study longer, stay longer and be successful,” said Mills. “That’s our goal.”

The Center also hopes the project will help support students with food insecurities. The campus Food Pantry has been a big help with that issue and Mills hopes the Brain Food Project can lend a hand as well.

Through EASe training, a system based on empathy, awareness and sensitivity, Academic Support members will offer food to students in a sensitive manner.

“Instead of students accepting a handout or feeling they are being singled out, they will be accepting something that is part of the culture of the Center for Academic Support,” said Mills.

Faculty and students can also participate in the Brain Food Project by donating. Donations are tax deductible and can be donated through credit card, PayPal, checks or payroll deductions. Those interested should stop by the CORE for more information.

Another project debuted at the open house was travelling consultants. Consultants are tutors and faculty well-versed in reading and writing that can be scheduled for small group conferences, peer review workshops and even essay brainstorming. There is also a speech consultant who can help with public speaking.

“We’re trying to be as accessible… as possible,” said English professor and consultant Jill Buettner, who helped come up with the idea. “Sending tutors to where the students are — we thought it might be interesting.”

So far, Buettner and Mills say, the pilot has received positive feedback.

Hailey Solares, speech tutor and sole speech consultant thus far, did one of the first sessions in part-time professor Richard Cartwright’s English 100 class. Her session, which focused on how to give an effective presentation and strengthen public speaking skills, was enjoyable for her.

“I wish I could do it more,” Solares said. “It’s great to do one-on-one, but having an audience is different.”

Richard Stanfield, Center for Academic Support program assistant, emphasized that the goal of travelling consultants is to “support the professor and the class” but that one must be requested through the professor directly.

The open house also emphasized that the CORE has expanded their hours to include evenings, special weekend study sessions for Bio 40 that they hope to expand to other courses and additional tutoring in Brentwood.

For more information about any of the new resources or projects visit the Center for Academic Support in Room CO-300.