Whether students come from one of our neighboring communities, across the country or around the world, Saint Louis University believes that intentionally connecting students with faculty and staff will help build a community where all feel accepted and know that they belong.
SLU faculty and staff can participate as Billiken Home Plate hosts to enjoy time with talented SLU students while offering students a chance to enjoy a family meal, get to know a St. Louis family, and take a break from classes and campus life. Hosts invite groups of two to four students to a family-style meal three to four times during the academic year to ensure continued community connection.
Program Goals
Home Plate is meant to nourish students' sense of belonging, helping them feel at home at SLU and connected to St. Louis. The simple act of being together and getting to know one another over a casual dinner and conversation is a way for faculty and staff to be present for students, not just in their academic pursuits, but also in the spirit of cura personalis, the development and health of the entire person.
Spending time with students proves they are important and valued members of the SLU community. In this way, the program will further SLU's collective efforts to accompany young people in creating a hope-filled future. By participating in the Billiken Home Plate program:
- Student participants will feel at home in a new city, get to know a St. Louis family, connect to the comforts of family life, including a home-cooked meal and dinner conversations, take a break from classes, and get off campus for a few hours.
- Employee participants will contribute to the life of the university in a personal way, have the opportunity to enjoy the company of talented students from across the globe, and help students connect to a new city and feel at home at SLU.
How It Works
Billiken Home Plate is facilitated by DICE's Strategic Initiatives team, which will match students with hosts and organize a program kickoff at the beginning of the year to bring together participants for their initial meeting. Hosts are asked to invite their assigned student groups to have a family-style meal together once or twice per semester.
Frequently Asked Questions
DICE staff notify you of your assigned student group or host before program launch.
DICE will host a program launch where all participants will have the opportunity to meet one another in a large group session.
Yes! To support all participants, we have conversation guides and do our best to match students with hosts who have similar interests.
There are no costs to students who wish to participate in the program, though there may be costs associated with transportation.
Yes. We ask our hosts to cover the costs associated with meals. However, we do not want finances to be a barrier to participation and have a for those who would like to request assistance.
For more information, email Allison Brewer at allison.brewer@slu.edu.