UHD's Division of Student Success and Student Life (3SL) will host the grand opening of the Gator Resource Center, which merges the support of the Basic Needs Center with the special population focus of the Center for Student Advocacy and Community (CSAC), from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19. The Gator Resource Center will provide tailored support to even more UHD students while also offering educational, leadership, and scholarship opportunities.
The work of the new Gator Resource Center is focused on providing support for students’ basic needs. This includes the Gator Mart, which offers access to food, the Gator Shoppe, which provides clothing, and the Community NaviGATOR Hub, which provides a welcoming space to Gators in need of support, directing them to community resources and emergency aid programs.
Associate Dean of Students Hope Pacheco serves as the Executive Director of the GRC. As a current PhD candidate, her research focuses on success strategies for undergraduate students. With a background spanning more than 25 years in both K-12 and higher education, Pacheco has worked to reduce barriers, increase accessibility, and build skills for students to succeed in an environment where they feel welcomed and supported.
“The GRC is a place where Gators thrive,” Pacheco said. “All students can access the GRC for food, clothing, and campus and community resource navigation. We are offering new workshops for students who want to learn skills to help them navigate life outside of UHD, such as how to find their first apartment, how to build credit, and how to cook simple, healthy meals with food from Gator Mart.”
Students looking for one-on-one guided support can also meet their needs at the Gator Resource Center. The GRC offers specialized support and programming for first-generation college students, pregnant or parenting students, and students with experience in foster care.
Additionally, the GRC is excited to introduce new resources this fall, including the First-Gen Gator Peer Monitoring Program and First-Gen Gator Scholarships.
The GRC office is located in the One Main Building, N210, which includes the Gator Shoppe and the Community NaviGATOR Hub. The Gator Mart is now located in OMB S292. The GRC is now home to the Gator Study Zone, located in OMB N298, which will be converted to a mixed space to host programming and events alongside its main purpose for studying.
The Gator Resource Center’s open house on August 19 will be held in OMB N210, and will be tabling throughout the semester to welcome new and returning Gators.
The GRC will also host two signature events this semester, starting with First-Gen Week from November 3-8 to celebrate first-generation college students.
Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week will be held from November 17-21, to bring awareness to food and housing insecurity for students and members of the community.
The GRC staff includes Associate Dean and Executive Director Pacheco, Assistant Director Cynthia Parra, Coordinators Teena Bland and Richard Solomon, and a student leadership team of 10 including three social work interns ready to welcome and support our Gator community.