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Presenter: Sharon Antoine Jabbour

Faculty Sponsor: Leda Cooks

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Education & Educational Research

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, 163, C13

ABSTRACT

This project aims to design a one-credit undergraduate course at the University of Massachusetts Amherst that integrates academic learning with hands-on volunteer work in food recovery. Focused on the UMass chapter of the Food Recovery Network, the course seeks to expand FRN operations by recruiting and training student volunteers while deepening student understanding of food waste reduction, food recovery logistics, and food justice. The course will combine structured instruction once a week with experiential learning. During the first half of the semester, students will engage in foundational coursework and volunteer training. During the second half, students will apply their knowledge by participating in FRN recovery shifts and reflecting on their experiences. The curriculum development process will include collaboration with UMass FRN leadership, analysis of similar programs at other universities, identification of gaps in the literature, and research on best practices in experiential education and syllabus design. Semi-structured interviews with FRN student leaders will help evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of the course. The project will also assess potential student interest through a campus-wide survey distributed via email. Finally, the project will outline the institutional steps required for implementation of the course at UMass, including identifying a faculty sponsor and submitting a proposal through the university’s Course and Curriculum Management System for approval. Overall, the course aims to strengthen campus food recovery efforts while promoting civic engagement and food justice education.