The University of Maryland’s Counseling Center and Dining Services are working together to help students prepare for finals for the first time this year.

Academic coaches from the Counseling Center’s Learning Assistance Service offered study tips and engaged with students one-on-one in the South Campus Dining Hall on Dec. 1, said Kimberly Bethea, the center’s Learning Assistance Service director.

Bethea said The Counseling Center and Dining Services will hold a second study session this Thursday, Dec. 8 in the Gazebo Room of the South Campus Dining Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“What we want to do is make sure that students understand how important it is to come up with a plan for final exams and have some tips to help minimize final exam stress,” Bethea said.

The event is also part of a greater effort on behalf of Learning Assistance Service to connect with the student body, she added.

“We have been trying to really reach students, and we thought to go to where the students are,” she said. “Now that the dining halls have the Anytime Dining plan, our understanding is that there are more students in the dining hall, so we thought this might be a good idea. While students are eating lunch, they can come through and get some good information.”

During the first event last Thursday, Bethea noticed students were hesitant to participate in the event with the academic coaches, she said.

“Which is okay because … it was the first time that we were there, and so our plan is to really just make sure that students know that we’re resources,” she said. Event leaders also walked around the dining hall to hand out pamphlets about preparing for exams last Thursday.

Bart Hipple, Dining Services assistant director for communication, said this partnership with the Counseling Center is one way the department wants to play a larger role in the university community.

“We are looking for ways to include dining spaces in the overall campus community and have community initiatives or meetings taking place here,” he said. “This certainly does meet the academic mission of the university, so it seemed like a great fit.”

Senior Elliot Hazzard said he hadn’t heard about the event before, but noted its potential value for students.

“Students who are overly stressed tend to be more unhealthy, they’re more susceptible to certain diseases — your immune system doesn’t work as well when you’re stressed,” the geographical sciences major said. “Also it’s just important to brush up on certain study skills before finals week.”

Learning Assistance Service will also participate in the Stamp Student Union Study Zone Dec. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. outside of Stamp’s Atrium, and has final exam preparation materials posted on its website, Bethea said.