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Note: This is part one of a four-day series highlighting the pillars within the Division of Student Affairs and how they benefit the students at �鶹ӰԺ. Today we are focusing on the Advocacy, Support, and Well-Being pillar, which includes the Office of the Dean of Students, Recreation and Wellness Services, �鶹ӰԺ State of Well-Being, Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Parents and Family Engagement, the Crisis Advocacy Resources Education Support (CARES) Center, and Student Conduct.

When Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) expanded earlier this year, it answered the call when it came to the mental health of students being front and center.

Shortly after that, the Crisis, Advocacy, Resources, Education, and Support (CARES) Center added additional resources to support students facing challenges with basic needs.

For universities to be student-ready, awareness of student wellness is a significant part of an overall holistic experience. The Advocacy, Support, and Well-Being pillar exist to serve students in these capacities, enabling student growth that can be imagined, sought, maintained, and advanced. This particular pillar also emphasizes each campuses’ collaboration, accountability, crisis management, risk reduction, and education.

Despite a significant focus on mental health and a plethora of resources available to students, some may be hesitant to come forward due to the anxiety of the situation they may be

facing, whether it be due to academic difficulties, stress, anxiety, or depression.

“I believe it is the stigma that is attached to having insecurities of gaps with basic needs or mental health [and that] people also do not want to be defined by their barriers, nor should they!” said Dean of Students Talea Drummer-Ferrell. “If we can increase awareness of these challenges, find ways to provide education, and minimize the stigma, we can improve the environment for students to come and receive assistance.”

In addition to mental health initiatives, this pillar includes Recreation and Wellness Services. According to Drummer-Ferrell, this area is of particular importance, especially in finding ways to build community, get active, and manage the day's stresses.

“As we look at our Recreation and Wellness area, which also includes �鶹ӰԺ State of Well-Being, we have goals to find a way to support students' overall well-being,” she said. “This includes mental well-being.”

Another aspect of the Advocacy, Support, and Well-Being pillar is engaging with parents and families of �鶹ӰԺ State students.

“We need our parents as partners,” said Drummer-Ferrell. “Helping to keep them informed [by way of our monthly newsletter and the annual Parent and Family Appreciation Week], along with considering any questions they have, and arming them with resources ultimately supports the experience of our students and their overall well-being that much better.”

In a year where students have been affected by a global pandemic and social unrest taking place throughout the country, mental health and well-being are now more vital than ever. Still, �鶹ӰԺ State remains at the forefront of stepping up its services to students with the CARES Center and Counseling and Psychological Services.

“It is clear that our bandwidth is being tapped, that we are overwhelmed, and now more than ever need to prioritize our mental health as we navigate each day,” said Drummer-Ferrell. “There are so many unknowns, and we have to find our outlets to balance ourselves.”

The Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS) provides many resources and support systems to students. Approximately 11.2% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. SRVSS provides an outlet for students in need. They play a major role in the support and advocacy for students.

SRVSS also boasts of Green Dot, a bystander approach for preventing power-based personal violence that relies on the power of cultural and peer influence, with a proactive approach that targets everyone in the community to do their part to help reduce incidents of violence. The training is available to anyone on campus. 

Lastly, and along those same lines, the Office of Student Conduct is in place should a situation occur during a student’s college experience. They strive to provide students with due process while also making them aware of and able to reasonably navigate the conduct process and expect students to accept responsibility for their actions. The Code of Student Conduct is available online and can be accessed at the following link: /studentconduct/code-student-conduct

For more information regarding the Advocacy, Support, and Well-Being pillar, please visit /studentaffairs/advocacy-support-wellbeing

For more information regarding the CARES Center, please visit /CARESCenter

For more information regarding Counseling and Psychological Services, please visit /caps

For more information regarding �鶹ӰԺ State of Well-Being, please visit /KSoW

For more information on the Office of the Dean of Students, please visit /studentaffairs/dean

For more information on the Office of Student Conduct, please visit /studentconduct

For more information on Parents and Families Engagement, please visit /parents

For more information regarding Recreational Services, please visit /recservices

For more information on the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services, please visit /srvss