Student Housing and Residential Life launches student support

DSA News
June 24, 2024

The mission of Student Housing & Residential Life (SHRL) is to serve a diverse community of students, staff and faculty to promote student success in living-learning environments by building relationships, promoting engagement and by leading with an ethic of care. The increase in mental health issues and well-being deficits among the college-aged student population is proliferating daily interactions across the country. To embody the department’s values ​​of supporting student success and leading with an ethic of care, SHRL launched a Student Support and Wellness (SSW) initiative with three primary goals: proactively developing student well-being be, increased responsiveness to student concerns and peer support through mentoring.

Established in fall 2023, under the leadership of Kelsey Reynolds (M’17), first assistant director for student support and well-being, led by four residential life coordinators, the team collaborates with partners in campuses and students to advocate and develop creative solutions to complicated lives. situations. Proactively, dynamic programming focused on all nine dimensions of wellness is implemented throughout residential communities – from Lego and Let’s Go to a collaborative effort with University of Houston Wellness to sponsor a block party in a healthy neighborhood. The goal is to help students develop strategies that are used for their “well-being toolbox.” The toolkit aims to provide a variety of options for managing life stressors early.

Additionally, the team serves residential students who have experienced an event that may disrupt their studies – ranging from roommate dynamics to physical or mental health issues to academic difficulties. The team contacts residents or others affected by a situation to understand if the person(s) may need support and to share resources available on campus or in the local community. The team collaborates weekly, if not daily, with the Dean of Students’ office as well as the university care team. Holly Alexander, PhD, director of residential life, has already seen positive change with this approach. “We have a team dedicated to connecting quickly with students. My philosophy in working with students on campus has always been that their home should be their sanctuary. When this is disrupted, their ability to maintain academic performance may be disrupted. This initiative provides wraparound support to connect students to resources that can help them on their journey. I view the program as an embodiment of CoogsCare.

The Student Support and Wellness Space piloted a mentoring program in spring 2024. First-year residential students were invited to team up with returning students to build peer-to-peer mentoring relationships. Madison Rodriguez, 24, shared the reason she became a mentor: “…is to have the opportunity to help and work with others in difficult situations. I’m a first-generation college student and had no choice but to navigate college life (i.e., financial aid, registering for classes, balancing work and classes) on my own. College is a rewarding process as you meet new people and experience adulthood, but it can be quite difficult. I never want my mentees to feel alone and lost during their experience, I would like to help them in any situation they face, because it is not easy to do it alone.

In the spring semester, the student support and well-being team reached 177 residents with a response rate of 63%. If you have a residential student you would like to refer to the team or a resource you would like to share, contact Kelsey Reynolds at [email protected]. For more information about student housing and residential living support services and resources, visit the website here.