In a Nutshell

September 25, 2024

Dear Partner in Student Success,

I hope your fall semester is going well. Please know that the Student Life team and I are here to help and support you and students across the university. See below for a few updates and bits of information:

In this issue:

Updated University Space Standards

Coping with Current Events

Listen. Learn. Discuss. Dialogue Circles

New Resources for Mental Health

REACH

Monda Student Resource Center

Safety Tips

Student Employment Experience

Award

Updated University Space Standards
As you or the students you work with plan on-campus events or activities, please be sure to review the university’s Space Standards that were updated over the summer. In addition to revisions to improve readability and clarity, other changes include a new definitions section, a common closing time for outdoor spaces, specification that disruptive noise, including megaphones and other tools, are not permitted without prior approval. Additional information about using space on our campus can be found online.

Coping with Current Events
Current events at the local, regional, national and global level have an undeniable impact on mental health. Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service, in collaboration with partners from across the university, has created a website to share resources to help students navigate our complex world. Visit the Coping with Current Events webpage for programming and other resources that support students both individually and with their student groups. The page will be updated with other resources throughout the year.

Listen. Learn. Discuss. Dialogue Circles
Student Life has initiated a series of Listen. Learn. Discuss. Dialogue Circles, bringing students and university leaders together to discuss timely topics of importance and to learn from one another. They are designed to create safe and supportive environments to continue to build the trust needed to learn from the unique spirit and perspective each member of the university community represents. A list of upcoming Dialogue Circles, and a registration form for students, is online.

New Resources for Mental Health
This fall, Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) introduced two new options for students interested in virtual mental health support. UWill offers free, confidential teletherapy sessions with a licensed mental health professional. The platform offers scheduling flexibility so students with busy schedules can access support even on evenings and weekends. Students can also indicate language and identity preferences they may have for their clinician. WellTrack Boost is a self-guided app available to all students that uses skills from cognitive behavioral therapy. The app includes activities such as self-assessments, mood tracking, psychoeducation, accountability features and personalized recommendations based on your goals. As always, students may talk to a counselor at CCS for on-campus and in-person support.

REACH
REACH© is an in-person suicide prevention gatekeeper training intended to provide general information about how to identify suicide risk and how to respond to any Ohio State student, staff or faculty member who may be experiencing distress. REACH©, through Student Life’s Suicide Prevention Program, is a 90-minute, certifiable training experience, that includes important information about suicide, interactive dialogue and role play. You can sign up online for REACH© training as an individual or group.

Monda Student Resource Center
A generous commitment from Keith Monda and Veronica Brady will help Ohio State students meet their essential needs when the Monda Student Resource Center (MSRC) opens its doors next semester. It will be a one-stop-shop to provide students access to a food pantry, clothing closet and private meeting areas for university and community services, such as financial aid, disability services, emergency financial and housing assistance and more. Student Life’s MSRC will be housed in Younkin Success Center. You can read more about the gift and the center in an online article.

Safety Tips
Help spread the word about making safety a priority by eliminating distractions. Bikes and scooter riders should ride in the road instead of sidewalks, wear a helmet and ride with caution. Bikes can use the full lane and motorists must allow at least three feet of space when passing. Scooters are intended to be ridden by one person at a time. Motorists should not text and drive and should be on alert for pedestrians. Pedestrians should use crosswalks and wait for the walk signal to enter the road. Read more about traffic safety online.

Student Employment Experience
The Student Employment Experience (SEE) program supports supervisors of student employees by providing resources to create a supportive working environment. The program is open to any Ohio State faculty or staff member who directly supervises one or more student employees and completes the SEE supervisor onboarding workshop. The SEE supervisor onboarding workshop now can be done asynchronously at your convenience. Watch the recorded presentation then complete the onboarding form. Become a SEE Supervisor. Email SEE@osu.edu with questions.

Award
The Ohio State University - Project Excellence and Beyond has been named a winner of the 2024 Elevation in Practice – Innovation Award by AFA, the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors. The award says, “Following the opening of the NPHC Plaza in 2022, Project Excellence evolved beyond a physical space for NPHC organizations to serve as a vibrant platform to celebrate Black history, honor individual contributions to NPHC and Black student communities and recognize Black excellence as a force for community change. This initiative has helped foster campus-wide support and engagement with the NPHC community beyond the creation of the NPHC plaza.” More information about the award is online.

Have a Scarlet and Great semester, colleagues!

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD

Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University