Mental and Behavioral
The College Dean’s Advisory Board at UPenn is hoping to expand its peer to peer training program to every registered student group on campus. The program, called “I CARE,” is the result of a task force on the state of mental health at Penn that was convened after four student suicides occurred in one academic year (2013-2014). “I CARE” trains students to recognize problems, support their peers and learn how to take action when an issue occurs.
In the Harvard Health Blog, Massachusetts General Hospital physician and Harvard Medical School Assistant Professor Michael Bierer argues that emphasizing the biological basis of substance abuse may reduce stigma associated with addiction. He makes a strong argument for parity, or treating addiction the same as any other “biologic” diseases.
Diversity and Inclusion
At their annual conference, participants of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education expressed their alarm about the country’s growing political divisiveness and the impact it is having on their institutions. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, hate directed at some student groups, along with President Trump’s statements about immigrants and other minority populations have challenged diversity officers’ efforts at making their campuses more inclusive.
University of Delaware student Jay Alston created speQtrum, a student organization for queer people of color after hearing LGBTQ students of color express the need for all of their identities to receive equal acknowledgement.
The Washington Post reports an increase in White supremacist literature on college campuses across the country. Last week, signs found at George Washington University called America “a white nation” and urged “all White Americans” to report undocumented people to federal authorities. Similar fliers were found at University of Maryland in College Park, the third such discovery in three months.
In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Jessica Trisko Darden of American University’s School of International Service comments on how Trump’s executive order on immigration impacts her field. “Those who study international affairs do so because they possess a curiosity about other cultures and an understanding that the history of their own country is inextricably linked to that of others,” she writes.
The Atlantic reports on a recent survey of 250 U.S. colleges and universities which showed that four out of ten experienced a decrease in international applicants for next semester. Over 75% of colleges and universities are concerned about future enrollment of foreign students.
In an effort to diversify its applicant pool, Harvard Law School announced Wednesday that it will start accepting the graduate record examination, known as the GRE, in addition to the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT.
University of Michigan launched a multiyear $85 million racial and socioeconomic diversity plan, aiming to make student and faculty more diverse and inclusive. To decentralize ownership of the plan, the school will use a “microclimates” structure, with each department or unit on campus tasked with developing and implementing ideas that work specifically for them.
On Thursday, the Trump administration proposed a budget that cut a combined $193 million in funding for two college prep programs that disproportionately benefit disadvantaged high school students. Advocates say these programs play a critical role in college access and preparation for the neediest students.
Sexual Assault
According to data obtained by the Associated Press, reports of sexual assault increased last year on two out of three military college campuses in the U.S., the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. The U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado saw a slight decrease in reported assaults, from 49 in 2015 to 32 in 2016.
Sexual Health
California state Senator Connie Leyva, D-Chino plans to introduce a bill that would require student health centers on state funded colleges to provide non-surgical abortion services.
Physical Health
A new dormitory at the University of Vermont will house up to 700 students who are part of a growing program that encourages “clean-living.” The residence hall has fitness and nutrition coaches at the in-house gym, free violin lessons, yoga and mindfulness training, and a zero tolerance policy for drug or alcohol use. A pediatric neuropsychiatrist at UVM’s Medical School, Dr. Jim Hudziak, started the program two years ago to encourage student to take care of their still-developing brains.
Veterans
The University of South Carolina Alumni Association hosted a panel on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder last week featuring male and female veterans living with PTSD.
A recent study investigated the mental health burden and treatment-seeking behaviors of student veterans attending rural community colleges in the southern US. The study found that student veterans have a difficult time integrating into the campus community and often need mental health support to help them succeed.
Paying for College
Also included in President Trump’s budget outline was a a 13.5% cut for the the Department of Education, raising concerns over the Pell grant program which serves low-income students.
