Advice for Faculty on Student Mental Health
After 18-months of virtual classes since the onset of the pandemic, faculty and administrators may be looking for more resources to foster a greater sense of community and alleviate stress on campus.
In Ep. 26 of the Quadcast, “Faculty on the Frontlines: Advice on approaching in-person teaching, finding resources on campus, recognizing signs of student distress, and conveying care and community,” Andrew Shepardson, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Bentley University and Zoe Ragouzeos, PhD, Executive Director of Counseling and Wellness Services at New York University and MCI President, share advice for faculty to better support college student mental health and wellbeing at this critical time – including caring for their own mental wellbeing.
Additionally, we’ve supplemented the Quadcast with a new Fall 2021 Faculty Guide on Student Mental Health, which provides insightful suggestions informed by experts as well as by college students from various universities.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Diverse Education reports on the revamping of higher education’s mental health policies, amidst students feeling affected from the last two years as they return to in-person classrooms. Diana Cusumano, director of the JED Foundation’s campus and wellness initiatives, says, “I keep going back to [the idea] that school administrators need to lead with compassion. … Administrators need to continue to be flexible — not just with students, but also with staff. Remember that [people] might still be burnt out from the spring semester.” The article notes that students of color are also at risk of increased rates of mental distress, anxiety, and depression. The multitude of factors, especially for students of color, may influence more students wanting to take a medical leave or leave of absence to focus on their mental health.
NPR News covers how student athletes may have quicker and easier access to mental health than their non-athlete peers. Nationwide, counseling centers report being overwhelmed by student demand, often limiting and capping the number of sessions with students reporting long delays. Athletic programs may be equipped with specific counselors accessible to only athletes. Reporter Alisa Roth recounts the story of A ‘Shon Riggins, “As a football player, Riggins could see a counselor in the athletic department right away, for as many sessions as he needed and at no cost. Same is true for all student athletes at IU. Athletes at more and more schools now have quicker, easier access to mental health care. The question is whether that’s fair to their classmates who don’t play sports.”
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diverse Education reports on achieving Latinx student success through Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), community, and family. According to the 2020 census, 18% of the population identifies at Latinx. Experts indicate that colleges need to reach out to Latinx communities, embrace family involvement, employ Latinx staff and faculty in leadership positions, and commit to inclusivity for Latinx students to feel comfortable on campus. By doing so, institutions can work towards equity while strengthening the American economy.
Sexual Assault and Title IX
The New York Times reports on numerous campus protests against greek life on campuses across the country. Students at major, large universities organized after news of sexual assaults surfaced at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Northwestern University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, among other schools. The article notes that after the #MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter protests, many students are feeling more empowered to change campus cultures.
Student Success
The Hechinger Report covers a proposal of $9 billion in federal funds that can be used to help with degree completion and retention. Higher education experts advocate that the money dedicated to college completion could be used to increase counseling services, fix remedial education policies, improve systems to re-enroll students, ease the transfer process, and create emergency funding for students in financial need. Tom Harnisch, vice president for government relations at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, says, the investment could benefit the economy since more graduates ‘will be able to fill the needs of the knowledge-based workforce.’”
College Affordability
The Washington Post and Higher Ed Dive report on the expansion of student loan forgiveness from the Biden administration. The temporary relief will provide $1.74 billion to immediately benefit 22,000 borrowers who work as public service workers, such as nurses and teachers. The administration will allow payments made toward student loans qualify as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, inching 550,000 people closer to debt cancellation. A potential 27,000 borrowers may also qualify for $2.82 billion debt forgiveness. Officials at the Education Department say the change is temporary, however, they are hoping to make permanent strides by next fall.
Coronavirus: Safety and Reopening
The Chronicle’s Live Coronavirus Updates report on the changes occurring on campuses nationwide regarding Coronavirus policies. This week, two colleges with vaccination mandates have moved to online instruction after seeing rising rates of infection at their institutions. Additionally, The Chronicle reports on the revitalizing of student life on college campuses, analyzing event calendars from multiple institutions. For some, hybrid in-person and virtual events may remain past the time of the Coronavirus, becoming the new “normal” for campus life.
