A round-up of student resources
Resources remain available for mental, physical and academic health
Social distancing and fewer students on campus has not stopped Binghamton University from providing all of the student support services it did in the pre-pandemic world. The list is long and spans offices across campus.
“We continue to stand ready to help students through this unusual semester,” said Johann Fiore-Conte, associate vice president for student affairs, who oversees health and wellness initiatives for the campus. “Whether students have returned home, remained on campus or live in the local community, we’re continuing to offer our services to them — just virtually or by phone.
“We see our efforts in a holistic way,” Fiore-Conte added. “Through our Healthy Campus Initiative: B-Healthy, we have worked to create an environment across campus that encourages and supports healthy living. By reminding students of the many services that remain available to them, we’re hoping they also remember the importance of self-care.”
Students can find many of the resources, along with contact information, listed under the Student Services section of Binghamton University’s COVID-19 website, but a rundown shows that mental health, physical health, online class support, career and professional development, and academic advising services are available, along with support from the Educational Opportunity Program, Services for Students with Disabilities, International Student and Scholar Initiatives, and Student Support Services.
Kelli Smith, assistant vice president for student success, understands that a virtual environment can present challenges and spearheaded, with the Department of Student Transition and Success and Center for Learning and Teaching, an effort to reach out to students with phone calls.
“We put out a call to faculty and staff to help us reach out to students. We are starting with students who we anticipate may be at greatest risk, but are hoping to reach out to as many of our students as possible,” Smith said. “The students our faculty tell us are not engaging in courses are the students we are most concerned about, and we are hoping our outreach will provide them the support they need.
“We have many offices that quickly adapted to a remote environment to support our students, from the Q Center to Harpur Advising, so we quickly created a comprehensive list to ensure we help students navigate these resources as easily as possible,” Smith said. “It is also a simple way to communicate that we care about their success.”
The problem for some students may be lack of technology, but the University is working to help them, as well. With assistance from SUNY, more than 200 laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots are available for loan to students. To apply, a student must complete a request form.
“Our overall goal is to make sure that all of our students have the tools they need to be successful,” Fiore-Conte said. “With the academic supports we have in place, we’re hoping that students will also take advantage of the services we have available for them to maintain their physical and mental health.”
For specific offices/services, visit the Student Services section of the University’s COVID-19 website.