The #CheckOnYourUCrew outreach campaign continues to encourage our community to reach out to others, make connections and expand your U Crew. The focus this week is on feelings of being overwhelmed as the semester and this trying academic year come to a close and resources available for students. Share these resources if you know a student who may need access to the following resources.

“Our U campus has an incredible number of resources on campus to support students in their times of need,” said Jason Ramirez, dean of student and associate vice president, Student Affairs. “There are 20 different offices that report to the Division of Student Affairs and hundreds of U employees are in positions where finding solutions to student problems is their primary focus. No concern is ever too small.”

More than 1,800 U students have reached out and asked for help in 2020. No matter the specific need, support resources are available. Here are a few examples.

Academic support

The U’s Student Success Advocates are here to help students explore and clarify interests and goals and overcome personal and academic challenges. If a student is experiencing extenuating circumstances, we may also recommend our student support team within the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS). Case managers provide support for students who experience personal matters which also affect the learning environment. It’s possible the student might need some academic adjustments depending on the situation and the case managers will help with that process. The ODOS also provides flexible and creative support to at-risk students ensuring proper access to campus partners as needed. Should situations escalate to a safety concern, ODOS also has the Behavioral Intervention Team that can be activated to provide support.

No two problems are exactly the same, but these offices can always be counted on to find the right solution. The primary function of the Behavioral Intervention Team is to help keep the university community safe and connect distressed students to support services. BIT also seeks prevention rather than reaction to students in distress.  Submit a report to the BIT team if you feel someone is threat to themselves or others.

Academic Advisors are also available to support students in every discipline and can very often make the difference in a student’s success. Any major, minor, or certificate program advisor can lead students to tutoring services, answer questions about late or retroactive course withdrawals and connect students with professors when needed. They can also be an important step in planning your coursework and identifying internships, scholarships or research opportunities. Students without a declared major and those with general questions can connect with the Academic Advising Center at 801-581-8146, schedule an appointment online or email questions to AACReception@utah.edu. Academic advisors help students create, navigate, and graduate no matter where a student is in their academic journey.

Personal life support

Almost everyone will agree that academic success is more difficult to maintain when you are experiencing difficulties in your personal life. Problems at home, if you have a home, can wreak havoc with concentration and focus in class or during exams. But resources are available on campus to help with these too.

Did you know? Most people don’t consider couch-surfing to a form of homelessness. Housing & Residential Education has rooms set-aside, even during the pandemic, for students who need a temporary place to stay. HRE can even help you if you go through a tough breakup and it’s unsafe for you to stay in a space with the now, ex.

The Basic Need Collective is a great resource to connect students with any resource on campus. Just submit a two-question survey request form to see the resources relevant to YOUR needs. If you can’t afford food, the Feed U Pantry has what you need in stock. The LGBT Resource Center can help you find a new and supportive community if you’re experiencing loneliness. The Veterans Support Center staff know what it’s like to serve our country and have first-hand knowledge of what you might be going through. The Basic Need Collective can connect you with all of these resources and more.

Mental health support

The U Student Mental Health Fee and other creative solutions on campus help make the following University Counseling Center services free for students: intake appointments, individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, support groups, psychotherapy groups, skills groups, crisis appointments, case management and the Mindfulness Center services. No-show fee may be assessed for missed appointments or appointments not canceled in advance.

“U students, you are more than just a number during your time here at the University of Utah. We truly are a community that care for and support one another. While we want our students to succeed academically, we don’t want to put their mental health at risk. So, please reach out or refer a loved one if you believe they need support,” said Ramirez.

And finally, if you or anyone you know in the University of Utah community are experiencing—or have experienced—domestic or interpersonal violence resources are available at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition and the University Center for Student Wellness.

If you think isolation has been caused by discrimination or sexual harassment, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA) at 801-581-8365. Racist and bias incidents can be reported to the Racist & Bias Incident Response Team.