May 1, 2018
While the spring semester is winding down, our students are gearing up to turn over the leadership of their student organizations, solidifying internships, studying abroad, and finishing papers, presentations and finals. For many, the anticipation of commencement and their cultural graduations is on the horizon along with the possibilities of beginning a career, graduate or professional school, or moving back home.
For these reasons this is sometimes an especially emotional time of year. We can help our students understand that no matter how stretched they are for time, they need to make some time for self-care and to balance between their academic and social lives.
The university offers many ways to support students during this final stretch. Several fun events are planned to help students take a break, ease the intensity and have some fun, including ChillFest, Finals Fest and Splash Bash. Please encourage them to participate and check out some of these great events. They can also take a break at our two MindBody Labs on campus and download Thrive at UT, a free iPhone app designed to enhance student well-being.
If you encounter a student with greater needs, please don’t hesitate to share these important resources:
- Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students: A resource for students, offering advocacy, referrals and absence notifications.
- Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC): UT Austin students may call CMHC Crisis Line at 512-471-2255 to speak with a trained counselor. CMHC also has information available on its website.
- Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): BCAL provides a central resource to anyone who is concerned about an individual on our campus and may not be sure how best to help them. Call or submit information online.
We each make a difference in campus life, and I appreciate you for your efforts each and every day. Thank you for a great spring semester!
With much appreciation,
Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students