Colleagues,
We wanted to thank you for your commitment to our university and to share some information about messaging that we will soon share with all students to ensure they have the support they need. Our students are only successful with your support and mentorship. Equally important is the need for us all to prioritize self-care and seek the support we require. We cherish our Maverick community, where a culture of care for one another is at the heart of everything we do.
In the coming weeks, we will share messages with all students to inspire a culture of caring here at UNO. These messages will encourage them to get connected, take care, and get help when they need support by utilizing campus resources. Please encourage students to use these services and consider promoting them through your platforms.
Getting connected means encouraging students to engage in student organizations, attend campus and athletics events, and otherwise connect with campus. It is critical to the retention of our student body that they feel like they are part of a community at UNO.
Taking care means supporting their physical, mental, and emotional needs. This could mean encouraging them to utilize resources like Counseling and Psychological Services for confidential support, engage with peer support mentors, enhance their physical wellbeing through the Wellness Center, treat illness through the Nebraska Medicine-UNO Health Center, or utilize other services to support their overall wellbeing.
Getting help means encouraging them to reach out for the academic support that a student may need such as meeting with academic advisors, exploring accessibility resources, addressing technology support and barriers, and utilizing learning centers, to name a few. As an example, we are experiencing high demand for laptops and are exploring options to ensure that students in need are able to borrow one.
Creating a culture of caring at UNO requires that we take care of ourselves, too. In addition to the many wellness resources available to all of campus, faculty and staff have access to confidential counseling support through the Faculty and Staff Employee Assistance Program. Free and confidential Faculty Wellness Coaching is available through the Center for Faculty Excellence. For those experiencing financial hardship, please consider applying for the NU System’s Emergency Assistance Fund. The UNO Care Team is also available to help respond to reports of concerning student behavior.
We are all Mavericks in this community together. Thank you in advance for your help in ensuring our students have the support they need to continue on their academic journey and for taking care of one another. If there are additional pain points or barriers that you are hearing about from students, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you,
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA
Chancellor
Cathy Pettid
Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students
