MAVS Newsletter | December 2025

During the academic year, you will receive a monthly MAVS message intended to help you help our students move toward their goal – graduation. MAVS messages will include:

• Monthly reminders – timely dates and information to share with students
• Active student engagement resources – ideas to enhance student interaction and learning
• Vital Support – highlighted student support services

A reminder to you– UNO faculty. Your work matters in so many ways.

“With the semester wrapping up, I wanted to thank you for all that you do to support our students. These myriad acts of support are often natural things that occur in your day -- helping a student answer a complicated question, navigate the unavoidable bureaucracy of a university, find their way to a building or classroom, connect to a new and interesting topic -- and often don't get labeled as "retention strategies".

However, it is these moments of connection that often have the greatest impact on our students. Research tells us that when students know faculty care about them -- both their academic pursuits and personal well-being -- they are far more likely to succeed. Thank you for providing this support to our students.” 

Jason Browning, Vice Chancellor, Institutional Effectiveness & Student Success

While wrapping up final projects and taking/grading final exams are likely top of mind for you and your students, it can be impactful to provide students an encouraging message to let them know that even though your course is ending, you care about their future academic journey at UNO.

• Celebrate – Have students identify the most challenging content and tasks from your course. Point out how they persevered and now have acquired knowledge and skills that will serve them well in upcoming course work.
• Thank – Thank students for investing their time and effort in your course and for all they have taught each other and you during the semester. Tell them you look forward to seeing them on campus next semester.
• Preview – If you teach an introductory course, suggest to students that if they enjoyed your course, they might like to learn more about your discipline. Then highlight other courses your unit offers.
• Encourage – Ask students what class they are looking forward to taking next semester. If they haven’t already enrolled, nudge them to meet with an advisor or work with support services to remove any holds or barriers that stand in the way of their progression to their goal – graduation!

De-Stress Fest runs during Prep and Finals weeks and is full of fun activities to help students manage end-of-semester stress. Students can go to the Pop Tart Pop In; grab a free walking taco, Chick-fil-A sandwich, or Little Debbie De-stress Dessert; build a gingerbread house; have some fidget fun; get a foot massage;  unwind under the stars in the planetarium, and so much more. Dates, times, and locations are available on the De-Stress Fest website.

CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) is here to help students navigate the end-of-semester and holiday stress. Located in 101 H&K, CAPS offers free, confidential counseling via in-person or telehealth services to all enrolled students (in-person and online). UNO students experiencing after-hours mental health emergencies may call 402.554.2409 and press "2" after the prompt to speak with someone directly.