INSIDE STUDENT AFFAIRSA weekly insider’s guide for those helping students reach their goals toward optimal health and well-being, engagement with learning, and sense of belonging at PSU
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"MOMMY, HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE WATCHING THE MAP SHOW?" - Overheard by a news commentator
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Electoral map shown on CNN this past week during coverage of the 2020 Presidential Election
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Coffee Talk: Basic Needs
At the All-Student Affairs Fall 2020 Kickoff Meeting, we announced a new series called "Coffee Talk," which will be hour-long conversations around relevant issues affecting our students. The first event will focus on Basic Needs Security and is scheduled for Thursday, November 12th at 10 am on Zoom. Bring your favorite mug and your favorite hot beverage, and we'll see you there! Other event dates will be announced in future editions of Inside Student Affairs.
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Mindfulness for Election Anxiety
SHAC has been hosting workshops for PSU students who would like support managing anxiety and uncertainty related to the upcoming election. Each group focuses on a different mindfulness skill and talks about how it can be useful in managing feelings before and after the election. While this provides support to one another in managing uncertainty, this is not a space to debate politics. Students can register online for the final workshop, which will be held November 12.
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Level Up with SALP
Student Activities and Leadership Programs is excited to offer "Level Up," a training program for students to explore leadership opportunities at PSU and gain foundational skills/knowledge in specific areas. Upon completion of the program, students will be provided a certification of completion, invited to special campus leadership programming, and offered additional options for recognition and engagement. To get more information about this program and learn how it can help your students, visit the Level Up website.
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Coming Soon: Student Housing Insecurity Virtual Summit
On Thursday, November 19 from 9 am to noon, Portland State University, Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, and College Housing Northwest are hosting a virtual summit to bring the issue of student housing insecurity to light. This summit will invite attendees from all over Portland to collaborate on actions to address the problem. If you are interested in attending, please register online.
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Little Vikings Re-Opening
Little Vikings is offering full-day care with a 3-day per week or a 2-day per week option. The center will accept children ages 6 weeks to 24 months old. Little Vikings is open to all students, staff, and faculty. Center hours are 9:00 am-4:00pm. For additional questions, please email lvikings@pdx.edu. For additional information, visit the Little Vikings website. If you want to sign up, complete this form to request care.
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Pilot Laptop Scholarship Program
Portland State University and the PSU Foundation are excited to announce the pilot of a new laptop scholarship program, which will give a quality laptop to students who meet certain qualifications. Students must be an admitted undergraduate student enrolled in at least 8 credit hours in the current term. Additionally, students must have declared a major, be eligible for a Pell Grant or Tuition Equity Program, and have limited or no access to a personal computer The deadline for students to apply is November 19th. Please direct your students to the Laptop Scholarship Application form if they would like to app. In the meantime, you can encourage any students who need immediate access to a laptop to check one out from the Library's laptop lending program.
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Supporting the Mental Health of Students
For the 2020-2021 academic year, SHAC's Health Promotion team has compiled a resource guide for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students. Over the past year, many members of the campus community expressed concern about the mental health of PSU students. That concern has only increased with the COVID-19 pandemic and the current state of social unrest caused by systemic racism. In offering these resources, SHAC hopes to provide faculty and staff with the necessary tools to promote student wellbeing, confidently engage struggling students, and normalize the conversation about mental health on campus.
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Make the Best of Social Distancing
"While the idea of being able to binge-watch your favorite Netflix show and staying home doing nothing for a few weeks sounds like heaven, it can get old…quickly. Social distancing may sound like a strange term, but it really just means all of us keeping to ourselves as much as possible until the worst of this is over.
"So, what to do while you’re spending a lot more time on your own? We’ve got you covered."
To learn more about how to support your mental health while social distancing, visit the PDX Campus Well, a resource provided by Student Health and Counseling.
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After a tense week, Portland State University shared this photo on social media, along with encouragement for the community to lean on each other for support during times of anxiety. The PSU student's mask says, "Choose hope. Anything is possible."
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While many of us have had our eyes glued to national headlines this week, I continue to be inspired by the small and large acts of generosity I see and hear about every day in our own community. Here are just a few examples: Students in ASPSU have rallied behind our international student community to respond with campus administrators to concerning proposed legislation. And our staff in Housing and Residence Life are working hard day and night to support our students living on campus, helping them to find meaningful and sustaining connections with one another. Thank you for all you continue to do, even when you might be running on fumes yourselves, to support our students and one another.
-Michele
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OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
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SUGGESTIONS FOR A FUTURE EDITION?
If you have something that you think should be included in an upcoming Inside Student Affairs, please email askdos@pdx.edu.
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