UNCG Joins Higher Ed Network Enhancing Mental Health for Students
Posted on September 17, 2024
Be Well Stay Well.
UNC Greensboro is proud to announce its designation as a JED Campus, joining a distinguished network of higher education institutions committed to enhancing mental health awareness and resources available to students. UNCG leaders understand the direct impact that well-being has on student success and want to ensure all students have every opportunity to thrive as Spartans.
The JED Campus program, an initiative of the JED Foundation, is designed to support colleges and universities in creating a campus culture that promotes mental health and well-being. This designation underscores UNCG’s dedication to fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes the mental health of its student body.
The eight dimensions of wellness promoted by Spartans Thrive.
“We are excited to collaborate with the JED Foundation to further strengthen our campus community and ensure that we have all of the support and safety nets available to our students,” said Cathy Akens, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. “We know our students are managing so much and so mental health and well-being is a subject we talk about openly and prioritize in the student experience.”
“The college years are the age when many mental health issues first manifest, and it can be a time of significant stress and pressure,” said John MacPhee, Chief Executive Officer of JED. “JED Campus helps schools by working with them to evaluate what their college or university is doing to support student emotional health and well-being and find practical ways to augment these efforts in a comprehensive way. We believe that the implementation of a campus-wide approach to mental health will lead to safer, healthier communities, and likely greater student retention.”
UNCG’s membership in JED Campus begins with establishing an interdisciplinary, campus-wide team to assess, support and implement program, policy, and system improvements and completing a confidential, self-assessment survey on its mental health promotion, substance use, and suicide prevention efforts. Upon completion of the assessment, JED subject matter experts will provide UNCG with a comprehensive feedback report identifying successes and opportunities for enhancements. UNCG will collaborate with JED over the next four years to help implement these enhancements.
That committee will be chaired by Dean of Students and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brett Carter and Sociology Professor Sarah Daynes.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Strategic Plan Open Forums Announced
Posted on September 16, 2024
Following the release of the Draft Refresh of the Strategic Plan, Faculty and Staff are invited to give feedback during two rounds of open forums. The first round will occur Sept 23 and 24. The second will be Oct 21 and 22. Details and links to join the forums are found below.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Space Open for Child Assessments and Therapy
Posted on September 16, 2024
The UNC Greensboro Psychology Clinic has been providing therapy and assessment services to the UNCG and Greensboro community for over 45 years. It currently has openings with immediate availability (until spaces are full) for therapy services for children and adolescents, as well as providing parenting support.
UNCG faculty and staff receive 50 percent discounts on services and all are welcome to apply for financial assistance to receive a reduced rate for services on the clinic’s sliding scale. As a training clinic within the Department of Psychology, clinicians at this clinic are graduate students in the clinical psychology PhD program, closely supervised by licensed clinical faculty. That means receiving services at our clinic is mutually beneficial for families as well as UNCG students. The clinic provides short-term (12-16 sessions) of evidence-based care, which means the treatments have been scientifically demonstrated to help individuals with similar concerns.
Common issues seen at the clinic include, but are not limited to:
Anxiety (difficulty with transitions, separations, or new experiences)
ADHD (managing youth’s challenges with attention, excess energy, and time management)
Complying with expectations from parents and teachers
Managing emotions (anger, sadness)
Self-esteem
Depression
Anyone who might like to employ these services may submit an Interest Form or call at 336.334.5662 to get more information.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Mix and Mingle Lets Campus Meet Visiting Fulbright Teachers
Posted on September 16, 2024
2024 Fulbright TEA Program's Participants.
The UNCG community can get to know the visiting Fulbright teachers during the annual International Mix & Mingle hosted by the School of Education.
Monday, September 23 3-4:30 p.m. Teaching Resources Center School of Education Building, Room 310
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to join this global engagement opportunity to network with our UNCG, local, and international communities. They will have the chance to meet visiting Fulbright teachers. Refreshments will be served.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
UNCG Honors Senior Hones Drive for International Relations
Posted on September 17, 2024
UNCG senior Jia Emaus is active in the Lloyd International Honors College and a recipient of the Katherine Smith Reynolds Scholarship.
UNCG senior Jia Li Emaus has been part of a multicultural family since she was three. She immigrated from China into an adopted family that celebrated diversity. Her six siblings are from Guatemala, Russia, Ethiopia, and the U.S.
It was right under her childhood roof where Emaus’ curiosity for culture blossomed.
“We’re a bunch of siblings from all over the world. I learned about different cultures and that family isn’t always necessarily blood,” Emaus says. “Family can be people from different areas, backgrounds, and walks of life forming a community.”
These are impressive accomplishments for any student, but especially for one who started college as an introvert.
“I was a bit nervous coming to UNCG, but I really found a place here – not just academically but also within the community,” Emaus says.
Embracing Greensboro’s Diversity
Emaus’ drive to surround herself with diversity led her to UNCG’s Lloyd International Honors College and into the broader Greensboro community.
“In high school, I did a year abroad in Ecuador, and that really sparked my interest in international relations and learning about other countries and global citizenship,” she says. “The Honors College just felt like the right path for me to take to broaden those interests.”
When Emaus arrived at UNCG, she was determined to say yes to as many opportunities as she could, from making friends with other students in her dorm (she now shares an apartment with her freshman roommate and fellow stand-out senior Natalia Fagundez) to service.
Emaus (left) and Fagundez (right) have been roommates since their freshmen year.Emaus (left) and Natalia Fagundez (right) walk out of the Lloyd International Honors College.
UNCG’s Office of Leadership & Civic Engagement connected Emaus with the Greensboro community and helped her grow as a leader. Emaus has spent over 300 hours volunteering, focusing mostly on organizations that serve immigrants, including the UNCG Center for New North Carolinians, Real World English, and North Carolina for Community and Justice.
“I didn’t really know much about Greensboro before coming to college, but now, I think the city is so cool,” she says. “Greensboro has such rich culture and diversity and so many stories to tell.”
A highlight of Emaus’ volunteering experiences has been connecting with children, whether teaching them English or facilitating citizenship classes.
“I started speaking Spanish to them, and they’re surprised: ‘Oh my gosh you can speak Spanish. This is relieving,”’ she says. “I can connect with them on that aspect, and it’s rewarding to use a skill I’m very passionate about to give back to the community.”
Pursuing a passion for political science
Emaus has also stepped out of her comfort zone academically. As a first year, she was initially apprehensive about attending office hours, but soon realized her professors were in her corner.
Emaus is a double major in Political Science and International and Global Studies and double minors in Spanish and Chinese.
“The professors here have been so passionate and also compassionate, and they really connect with their students in ways I don’t think I would get at other universities,” she says. “They’ve helped me so much – not just academically but also personally.”
One of Emaus’ mentors has been Dr. Michael Broache, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science. Emaus says she was drawn to Broache’s engaging lecture style that incorporates current research and sparks discussion. Broache also says Emaus stood out.
“I’ve taught Jia in multiple courses during her time at UNCG, and I’ve been consistently impressed with her thoroughness, willingness to ask questions, and love for learning,” he says.
Emaus worked with Broache to restart UNCG’s Model United Nations Club. She is also working with him on multiple research projects, including examining how local governments have responded to international conflict.
“We are hoping to contribute to knowledge about the relationship between local and international politics, as well as the potential influence of local governments on the foreign policy decision-making of national governments,” Broache says.
While in the early stages of this research, Emaus says she has enjoyed applying concepts she has learned in her courses, including data input and finding credible resources.
“Research is a great opportunity to not just learn something, but to use what I’m learning in a real way,” she says.
Emaus plans to continue this research for her capstone project this coming year. In the meantime, she will finalize her post-graduation plans to pursue international relations.
Wherever her next step takes her, Emaus will be graduating UNCG with a stronger voice and a place in a broader community.
“I feel like UNCG has definitely helped me to become a more extroverted person – and a person who is willing to take initiative and opportunities,” she says. “I’m now willing to take that extra step and initiative for something that I’m passionate about.”
Story by Rachel Damiani Photography by Sean Norona
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Funding Friday: IGNITE and STEM
Posted on September 13, 2024
New and continued funding going to UNCG researchers will help the advance understanding of topics such as bilingual classrooms and building resilient communities.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Say Cheese! for A Week at the G
Posted on September 16, 2024
It’s time to think about those picture-perfect moments you find throughout your day at UNC Greensboro. They might be something you want to share with the rest of the campus during A Week at the G, which runs September 23-27 this year.
During this week, UNCG will send photographers around campus, capturing moments that show off the best things about being a Spartan. Those moments can happen in class, during a club meeting, on the field or stage, while grabbing a bite at the EUC, or simply walking down College Avenue. It can be a spontaneous moment happening that week or one of those moments you look forward to every week.
Anyone can participate by requesting a photographer ahead of time to come to your class or event or by taking your own photos and submitting them in real time during the week to the A Week at the G website.
If you need inspiration, watch the highlight reel from 2023.
Here’s how it works:
Be authentic. The purpose of A Week at the G is to show community members, prospective students, current students, employees, and families why it’s great to be a Spartan any day and every day.
Look for photogenic moments wherever you find yourself on campus during the week of September 23-27, which showcase the work of students, faculty, and staff. These may be performances or rehearsals, classroom exercises, lab work, presentations, club and Greek life meetings, social events, casual gatherings, athletic games and warm-ups, and service projects. They must take place during A Week at the G, not before or after.
Request a photographer ahead of time here. University Communicationswill accept requests through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, and respond on a first come, first serve basis.
For those spontaneous moments, take your own photos during the week and send your best shots to University Communications or tag them #AWeekattheG on social media. The submission link will go live on A Week at the G’s website on Monday, September 23. They may get featured on the A Week at the G website and archived to further promote your department or area of study.
Submitted photos are also eligible for prizes! Last year’s winning submitted photo was displayed on UNCG’s billboard on Gate City Boulevard.
A Week at the G 2023’s winning photo by Laniya Smith.
Post your pics on social media using the hashtag #AWeekattheG.
All information about A Week at the G can be found on the event website.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications Video by Grant Evan Gilliard and David Lee Row, University Communications
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
POV: North Carolina Folk Festival Through Blue- and Gold-Colored Glasses
Posted on September 13, 2024
The North Carolina Folk Festival celebrated its 10th year anniversary September 6-8 in downtown Greensboro and 110,000 visitors were there to witness it!
Having lived in Greensboro for most of my adult life, I’ve experienced those ten festivals from the very beginning, but this year was different. Instead of simply meeting up with friends for the concerts, I took it all in through the eyes of UNCG students, staff, and alumni – and it only deepened my appreciation for Greensboro.
Here’s a glimpse of what I saw through my blue- and gold-colored lenses:
The Business of the Folk Fest
Festival organizers report that $25 million dollars of economic impact was generated during the weekend of the North Carolina Folk Festival. To keep the festival free for the public, corporate and private sponsors support the festival’s organization, help draw big-name acts, and provide operational funding for the three-day event.
UNCG is a proud sponsor of the festival. Beyond corporate funding, our support is evident in the alumni and staff that play in many of the featured bands, interactive jams, and dance showcases. Representatives of the College of Visual and Performing Arts could be seen on the stages and in the marketplace craft booths, and the School of Nursing was also visible this year as nursing students provided health screenings to festival attendees at the Minerva Mobile Health Unit.
Culture Hits Different at the Folk Fest
Although folk music can mean many different things to different people, during this one weekend in Greensboro, folk music is everything. Viewing the festival through blue and gold glasses uplifts the appreciation for all kinds of art. Just like UNCG accepts students where they are and helps them to be their very best, the folk festival brings bands from all genres to light. And Greensboro is here for it.
Attendees jump from Irish jigs to bluegrass to gospel soul as they weave from stage to stage. Young people in Spartan t-shirts mix with families with young children and retirees, and everyone grooves together. (It’s enough to make you forget it’s a tenuous election year. How do we keep this groove going, Greensboro?)
Aside from the music, following Spiro through the festival is an attraction in itself. When they see Spiro, alumni come in for hugs, wide-eyed children consider their future college choices, and high fives reign supreme. Spiro’s energy brings a vibe that somehow fits right in at the folk festival.
Community First, Folks!
Whether it’s the Hendersonville Apple Festival, the Mt. Airy Autumn Leaves Festival, or Benson’s Mule Days, festivals bring people out to celebrate what’s important to their community. How lucky are we that Greensboro’s festival is about music of all genres?
At its core, the folk festival is a reminder of the creative, diverse, and fun community we live in and UNCG’s influence is a big part of that. ‘Til next year, North Carolina Folk Festival! Thanks for bringing us together.
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications. Videography by David Lee Row and Grant Gilliard, University Communications.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Alum Sings Again at UNCG Ahead of Starring Role in Greensboro Opera
Posted on September 12, 2024
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. First, he will bring his incredible voice back to his alma mater for a September 13 concert with renowned pianist Warren Jones at Tew Recital Hall.
Sidney Outlaw ’04 will play the title role in “Don Giovanni” in October. He brought his incredible voice back to his alma mate...
Spartans Thrive Thursday: Accessibility on Campus
Posted on September 12, 2024
It is not uncommon for a new student to try and settle into the college experience, only to find they are struggling more than ever before. No matter how they try to discipline themselves, they never have enough time to finish an assignment, or they can’t concentrate during a lecture. The tricks they used to study in high school may no longer work.
They may compare themselves to their classmates and wonder, “Is something wrong with me? Am I good enough for college?”
They may not be aware that anxiety and depression can rise to the level of disability, along with learning disorders, autism, ADHD, and other physical or mental conditions. A disability can be any physical or mental condition that substantially impacts a major life activity, including seeing, hearing, mobilizing, thinking, studying, etc.
They can be assured they are not alone in feeling that way. Tina Vires, director of UNC Greensboro’s Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS), says many people with learning or other disabilities aren’t diagnosed until adulthood. That is where she and her trained staff can step in to help.
“Our job is to remove barriers or otherwise ensure access for individuals with disabilities,” she says.
Shaping a path to learn
Like all higher educational institutions, UNCG ensures that all legal protection and equal opportunities are afforded to people with visible and invisible disabilities.
As children, students are protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Once they become adults, they come under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws set different obligations for the schools, and that is why it is important for a student who has a disability or suspects they might have a disability to talk to someone in OARS about their options.
OARS will engage in an interactive process with the student to understand what kind of disability they have, how it affects their campus experience, and what accommodation will allow the student to have equity of access; to thrive. OARS then works with that student’s faculty members to implement the accommodation.
Vires says every experience is unique. “We can have ten students come to us with learning disabilities and leave with ten different accommodation letters,” she says.
Common accommodations include:
• More time to take an exam • A separate space for exams with fewer distractions • Accessible technology, including screen readers, smart pens, and other note-taking support technologies
Under U.S. law, service animals enjoy special protections to accompany and care for their owner, including at UNCG. Their owners are not required to contact OARS, but it’s highly encouraged to help them settle into the campus environment. Vires, says, “They don’t have to, but every time we’ve invited a student with a service dog to connect with us, they always do. It’s very helpful for faculty to know in advance that there’s going to be a dog in their classroom, for example.”
Service dogs are working animals and should not be petted, played with, or spoken to when on duty, as doing so may distract them from the job they are trained to perform. When it’s not obvious that a dog is a service animal, two questions may be legally asked: Is this a service dog required due to your disability, and what task is it trained to perform? Never ask what about the disability or to see a demonstration of the training.
Emotional support animals (ESA) fall under different criteria. If you need an ESA on campus, you must connect with OARS and the ESA must be approved as reasonable, then meet with Housing, before bringing the animal. Whether an animal is a service dog or an ESA, they must be under control and non-disruptive.
Each student’s success matters
OARS envisions a campus that is inherently equitable, accessible, and inclusive. “We switched over to the social justice model of disability about four years ago, and it’s made it a lot easier for students to get connected with us,” says Vires. She says nearly 20 percent of students in higher education have some form of disability, and she assures students that they should never feel stigma for inquiring about a disability or asking for accommodations or worry about barriers.
Using a database management system, OARS sends letters outlining the accommodations to the students and their faculty members. Vires says, “That letter includes verbiage encouraging them to communicate with each other, to make sure that they’re on the same page as to how those accommodations will be implemented.”
Vires says OARS can help a student decide if the methods they used in high school are reasonable options in college, or if they need to seek an alternative. “Many psychological conditions change over time,” she says. “It depends on the situation or the scenario, but we may ask them to meet back with us before the next semester so we can see how things are going.”
The OARS office is in the EUC, Room 215. The office allows students to bring items that make them feel comfortable. They keep calming and focusing devices on hand in their waiting room and offices, such as adult coloring books and fidget spinners. Students may easily connect by completing a brief Welcome Form. Once received, OARS will reach out to ask if the student prefers a virtual or in-person consultation.
“When coming to our space, it’s important to be able to seek what you need,” says Vires. “We hope to level the playing field so that no one feels like less of a person. OARS is the best team on campus!”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by David Lee Row, University Communications
