Professional services for combatting homesickness, depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, the uncertainties of a mid-life career change, or even just finding someone to talk with about work-life balance, can make the difference in a student excelling in college.
UNC Greensboro’s campus-wide commitment to prioritizing mental health is why The Princeton Review placed UNCG on its Mental Health Service Honor Roll for a second year in a row. It’s the only university in North Carolina to make this year’s honor roll.
“When a student tells us they finally found someone to talk to about the pressure they’re feeling, or that our peer coaching helped them balance coursework with a part-time job – that’s when we know this work matters,” says Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Akens, Ed.D. “This recognition reflects years of intentional investment in making sure no Spartan has to navigate college alone.”
UNCG was one of 16 schools named in the inaugural honor roll last year. The Princeton Review judged universities on a set of holistic, all-encompassing parameters:
- Overall administrative support through policies, including commitments to staffing and student support.
- A campus quality of life for students that is both healthy and attentive to overall well-being.
- How students are empowered to address their mental health through education programs and peer-to-peer offerings.
The Princeton Review praised UNCG’s “culture of care,” pointing to:
- Counseling & Psychological Services programs, including the “Let’s Talk” drop-in consultations, the ACCESS program for students with ADHD, and the Free Expressions and Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts to promote wellness through artistic creativity.
- The Be Well. Stay Well. initiative fostering wellness through events, workshops, and spaces.
- Spartan Well-Being Coaching’s Peer-to-Peer Resources, which connects students with peer guides to create strategies to address student-driven goals.
“The support we provide to our students within Counseling & Psychological Services, and across the entire UNCG community, truly has created a culture of care,” says Jennifer Whitney, Ph.D., Director of Mental Health & Well-being with Student Health Services. “These words are not just a slogan. We know that the mental health and well-being of our students is critical to their success, inside and outside of the classroom.”
Additionally, UNCG strives to support students through the JED Campus partnership. In the first year of this four-year initiative with the JED Foundation, it completed a self-assessment based on 80 evidence-based recommendations for college campuses. Student feedback showed Spartans rate UNCG high in meeting several national benchmarks.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
