Support for Wellness and Well-Being
Dear Students,
As we approach the end of the Spring Quarter, we know that many of you have navigated so much, including classes, research and work. The increased stress of this past year has been hard, and many of you are concerned about your friends, yourselves and the toll this cumulative stress has taken on the health and well-being of our Northwestern community. Some of you have reached out for help on behalf of yourself, supported friends and encouraged them to reach out, and found safe and creative ways to collectively care for one another. This type of care and concern is a hallmark of a strong community.
As students, you have many ways to connect at Northwestern—whether it is through your advisers, staff, professors, family members and/or fellow students. As we all collectively navigate these last weeks of the academic year, please remember that there are opportunities to reach out for connection, help and support.
- For personal and well-being concerns, please connect with our health and well-being Never hesitate to reach out to CAPS, CARE, the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Equity, Religious and Spiritual Life, your residential life community or AccessibleNU, among others.
- For academic concerns, we encourage you to visit the academic resources page on NUHelp. Reach out to your school based academic adviser if you are struggling to understand your options; they know how to best help you navigate any end-of-quarter decisions.
- For undergraduate students, know that you have options including use of the Credit/No Credit grading option, request an incomplete grade, course withdrawals or connection with academic support.
- For graduate students, please connect with your adviser, and review your options on the General Registration Policies for graduate students.
- For social and peer connections, student organizations and departments continue to host both in-person and virtual events. Fitness centers, group exercise and intramural sports are open, residence halls and areas are holding in-person events, and there are casual ways to engage, including studying in the Library or Norris Center. Look for the Paw Print, our weekly student email, to find different opportunities to be in community with other NU students.
Remember, when you are overwhelmed and stressed, it can feel like you have no options. Reaching out for help when you need it takes courage and strength. If you find yourself struggling, please reach out to someone you trust – an adviser, parent, family member, friend, faculty member, staff member, student organization adviser, therapist or any of the resources we mention above. If you can’t think of whom to call, reach out to one of us. We want to help you find your way, and we genuinely care about you.
We wish you a strong finish to the academic year and again ask that you find ways to take care of yourself as you work to take care of those around you.
With gratitude and care,
Julie Payne-Kirchmeier
Vice President for Student Affairs
Mona Dugo
Interim Dean of Students
Miriam Sherin
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Kelly Mayo
Associate Provost for Graduate Education
Dean, The Graduate School