I am sharing an update on the Strategic Plan deliverable I’m leading, which falls under our commitment to be a people-focused organization, and the initiative for learner support and services.
The Student Success team is proud to partner with you to strengthen support and services for learners. In addition to letting you know what we have been working on, I am going to share with you some steps you can take this semester to help promote student success, well-being, and resilience for our BCIT students.
I am pleased to be able to share with you some of the resources and initiatives that we have been working on:
- Responding to Students in Distress Guide for Employees provides an at-a-glance tool for supporting students in distress.
- The Student Well-being Toolkit for Instructors provides plug-and-play resources and information that instructors can use in their classrooms to enhance student well-being.
- Another key initiative has been the initiation of a review of policies related to student absence, leave, and withdrawal in extenuating circumstances.
There are several important upcoming steps that we are also proud to share with you:
- The Health Promotion Strategist is a new ongoing role at BCIT that started on September 20. One of the immediate tasks of the Health Promotion Strategist will be to develop a health promotion communication campaign designed to increase student awareness of available resources and increase help-seeking behavior for students in distress, particularly related to suicidality.
- In response to student requests, we will also be piloting evening hours counselling appointments for students during portions of the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 terms.
You are a key partner in supporting student well-being and resilience. Please look at the Responding to Student Distress Guide and the Student Well-being Toolkit for Instructors for easy ways that you can give information to students about the supports that are available them. Spread the word that BCIT is here to help, with a full range of Student Services. If you see a student who may need support, be sure to submit an Early Assist request early on to connect the student directly to someone who can walk them through the resources available.
Thank you,
Associate Director, Student Access & Well-being
Commitment: People-focused organization
Initiative: Learner support and services
Deliverable: Enhanced learner services in well-being and resilience
Deliverable lead: Michael Mandrusiak, Associate Director, Student Access & Well-being