by givebackdv | May 18, 2020 | Partners, Scholars
Our partner colleges are working hard to accommodate and support current and future students affected by the coronavirus. All colleges extended enrollment deadlines, facilitate virtual academic advising, and share coronavirus resources. In part two of this blog series, we will examine the different measures implemented by partner colleges in Illinois and Kansas to guide and assist students while they are at home.
ILLINOIS
Lewis University
Most university employees and offices are open virtually in response to the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Students are advised to review the updated schedule for university administrative office hours: https://www.lewisu.edu/covid-19/businesshours.htm. Students and staff on campus for essential business must display a student, faculty, or staff ID to the Lewis University Police Department at the front entrance.
Lewis University is committed to supporting students as they transition to online classes and online learning. As a result, peer-to-peer tutoring is available online, and students can access Brainfuse, a service of real tutors in a wide range of subjects, including English, Math, and Science. The University also set up general email inboxes for questions, concerns, and accommodations. Students can email academicservices@lewisu.edu or learningaccess@lewisu.edu. More details on academic support and resources for students can be found at www.lewisu.edu/academicsupport.
For COVID-19 information, students can visit this website: https://lewisu.edu/covid-19/index.htm.
Blackburn College
Blackburn College’s Biology department has donated 1,200 medical examination gloves and 10 high-grade respirators to Illinois hospitals in efforts to assist with the health crisis.
The faculty and staff are supporting students over email and phone and giving them tailor-made individual advice for how to continue forward. Refund and emergency relief checks for unused housing and food charges will be coming to many students. Also, students will receive full credit for their Work Program tuition credit despite not working in the last eight weeks. This is a $1250 benefit to each student in the Work Program.
A staff member opened her home to a student with nowhere to return to when the campus closed. The student will stay with the staff member throughout the summer. Virtual counseling is also available by scheduling an appointment with Counseling Services at tim.morenz@blackburn.edu or jenny.langley@blackburn.edu.
Students are grateful for the college’s hands-on approach to this unprecedented challenge. A current Blackburn student expressed the following appreciation to her professor:
“I just wanted to reach out to express how extremely grateful I am for your understanding, and just for you really care about your students. Going through what we all are right now, I have learned a lot about people, my professors especially, and I just want you to know that I really do appreciate how you’re doing this class … thank you for being nice and knowing that we’re all struggling in our own ways right now.”
For COVID-19 information, students can visit this website: https://blackburn.edu/coronavirus/
KANSAS
Wichita State University
Wichita State University has allocated half of its CARE act awarded funds – approximately $4.4 million – to emergency financial aid grants for eligible students. The Wichita State Foundation also set up a fund for COVID-19 related expenses for students. See more information here: https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2020/03-march/shockers_up_wichita_state_5.php.
Undergraduate students struggling with the academic transition can adjust course grades from the assigned letter grade to a credit/non-credit option, and an unsatisfactory/unsatisfactory option is available for graduate students. Frequently asked questions are answered on this resource page: https://www.wichita.edu/about/public_information/wsu_topics/topicscovid-19/index.php.
Pittsburg State University
The Pittsburg State University Student Success team is offering student success workshops twice a week. Topics include stress management and tips on learning in an online environment, and program updates can be found here: https://twitter.com/PSUSuccess.
The University also provided laptops for students that needed them to continue with online classes at home. Frequently asked questions are answered on this resource page: https://www.pittstate.edu/office/health-services/coronavirus/index.html#undefined16.
Baker University
Baker University set up its Outreach Network Student Concern form. Faculty, staff, and students can request assistance for themselves or others based on concerns with both academic and personal issues due to online learning here: https://bakeruniversity.formstack.com/forms/cas_faculty_outreach.
Students at the College of Arts and Sciences also had the opportunity to request that courses for the spring 2020 term be graded Pass/NC. Peer tutoring and the writing center are available online. Information on how to access tutors and the writing center are detailed on this resource page: https://www.bakeru.edu/coronavirus/coronavirus-faq/.
Kansas State University
Recognizing the financial challenges many students experience due to the COVID-19 crisis, Kansas State University is significantly reducing online fees for summer school undergraduate and graduate courses this year. For more information, visit the Division of Financial Services, https://www.k-state.edu/finsvcs/cashiers/costs/summer-2020/.
The University also developed resource pages and videos to assist students with the transition to online learning:
– https://www.k-state.edu/keeplearning/
– https://www.k-state.edu/its/helpdesk/
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPR00vcOlrk&feature=emb_logo
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o–H2Put0Ds&feature=youtu.be
Kansas State University enacted a K State Today Student Edition for current and potential students to find all virtual events, local news, and publications in one place. This update releases Monday-Friday and can be accessed here: https://www.k-state.edu/today/students/.
For KSU COVID-19 resources and updates, students can visit: https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/index.html.
We here at Give Something Back are proud to call all these outstanding colleges our partners!
by givebackdv | May 17, 2020 | Partners, Scholars
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships and uncertainty for many students around the United States. Most of our partner colleges have transitioned to distance learning for the remainder of the spring and summer 2020 semesters. In New York, the epicenter of the pandemic, our partner colleges are making great strides to ensure students start and continue their education. Our partner colleges are making great strides to ensure students start and continue their education. In part one of this blog series, we will note the different measures implemented by partner colleges in New York to guide and assist students while they are at home.
Queens College
To navigate the academic transitions, students can connect with advisors virtually through FaceTime, Google HangOut, Skype, and Zoom. To make a virtual appointment, students can call the Academic Advising Center at (718) 997-5599, email advising@qc.cuny.edu, or download the QC Navigate app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
Queens College is also loaning Chromebooks and iPads through the Spring Semester to provide students with vital technology for distance learning. Students can request these loaner devices through the Office of the Provost, which mails the devices directly to the students’ preferred mailing addresses. Additionally, remote library access is available using live chat with a librarian or the QC ID.
Students seeking socio-emotional support and assistance with academic-related stress may access free services of a licensed mental health professional through the Counseling, Health, & Wellness Center. Students are encouraged to call (718) 997-5420 and leave a message with their contact information. Callbacks take place during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
To prevent food insecurity in the lives of its students, Queens College established the Knights Table Pantry in 2018. The Pantry continues to provide enrolled students with access to non-perishable food items for themselves and immediate family members. Students can access the Pantry via appointments only. Students are advised to email KnightsTable@qc.cuny.edu or call 718-997-0393.
Mercy College
In response to the pandemic, Mercy College changed its grading policy. Each student can select the credit earned or the no earned credit option for any individual Spring 2020 course starting Monday, April 20, 2020. The deadline to complete this request is Thursday, May 7, 2020. However, once a student selects the credit earned or the no earned credit option, they are unable to change back to a letter grade. Students struggling with the transition to online learning can also secure tutoring services. The Tutoring Center is offering online tutoring services on a revised schedule and by appointment only through the Mercy Campus EAB platform.
Mercy College’s Student Counseling Center is offering all appointments through the virtual platform, Doxy.me. To schedule an appointment, students must email CounselingCenter@mercy.edu. Students facing technical issues with their Blackboard platform, emails, or computers can connect with Mercy’s IT Helpdesk. The Helpdesk is available 24/7 at helpdesk@mercy.edu or (914) 674-7526.
Mercy College is committed to keeping its students informed and safe. It has developed the resource pages below to aid in this task:
Hunger Relief & Social Services: https://www.mercy.edu/student-affairs/mav-market/resources
Emotional Wellbeing: https://www.mercy.edu/student-affairs/counseling-services
Career & Professional Development: https://www.mercy.edu/about-mercy/coronavirus-information/career-and-professional-development-resources
Online Support: https://www.mercy.edu/about-mercy/online-student-resources
Binghamton University
To navigate the academic transitions, students have the option of connecting virtually to academic advisors via email, phone, and Zoom. The Student Services webpage includes information on how to contact and set up appointments with each of Binghamton University’s schools. A Pass/Fail policy was also implemented for the Spring 2020 semester, which applies to most undergraduate students, except for those in academic programs with licensure or accreditation regulations.
Binghamton University created a website with information for students on how to use technology successfully, communicate in an online environment and remain motivated when taking classes online. Students lacking devices necessary for online learning can submit a request for a laptop, Wi-Fi HotSpot, or other electronic equipment through the University’s Center for Learning and Teaching (CLT).
Students with food insecurity can still access the campus Food Pantry via an online ordering process. The online ordering form asks for a student’s first name, Binghamton University’s ID number, and a choice of day/time for pickup. The Pantry’s staff bag the items and have them ready at the requested pickup time. The form is available each week at 3 PM Friday for the following week’s orders.
Binghamton University remains committed to keeping its students physically and mentally healthy. It has set up the resource pages below to aid in this task:
Academic Continuity website
BFirst
B-Healthy
The CARE Team
Health Promotion and Prevention Services
Meditation labyrinth
Services for Students with Disabilities
Stay tuned for more details on what our partner colleges in the Midwest are doing to support current and prospective scholars!
by givebackdv | Mar 16, 2020 | Partners, Scholars
Our high school and community partners provide future and current Give Back scholars with mentoring, and academic support. Partner school, Whitney Point High School is no exception. Located in northern Broome County, NY, Whitney Point HS is committed to providing high-quality education and professional development to its students. Whitney Point students in grades 9 through 12 receive the individual attention and support they need to succeed with a student to teacher ratio of 12:1.
One of the places where this support has been taking place is in the Resource Center or Drop-in, which has provided a quiet and friendly place for students for several years. The space was so popular and successful that students advocated to increase its hours. The space is now open daily for students to come down during lunch or study hall. Students work on homework, do puzzles, play games, or connect in what they have come to know as their safe space. The Center has a back room that has been designated a quiet room for students to use if they need fewer distractions while doing homework or a quiet place to unwind. Our Give Back students meet at the Center with their mentor and Community Schools Coordinator, Dorothea Primavera. The scholars have even made it rule to take advantage of the Center’s resources outside of mentoring sessions!
Whitney Point emphasizes self-love and positive affirmations in its Center. With the help of fellows from Binghamton University’ graduate social work program, undergraduate interns and volunteers, students have the opportunity to talk with individuals they can connect and relate with. They also receive social-emotional and academic support. “This space certainly impacts the success of our school and the ability to give individualized attention to students with whatever they may need,” Primavera says.
Give Back is honored to partner with a school committed to seeing its students thrive academically and personally.
