University expands mental health services for graduate students | Electronic News

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As part of its efforts to strengthen support for higher education, WVU is expanding health and wellness resources for graduate and professional students.

A recent collaboration between the Provost’s Office, the Office of Higher Education and Life, and the WVU Carruth Center has led to several new wellness initiatives, including the creation of a new Mental Health Counselor position. which will focus specifically on graduate student issues.

“Research and the University’s own data indicate that graduate students experience high levels of stress, depression and anxiety in a different way than the undergraduate student population,” said the director of the Carruth Center. , T. Anne Hawkins. “With the support of the Provost’s Office and OGEL, we have been able to establish a new specialist position that will focus on outreach and outreach initiatives for graduate students.

In addition to this new position, the team is coordinating a graduate student well-being task force this fall to help assess current student experiences, conduct peer-to-peer benchmarking, and provide recommendations for services and programs. additional. The Carruth Center also develops training, messaging, and programs to meet the needs of graduate students and faculty. Two additional graduate and professional student advisory positions were added in the past year at the College of Law and the Health Sciences Center.

Last spring semester, as part of its ongoing commitment to improving student success, the Provost’s Office and OGEL began targeting ways to support graduate students at the University, including increasing minimum stipends graduate assistants. The change increased minimum graduate assistantship stipends from $13,500 to $15,000 and will be rolled out over a two-year period. An increase was also approved for the minimum stipends for partial graduate assistants.

“University leadership is committed to evaluating policies and resources that impact our graduate students and identifying areas where we can improve and create even more opportunity,” said Richard Thomas. , Acting Associate Vice-Rector for Graduate Affairs. “We know financial support is always welcome, but dedicated mental health resources are also needed. I am proud of the work we have done so far and look forward to continuing our efforts.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to make graduate students aware of these resources. Details on Higher Education Transformation were part of a Spring 2022 Campus Conversation Series and are available online.

Questions about resources for graduate students can be directed to the Office of Higher Education and Life at 304-293-7173 or [email protected]. Questions about mental health resources can be directed to the Carruth Center at 304-293-4431.

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