Dear Wolverine Families,
As you and your student navigate the remainder of summer and prepare for their return to campus, Student Life is here to help. Our wide range of resources and services—all of which are crafted to care for the entire well-being of your student—are ready and waiting for them.
Still, figuring out what exactly your student needs might be a little overwhelming for you in the midst of the pandemic. To get you started, this newsletter will introduce you to some key resources and answer questions you may have about how to prepare for the fall semester.
To better meet the needs of a student body that lives all around the world, many of our services are available remotely right now. Your student doesn’t have to wait until the first day of class or until they set foot on campus to connect with us or make new friends.
For example, your student can join one of our free home workout programs over Zoom or on YouTube, chat with a counselor at Counseling & Psychological Services or a coach at Wolverine Wellness, or engage in discussions and virtual support like those offered by the Spectrum Center, MESA, and the International Center. We also have added time-flexible options like our new online mental health tool, SilverCloud, meaning your student can find support no matter where they are or when they need it.
What about when your student gets to campus? Some of you have asked us how your student can truly engage with their peers while following public health guidance on face coverings and physical distancing. This edition of Family Matters will share ways your student can keep themselves and their campus community safe and still stay engaged while following proper safety precautions. We also expect all students to commit to our Wolverine Culture of Care - a commitment to keeping the U-M campus community as healthy and safe as possible through several actions. New students, in particular, might be interested in joining our First Year Experience, and all students are encouraged to pursue their own unique path to civic engagement during an election year via Ginsberg Pathways.
We know that each day brings new information and perhaps new challenges for you and your student. Rest assured that Student Life is here for you—and we are so excited for what comes next. Even if it looks different, Fall 2020 will be a wonderful and formative Michigan experience, one filled with that learning, growth, and greatness that your student will love and remember long after they become a member of our proud and successful alumni.
We will be in touch with you again soon. Until then, stay well, stay great, and Go Blue!
Dr. Martino Harmon, Vice President, Student Life