I hope this email finds you and your family well and warm. Wellness is at the forefront of our minds as we make our way through the last few cold weeks of winter and look ahead to warmer days in spring. For William & Mary students, there are a number of spring break days throughout the semester. We hope these six spring break days help students explore how the concept of "Wellness Your Way" can help them recharge and refocus in meaningful ways.

In our latest Parent & Family Webinar, I sat down with Dr. Kelly Crace, Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness, to discuss ways that parents and families can help students prioritize wellness this semester. The session is full of wonderful advice and conversation starters you can use during your daily (or weekly) phone call or facetime with your student.

I also want to provide a brief reminder of the variety of Health & Wellness resources available to students at William & Mary. Many recognized the stress students were under in the fall and our direct mental health and wellness services expanded as a result. I hope you will take a few moments to explore these resources and share with your student as appropriate.

From your student's favorite FitWell classes to guided meditations with Dr. Warren Buck, there are a variety of on-demand wellness resources to help your student fit wellness into their active schedule. The departments of Health & Wellness are actively building additions to this set of virtual resources that are designed to enhance your student's wellness.

Ways to Flourish is the podcast of W&M Health and Wellness that addresses how to be mentally healthy and flourish through our challenges. Each podcast focuses on a wellness strategy that contributes to our mental health. Featuring wellness experts and the voices of our campus, the podcast focuses on strategies that are relevant to our community.

In addition to regular appointments, the Counseling Center is focusing on serving students using virtual outreach/psycho-educational programming. The W&M Counseling Center offers workshops, events, and programs to meet the current needs of the W&M student population. Current workshops include:

It doesn't matter if your student is an avid outdoor enthusiast or has never ventured beyond their own backyard, the Tribe Adventure Program has something for your student. Whether it's scaling our indoor Climbing Wall, spending an evening paddling down at our boathouse, or joining us on an exciting trip, TAP welcomes students to explore the great outdoors!

Check out Friday Night Campfires, back by popular demand, and new Night Hike Campfire programs in Matoaka Woods! 

TAP will also be offering some Guided Hikes over the course of the semester, in addition to several new programs, such as Discover Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding series, indoor MAC Campouts, Outdoor Skills Workshops, and much more!

The Dean of Students Office provides students with outreach, advocacy, and support services when they face significant challenges to their mental, physical and social health. Use the university's Care Report Form if you have a significant concern about a student (ex: multiple absences from class, signs of student struggling, concerning behavior, etc.) that you would like to share with us.

Care Report follow-up is usually within 48-72 business hours and is not intended for emergency issues.