“Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness.
We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Many of us watched the violence and chaos unfold at the U.S. Capitol. Whether you’re struggling with how to process these events, the pandemic, or any other personal matter, we as an Assumption community want you to know that you are not alone. As we approach the inauguration next week, we wanted to remind you that We are here for you!
Below are brief descriptions of just some of the resources available to students for support during these challenging times. (This information may also be found on the AU Mobile App.)
#HoundsStrongerTogether
Counseling and Mental Health Support
Counseling Services offers a confidential, safe place to come and explore issues that are affecting you, get help figuring out what your options are, and come up with ideas about how to handle different situations. A personal counselor can:
- provide objective feedback;
- offer some new ways to cope with situations;
- provide information about other resources;
- or just simply listen while you sort through an issue out loud
Our professional counselors are available for individual and/or group appointments, residence hall programming, classroom presentations, student club and organization workshops, and much more.
To make a counseling appointment call (508) 767-7329 or email any of the full-time counseling staff:
Additional mental health resources:
- Student Assistance Program (SAP) – (800) 386-7055
- Crisistextline.org – Text “TALK” to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – (800) 273-8255
Health Services
Health Services is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm for any medical needs you may have. Currently, we have a hybrid approach with both Telehealth and in-person appointments. If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms we ask that you reach out to us and make an appointment. Not all symptoms require quarantine or isolation, but it is important you call us so we can address your individual needs!
If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, please call (508) 767-7329.
Testing Center
The Testing Center is open from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students are required to be tested twice each week. If you have questions about your individual testing protocol or need to reschedule any of your appointments, please call (508) 767-7725.
Quarantine & Isolation Support
Assumption has a COVID-19 Coordinator to supervise all quarantine and isolation needs. In addition, any student placed in quarantine or isolation is assigned a professional staff member as their case manager to support their well-being. Case managers regularly check-in with their student(s) and have been trained to identify if there may be a need to refer a student to additional supportive resources such as Counseling Services.
Students in quarantine or isolation receive an email with all the resources available to them and are encouraged to share that email with their family. Additional supportive measures for students in quarantine or isolation include but are not limited to:
- Delivery of meals for those with meal plans
- Telehealth appointments along with a daily screening check by Health Services
- Information about various remote social and recreational programming
- Counseling Services group or individual meetings
If you have questions regarding quarantine and/or isolation support or procedures, please contact us!
PAWS
Peers Advocating Wellness for Students is a student-led group on campus that helps to provide connections, support and education. All students have access to weekly remote meetings and many programs throughout the semester. Resources and education for many topics are available including stress management, mental health support, substance use, healthy eating, and more!
Follow them on Instagram @assumptionupaws to meet the club executives and see what they are up to! Check out the latest Tik Tok Challenges and attend programs to have a chance to win prizes!
Residential Life
The Office of Residential Life is available to discuss any issue(s) a student may be facing. Residence halls on campus are a place where the opinions and challenges faced by all students are valued. RAs and professional staff intentionally live among students in the halls and are available to assist with navigating these matters. For more information, the Office of Residential Life can be reached at (508) 767-7505.
Pastoral Care
The challenges and stressors that we encounter can impact us on a spiritual level and raise questions about faith: Where is God in this situation? Why do bad things happen in a world that God has created? How can I move forward in hope?
A team of pastoral ministers - campus ministers, Assumptionist priests, InterVarsity representatives, FOCUS missionaries, ministers in residence, and chaplains to ALANA and first-generation students - is available to talk with you and accompany you as you deal with questions like these.
Students of any or no religious background are welcome to meet with one of Assumption’s pastoral ministers. To connect with a pastoral minister, contact the Campus Ministry Office at (508) 767-7419 or email Deacon Paul Covino (Director of Campus Ministry).
Student Activities and Leadership Development
Here are just a few examples of what to look forward to during the spring semester:
CAB (Campus Activities Board) will be sponsoring a Welcome Back Week from January 25 to January 30. Events include Instagram challenges to win prizes, and a live Yoga class by Two Deep Breaths which will combines live music, yoga, meditation, and positive affirmations. We will also host a spoken word artist, gameshow and a Family Bingo Night!
Additionally, this spring, CAB will host Food Truck Fridays starting in mid-February, where they will sponsor different food trucks in the evenings for students.
Finally, we will host a Leadership Series workshop throughout the semester for anyone to come to as many or as few as they would like. These start February 3 and will go until the end of April; sign-ups to attend will be on Handshake. Topics range from learn your personality type, to public speaking, to financial planning to goal setting. They are being presented by University staff and faculty as well as alumni of Assumption.
All events will be listed in the AU Mobile App in the Events Module.
Campus Recreation
The Department of Campus Recreation and the Plourde Recreation Center are committed to a student-centered approach for recreation programs and facilities. The recreation programs are designed to enrich your university experience, promote a sense of community, develop your leadership skills, and pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. As just one example, in the fall of 2020 a new partnership was formed with Wellbeats to bring virtual fitness and mindfulness videos to students 24/7.
The staff is always available to discuss how students can get involved and participate in any program. For more information on Wellbeats, or any opportunity provided by Campus Recreation, please call (508) 767-7072 or visit the Campus Recreation portal page today!
