UNews - Student Services

Flourishing Week presents ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students with opportunities to enhance well-being

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:28:56 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s commitment to student wellness is the focus as Flourishing Week takes over campus.

A week devoted to the five multivitamins of flourishing will present students with abundant opportunities to enhance their well-being and flourish both academically and personally.

What are the five multivitamins of flourishing that help students achieve well-being?

Play — Play is essential to childhood development, but becoming mature does not mean leaving the games behind. Unstructured fun is vital for adults too! Play is about seeking delight, letting your imagination run wild and enjoying the freedom to roam without a goal or outcome. It should be spontaneous, carefree and playful.

Connection — Humans are wired for connection. In the rush of life, we often overlook its importance. Connection is about more than simply being around others; it’s about building meaningful relationships that nourish our sense of belonging.

Helping Others — We cannot flourish if we only exist for ourselves. Helping others allows us to connect with something greater and make a positive impact on the lives around us.

Spirituality — Spirituality is not confined to structured religious practices; it’s a deeply personal journey of finding meaning, purpose and connection. At its core, spirituality invites us to reflect on the larger questions of life.

Learn — Learning encourages us to satiate curiosity, expand our horizons, and cultivate new passions. Embrace learning with humility and curiosity—don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back from exploring new subjects, skills, or even life plans.

Mark Slomp, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s executive director of Student Services, notes, “Research shows us that we feel better when we are functioning well. People who report that they regularly engage in play, help others, participate in spiritual practices, learn new things and cultivate caring relationships have much higher levels of well-being. It is vitally important to focus on improving how we are functioning in life according to these critical factors. The goal of Flourishing Week is to educate students about the concrete, and research-based, actions they can take that will lead to improved well-being and enhanced happiness.”

Flourishing Week runs Feb. 10-14 with each day dedicated to another flourishing multivitamin.

Feb. 10 – Helping others, Kindness in Bloom (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Bookstore)

Feb. 11 – Create & Connect (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Agility/Science Commons); REC Room Mural Unveiling (10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Students’ Union Galileo’s Place)

Feb. 12 – Play, Mini Carnival (12 to 4 p.m., Science Commons Atrium)

Feb. 13 – Spiritual, Smudge Box Making (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Iikaisskini Gathering Centre, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium)

Feb. 14 – Connection, Spread the Love (Free roses, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Physical Education Building and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library)

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge expanding REC Room initiative thanks to Embark Student Foundation Major Grants Program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:10:42 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will receive $500,000 from the Embark Student Corp., Canada’s education savings and planning company, as part of a $2.7 million grant program aimed at supporting innovative programs, services and initiatives that have a positive impact on student experiences.

ULethbridge’s successful REC (Refresh, Energize, Connect) Room program launch in 2022 is the impetus behind the grant award. Its introduction of indoor recreational spaces that support connection, play and physical activity has been enthusiastically embraced by students and earned recognition from Embark as one of seven projects across the country receiving support.

REC Room spaces have proven to be busy gathering spots for students.

“The Embark Student Foundation Major Grant Program marks our commitment to making the path to and through post-secondary school easier for all Canadians,” says Andrew Lo, President and CEO, Embark. “By supporting these innovative programs, we hope to enrich the lives of students and give them the skills they need to thrive both today and in the future.”

This year, seven recipients were selected as part of the Embark Student Foundation Major Grants Program, with $2.7 million being disbursed to qualifying post-secondary institutions across Canada. Each post-secondary institution selected will receive between $250,000 and $500,000 over five years to build their programs and realize their goals.

“It’s very encouraging to receive this support from Embark and we’re appreciative they recognize how important it is to provide an environment that encourages student flourishing,” says Kathleen Massey, ULethbridge’s vice-provost (students). “This funding creates the opportunity for us to enhance and expand this program through the addition of more indoor REC Room spaces, the construction of new outdoor spaces and the development of related programming.”

REC Rooms are equipped with a variety of activities, including quiet pursuits like puzzles, a giant chess board, virtual reality games, digital games and art hives/murals, Indigenous games, as well as some active games such as ping pong and giant Jenga. For those who feel like just relaxing, there are bean bag chairs for reading, chatting or just zoning out.

“We currently have three indoor locations across campus, and they are full of activity pretty much any time of day,” Mark Slomp, executive director, Student Services. “Research has shown us that when students have connections with one another and engage in exercise and activities and have outlets to laugh and play, it sets them up for success in all the other areas of their academic experience. We’re excited to build on the REC Room concept and further support student flourishing.”

Other post-secondary schools receiving funding from Embark include Concordia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Niagara College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Toronto Metropolitan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto and Vancouver Island ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. For a further look at their projects, check out this news release from Embark.

About Embark Student Corp.

Embark Student Corp. is Canada’s education savings and planning company. With over $6 billion in assets under management, the company is committed to empowering families along their post-secondary journeys by giving them the resources and tools they need to better plan and save for all that comes with an education. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Embark Student Foundation, a not-for-profit Canadian corporation, the company, registered as a Scholarship Plan Dealer across Canada, manages almost 600,000 RESPs for Canadians nationwide and helped approximately 53,600 students through post-secondary studies last year.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College adopt online tool for reporting sexual violence

trevor.kenney — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:52:33 +0000

Students at both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College will have access to a secure, online reporting and information platform starting this fall to support them if they experience gender-based and sexual violence.

REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors) is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week centralized online reporting and information platform that provides increased options for students and employees to report gender-based sexual violence. It includes multiple reporting options and critical information about resources and supports available on campus and in the community.

The platform empowers survivors to document their experience and decide how or if they want to share their story with their post-secondary institution or other agencies. They can share information or seek help anonymously if they aren’t prepared to submit a formal complaint.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is working hard to provide effective support to survivors and to eradicate gender-based and sexual violence in its community,” says Dr. Mark Slomp, executive director of Student Services. “The introduction of REES Campus is a new tool designed to give survivors the option of anonymous reporting, a new feature of the university’s Sexual and Gender-based Violence Prevention policy.”

“Lethbridge College is happy to partner with REES Campus because the platform was clearly designed with the survivor’s needs in mind,” says Nancy Russell, dean of Student Affairs of Lethbridge College, which will make the platform live early this fall. “The service is mindful of the trauma a survivor has experienced and provides the survivor with the security, privacy, resources and options they need when they need them.”

With many students crossing over between the college and university, the implementation of a common system will help raise awareness for and familiarity with the platform.

According to a 2019 Stats Canada Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population, 71 per cent of post-secondary students witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviours over the past year, yet less than one in 10 spoke about what happened with someone associated with their school.

“REES is proud to support students and employees with trauma-informed reporting options,” says Mary Lobson, founder of REES. “Creating safer communities is at the core of what we do and we applaud this collaboration by the institutional partners.”

The two Lethbridge post-secondary institutions join King’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Windsor, Mount Allison ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and others across Canada in adopting the REES platform.

Proactive approach to student mental health at the heart of R.E.C. Room initiative

trevor.kenney — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 20:55:32 +0000

A student with a healthy and positive state of mind is more likely to be engaged, successful and flourishing. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s newest strategy to enhance student mental health is the introduction of the R.E.C. Room — multi-site campus hubs designed to invite students to step away from the stress of study and research to relax their minds and connect with one another.

Introduced today in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium, the R.E.C. Room (an acronym for refresh, energize, connect) is a joint initiative funded by ULethbridge and created in consultation with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU), Student Affairs and in collaboration with Agility, Horns Recreation and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library. Like the giant Jenga game students can now play in the R.E.C. Room, multiple blocks of support must come together to promote flourishing.

“It’s imperative we proactively address students’ mental health needs and promote wellness at every opportunity,” says Dr. Mark Slomp, executive director of Student Services. “With mental health issues so prevalent amongst students, and the benefits of proactively addressing those issues so pronounced, it is in every school’s best interest to promote mental wellness on campus. Our investment in the mental health of our students carries the obvious short-term benefit of enhancing their student experience, and also supports student retention and in the end, leads to successful students who go on to positively impact their communities and society as a whole.”

So, where are the R.E.C. Rooms, what’s in them and who can use them?

The Rec Room locations include the UHall Atrium, Science Commons (outside the Innovation Zone), Markin Hall Atrium, Galileo’s in the Students’ Union, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library (just past the circulation desk), and the Chill Zone in Agility’s Innovation Zone.

The rooms will be equipped with a variety of activities, including quiet pursuits like puzzles, a giant chess board, virtual reality games, digital games and art hives/murals, Indigenous games, as well as some active games such as ping pong, foosball, air hockey and giant Jenga. If you feel like just relaxing, there will be bean bag chairs for reading, chatting or just zoning out. Horns Recreation will also be offering events as part of this initiative, such as the recent Yoga Rave, a dodge ball tournament and outdoor games (spring).

Open to all students, staff and faculty, the concept is to improve mental wellness throughout ULethbridge.

“Research tells us that people who have strong connections and relationships with others, engage in regular play and creative activity, build frequent exercise and physical activity into their lives, laugh, serve others and participate in spiritual activity report higher levels of life satisfaction,” says Slomp. “The spaces we are setting up across campus are designed to encourage these kinds of activities and habits and serve as a catalyst for students to consider how they are deliberately cultivating a flourishing life.”

The Students’ Union played a major role in identifying what activities would resonate with students.

“Students need more support, and the R.E.C. Rooms are a fun and innovative way for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the Students’ Union to support students holistically rather than just purely academically,” says Gage Desteur, Students’ Union vice-president academic. “I’m looking forward to the positive impact these spaces will have on our campus and on students’ overall well-being, especially as we continue to rebuild our campus community, now that we are fully back in person.”

The R.E.C. Rooms are open for activity on Feb. 1.

Campus Care Parcel program, part of Nourish, goes ahead thanks to innovative distribution solution

trevor.kenney — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 19:50:35 +0000

Food security issues do not subside during national emergencies, rather they are often enhanced. As society has been forced to function in entirely different ways throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and its partners devised a plan to keep one of their most important initiatives alive – the Spring Campus Care Parcel giveaway.

Parcels of food await distribution to students by volunteers.

Now in its 17th year, Campus Care Parcels are an essential service for students at one of the most critical times in the academic calendar. A pandemic situation has only highlighted the need to make sure food security issues are met and students are supported as they wrap up their academic calendar and prepare for final exams.

"We know how critical this support is at the best of times and under these circumstances it is even more important,” says Campus Chaplain Erin Phillips. “We are grateful to our churches for continuing their support for this crucial program and cannot say enough how much we've appreciated the way the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has helped us work out unique logistics."

This year’s program, with support of the Campus Chaplaincy, local churches, Save-on-Foods and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, was devised to ensure students could still get access to food in a manner that kept them and volunteers safe, and abided by physical distancing guidelines.

U of L facilities staff picked up the majority of the food from local churches and brought it to campus where volunteers, practicing physical distancing and taking all safety and health precautions, sorted the food into parcels.

“Unfortunately, given the constraints we’re working under this spring, we understand we can’t reach every student in need,” says Mark Slomp, director of Student Services. “We identified particular groups and individuals who are more likely to be experiencing a food shortage during this time and reached out to them directly through email and communicated the details of how they could access the parcels. We urge all other students who may be struggling to please access the food banks available throughout the city.”

Students were able to access the Campus Care Parcels on Wednesday afternoon by calling volunteer distributors and meeting them at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Anderson Hall between 1 and 4 p.m. Parcels were brought curbside and picked up to avoid any social gathering.

“We know that 50 per cent of our students work while they study and that many have been facing layoff or reduced hours in these extraordinary circumstances,” adds Slomp. “We wanted to do what we could to ensure that students have what they need — and that especially includes nourishment — as they work to complete their semesters.”

The Campus Care Parcel program is one of a group of food-related programs that make up the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Nourish initiative. Nourish is designed to raise awareness about food scarcity on campus with a goal of increasing access to healthy food for students.

New digital therapy platform introduced to enhance mental health services for students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 21:13:50 +0000

Mental health services for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students are receiving an online boost with the introduction of the TAO Connect digital platform, making behavioural health therapy more accessible, efficient and effective.

Through TAO (therapy assistance online) Connect, students now have access to an app providing behavioural health tools on the go, in addition to in-person sessions with U of L Counselling and Career Services. TAO’s technology can be used two ways: therapists at the counselling centre can individually assign TAO to students as a way to supplement in-person sessions, or students can enroll in the program and download the app for a completely self-guided experience outside of the counselling centre.

“A huge benefit of this platform is that it broadens our reach in terms of being able to provide support to a larger number of students – some of whom who are not ready to seek professional help or like to access supports in other modalities,” says Jennifer Ellis-Toddington, manager of Counselling and Career Services at the U of L. “Another benefit is the self-check component in the app where students can check on their own mental health and, if indicated, that can move them towards getting professional help.”

Students utilizing TAO Connect have access to a suite of digital behavioural health tools, and also have the option to use the technology in tandem with a U of L counsellor. This gives students the ability to diligently practice the skills and techniques they learn through their counselling sessions, on their own time.

The platform is being funded through the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union health and dental plan and came about through a series of conversations between the ULSU and Student Services.

“It was really just conversations about how we can continue to best meet the mental health needs of students on campus,” says Mark Slomp, executive director of Student Services. “My favourite part of this is the collaboration that led to us getting together around a common concern, which is student well-being, and partnering to figure out how we can continue to do our best to address that.”

Andrew Gammack, ULSU president, says the platform meets students in their own space, anonymously, and is backed by evidence-based practices.

“Not everyone is in a position to approach counselling. A ULSU core value is accessibility and we wanted to make sure that there were more services on campus to help those who maybe don’t feel quite as comfortable coming forward to counselling services,” he says. “I interact with a lot of students who can identify with these issues. I really appreciate this service and the science behind it.”

The program includes high quality, interactive, educational modules in structured programs along with a companion app with daily practice tools. TAO’s screening measure can help someone choose the best program for them, and TAO’s progress measure helps track improvement. The anonymous self-screening tool combines five different tests for depression, alcohol and drug problems, anxiety, trauma and chronic pain. Once screened, the user will either be given links to access the appropriate self-help tools, or suggestions to see a health professional.

Through TAO’s completely self-directed, self-help app and online program, students are provided an opportunity to learn stress management, mindfulness skills, problem solving and strategies to avoid rumination and develop more helpful thinking patterns.

“We’re really eager to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to student mental health on campus, recognizing that students have very different needs and like to access services and supports in different ways,” he says. “We want to make sure we have all kinds of services and tools so we can best meet the needs of all students.”

TAO Connect is available for free to all U of L students by using their U of L email address to register. They can access the platform on the Counselling and Career Services website or on this Students’ Union website link. To learn more about TAO and its technology, visit TAOConnect.org, and to download the TAO mobile app, visit the iTUNES Store or Android’s app store.

UNews - Student Services

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