Message from President Ali Houshmand: Promoting Well-Being throughout the Rowan Community

While most students and faculty were away from our campuses during the winter break, we took significant steps toward building a stronger University community, based on what we heard from students, faculty, staff, family, area partners and organizations in the fall. 

Our leadership team has rallied around the issue of well-being and has committed itself to greater collaboration and aligning activities so students can take advantage of all that is already being offered, as well as new services and initiatives on the way. I am pleased to share with everyone some of the major initiatives that will improve our community:

THRIVE: Cultivating a healthy, balanced life
Early in the fall, the University began to infuse concepts of well-being throughout the community and campus life. In the THRIVE framework, the core concept is that well-being is multifaceted and that people can develop along six dimensions to pursue wellness at any stage of life, including coping with adversity, building rewarding relationships and living with a sense of purpose. Student Affairs is taking the lead to integrate THRIVE into its programs and services, and eventually these concepts will be integrated throughout the rest of the institution. Programs will be advertised through ProfLink and social media to put information and access to THRIVE in every Rowan community member’s hands. 

University Committee for Well-Being
We have created a committee, co-chaired by University Senate President Bill Freind and Vice President for Student Affairs Rory McElwee, that will draw upon the experiences of students, staff and faculty to examine initiatives and processes and make recommendations to the administration on a broad range of issues related to well-being. Student Government Association leaders, as well as other student voices, will be an integral part of the committee’s work. 

Adding staff and access points
Although we are already at the high end of the range for national standards in the student-to-counselor ratio and adding more counselors alone will not address all the needs of our community, the Wellness Center is completing its search for three new counselors who are expected to join our staff next month. We also have identified new spaces, on and off campus, where students will be able to meet with counselors.

To foster communication throughout the institution and our communities, the Wellness Center is recruiting members from each college to serve as liaisons with SMART (Stress Management and Response Team). Together, they will serve as a conduit for information and support from the Wellness Center to help the community cope following highly stressful events.

The Wellness Center is expanding Let’s Talk sessions to provide an opportunity for students to engage a counselor one-on-one for brief, confidential consultations. Individuals who prefer to seek help using technology are encouraged to use Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), a free digital platform that offers tools and support grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy. Also new this semester, we are offering students and employees access to a well-being application called BetterU—more on that to come.

Stories of strength and perseverance
Student Affairs will collect students’ success stories to tell how they found a place to belong at Rowan and used campus resources to enhance their well-being. These will include written and video stories and offer options for students who may have similar backgrounds and challenges as the students featured.

On Feb. 24, Kevin Hines, an internationally known motivational speaker and one of only a few people who have survived after attempting suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, will speak on the Glassboro campus. Several departments also plan to bring other speakers throughout the semester.   

Community partners
Upon hearing of our losses last semester and the grief we shared, local mental health providers offered to help our community. We met with many and are developing innovative solutions with them to extend the support network available to students.  

Community-wide support and resources
We are fortunate to have many additional organizations and programs to provide a strong network of resources for students, including Active Minds, faith-based student groups and extensive programming and services rooted in the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion & Conflict Resolution. Finding fellowship and support can start with attending one of the many programs and activities these groups schedule each week.

Suicide Prevention Training
More than 400 employees have already participated in or are registered for suicide prevention training sessions since we started offering them at the beginning of the month. The sessions are centered on QPR ­­(Question, Persuade and Refer) and teach participants three simple steps that can help save a life from suicide. Rowan resident assistants and Rec Center student employees routinely receive this training and we encourage other students to enroll in these sessions to help educate and encourage the community to care for each other. Additional sessions will be advertised through Rowan Daily Mail and individuals can register through ProfLink. To request QPR training for your department or large group, email HCI@rowan.edu. The first student training session is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Continued community dialogue
We will keep the conversation on well-being going throughout the spring term. Please save the date for these Friday workshops on Feb. 7, March 6 and April 3 during the open period, 2-3:15 p.m., in the Chamberlain Student Center, Eynon Ballroom. The Dean of Students Office will coordinate these “Toward a Thriving University Workshops” and will share more information in the coming weeks.

We also will conduct student focus groups throughout the first half of the semester to get a better understanding of the types of issues most important to students so that we can better program to meet community needs. 

Well-being is multi-faceted, just as challenges to it can be complex. It is important to understand there is no one solution to the mental health crisis we are facing as a nation, but together we can offer options and opportunities to help those struggling to cope, particularly in their time of need. Through proactive measures on the multiple dimensions of well-being, we can help more members of the Rowan community achieve their goals and stay on a path to life-long well-being.

Given this, we are all the more determined to proceed with compassion, courage and dedication to best practices, wherever solutions may be found. As we move forward, we welcome suggestions on how to help the Rowan community respond to needs and create opportunities for growth. 

Please email officeofthepresident@rowan.edu to share ideas and concerns.

Please contact the Wellness Center for resources and services.

Thank you for your interest in helping the Rowan family thrive.

Very truly yours,

Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D.
President