The start of the new academic year here at UCCS brings hope and promise for many of us. Members of our campus community are also experiencing trepidation around the pandemic and at the same time, faced with two major international tragedies. The news from Haiti and Afghanistan brings emotions of sadness, despair and helplessness.
We know many of you have connections to these nations — some may have lived in these countries, or you may have family or friends who are there now. As the Chancellor mentioned in his message earlier this week, we also recognize the impact that these international tragedies have on our military- affiliated students, faculty and staff.
As a reminder, there are resources available through our campus to support you. The International Affairs office is always available to support our many students who have left their home country to study at UCCS. Any student in need of mental health support may reach out to the Wellness Center. Counseling appointments can be made by calling the Wellness Center at (719) 255-4444.
All UCCS employees may schedule mental health counseling sessions at no cost through the UCCS HealthCircle Primary Care Clinic at the Lane Center. Schedule a visit by calling (719) 255-8001.
On a more regional note, just yesterday, Governor Polis announced that Colorado will be supporting refugees from these two countries. We will share ways that our UCCS family can show support for refugees who will be leaving Afghanistan and Haiti as they begin to relocate to our community. UCCS is proud of the vibrant international community on campus and the people who make our campus so special. Let’s continue to support one another as we start this new academic year with hope and promise.
Sincerely,
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion