Dear Students and Families,
We are now nearing the end of this semester and I am sure that it has been one in which we all have had to pivot quickly and learn differently! I hope that you all are finding ways to practice self-care, which may be accomplished through attending a virtual fitness class, binge-watching your favorite show, spending time with your family, attending a virtual student organization meeting, or even having a group Zoom conversation with friends you haven’t seen in awhile. Whatever self-care approach you take, I hope that it connects you to the rest, relaxation, health outlet, community, etc., you need most.
During a typical academic year, April can be a loaded and demanding, month. Exams are approaching, projects are wrapping up and deadlines to solidify summer plans emerge. These unprecedent times and change in your normal routine can certainly amount to added pressure.
I want you to know it is okay to be feeling uncertain, anxious, or overwhelmed. And though we are practicing social distance, you are not alone, and I hope you know that even from afar, we stand ready to help you as you move forward. Several resources and support services are within your reach via a phone call or email, as they were enhanced or newly operationalized to be what you need, now.
To support you where you are, the UF Counseling & Wellness Center (CWC) is now offering tele-mental health counseling services for students. If you need extra, short-term support during this time, please call the CWC at (352) 392-1575 to schedule a brief consultation appointment to discuss eligibility to receive tele-mental health counseling. Students are eligible for up to 4 sessions.
Additionally, we are offering online webinars to provide mental health information to UF students on various topics including managing anxiety.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any support. You can also always contact U Matter We Care by emailing umatter@ufl.edu.
This week, UF launched a new video on social media about how Gators face challenges. The video gave me goosebumps and peace all at one. I hope in watching it, you are reminded to be relentlessly optimistic, and that our greatest moments of strength as individuals and as the Gator Nation are born of adversity and help us learn resiliency.
Know that you’ve got this – to finish the semester strong. We’re here for you. And because “even through the darkest nights, the sun always rises on Florida.”
Be safe, be well, and as always – Go Gators!
Dr. D’Andra Mull
Vice President for Student Affairs
UPDATES:
S-U option for graduate students
UF announced Monday that graduate students may elect to remain in letter grading or shift to S-U grading for eligible letter-graded Spring 2020 graduate courses ending later than March 20, 2020. More details are available at http://undergrad.aa.ufl.edu/for-students/covid-19-and-academic-policies/graduate-school-s-u-update/graduate-school-s-u-grading-policy-update/
Summer B classes will be held online
Summer B classes will be offered online. The decision follows previous announcements by the university that Summer A and C semesters would be online. http://statements.ufl.edu/statements/2020/april/april-6-summer-b-online–revised-dates-for-summer-a-b-and-c.html
Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry
The campus food pantry is still open but changing the way we serve students to promote safety and social distancing. Students can now place an order online to specify what items you will need for any given week. You will then specify the day and time of pick-up from the Pantry. If ordering online isn’t your style, students can stop by the pantry during hours of operation to pick up a pre-made bag. Each bag contains similar items and an array of items for a balanced diet. For more information, please visit the Pantry website.
Student Legal Services
Staffed by four experienced attorneys, Student Legal Services (SLS) provides a wide range of legal services to UF students and student organizations. Funded by Student Government, the staff are here to help you with lease reviews, property damage, and more.
Visit https://studentlegalservices.ufl.edu/ to connect with the team.
Virtual Student Union
Keeping you connected to the Gator Student Experience is important. The Virtual Student Union was designed as a living website for students and will be updated on a regular basis. This new digital hub is here to make life a bit easier by collecting all of your need-to-know resources, programs, services, and even student events in one place!
Amid quarantine, you can engage with campus by:
• Participating in a virtual fitness class with RecSports
• Attending the virtual wellness coaching program with GatorWell
• Getting your resume edited virtually with the Career Connections Center
• Finding community through student organizations, leadership development and student events.