 |
|||||
Dear Instructors, This morning President Daniels shared news of a tragic loss of one our students in the PWL residence halls. Students in your class may be directly or indirectly affected in varying ways by the event and on-going investigation. Likewise, your colleagues or you may be experiencing loss and grief. At this difficult time for our Purdue community, we encourage grace and flexibility in your classroom, and offer a few suggestions: -Let your students know that they may reach out to you if they are struggling. Be encouraging and offer clear instructions on the best way to privately communicate with you. -Realize that students may not currently have the mental capacity for effective coursework. Perceived similarity (e.g., age) to someone who has died can affect many. -The decision of whether to cancel class or adjust your class activities lies with you, the instructor. Assess the situation with your class and make the adjustments that you believe best serve you and the students. -Consider extending any immediate due dates, rescheduling exams, or creating make-up opportunities for assessments. -October Break – Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 10-11 – may provide some relief, but try not to disconnect from students who may be struggling. -Simply being kind and openly expressing your care and concern to the class can make a big difference for students. -Reinforce available resources with your students. CAPS can support students in many ways. They offer access 24/7 through a crisis line and students can connect during business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET) for an appointment on the same day they request it. Students may connect with these services by calling the main line at 765-494-6995 and request support. If a student is in crisis, CAPS will connect them with one of the on-call providers for support. CAPS also offers walk-in services for students in crisis on the second floor of PUSH during business hours. -If you observe worrying behavior or sense that a particular student needs help, complete a Student of Concern Report and ODOS will respond. -CAPS recommends Psychological First Aid, which offers some helpful resources to support students in these situations, including When Terrible Things Happen, Connecting with Others and Seeking Support, and Connecting with Others and Giving Social Support. -Our Purdue faculty experts on grief and loss have also compiled local and national resources on dealing with loss that your colleagues and you may find valuable. Actively Moving Forward offers resources for grieving college students and young adults. Please don’t forget to care for yourself. And reach out directly to us if you have special situations that call for particular guidance or support. Prof. Jenna L. Rickus Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning Prof. of Agricultural & Biological Engineering and Prof. of Biomedical Engineering Purdue University 610 Purdue Mall|100 Hovde| West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040 765-494-0615 Prof. Heather L. Servaty-Seib Associate Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning Prof. of Counseling Psychology Purdue University 610 Purdue Mall | 100 Hovde | West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040 765-494-0615
|