Focus: Creating space to build a people-centred institution
Being a people-centered institution means responding to people’s needs, in real-time. The shift to remote student life during the pandemic created new challenges for graduate students, especially international graduate students. The same struggles that many graduate students faced in regular life – managing academic and personal demands, concerns about belonging and caring for themselves and others, all while balancing the rigors of graduate student life – were intensified with the shift to virtual learning.
Counselling Services saw the need for a novel approach to community-building and support for mental health and wellness. The Grad Student Community and Conversation Circle offered graduate students an opportunity to connect with one another in an informal and confidential environment to talk about the stressors in school and life including relationships, wellness, worries about academic competence, loneliness, stress management, and emotional resilience. Through the facilitated group, students give one another encouraging feedback and explore new ways to manage issues unique to graduate students.
The group meets weekly with consistent engagement of graduate students, virtually and across many time zones – something that is not possible in person. Connections have transcended the group and friendships have formed as a result – an example of true community building and support.
Jump to: SC Goal 1 | Strengthening Communities Goals