Community Support for Students Needing Assistance (2011 Strategic Plan)

The campus needs a comprehensive plan that educates all employees about correct protocols for a health and safety concern or for a student with academic needs. For example, we will expand substance-free activities on campus and ensure that they are offered on a consistent schedule.

Comments
Please include your thoughts on the importance of the initiative, how to frame the issue, things that may be missing, and any additional comments here (you can do so by logging into Hampedia and clicking edit):


 * I think there is sufficient sub-free housing available--the issue is that there's a lot of spillover. As a resident on sub-free/de facto sub-free halls for 2 years, it is increasingly clear to me that the problem is not the number of beds available in sub-free spaces, but the proximity of sub-free spaces to non-sub-free spaces. I think that buildings rather than halls should be the sub-free spaces in the dorms, to discourage drunk people walking through to get to their own rooms, or smokers lighting up in the downstairs bathroom that shares a vent with ours. We'll see how I feel after living in Prescott next year. Ellen Green
 * I agree with Ellen. In regards to sub-free activities, I have thought for a while that it would be really nice to be able to easily find and get to know other sub-free people on campus. I'm confused about the nature of this initiative, though: it seems to be talking about two entirely different things. Devin Morse
 * Yeah, not understanding how this initiative comes together. Still, having sub-free activities avaliable (and publicized) can only be helpful. Agreeing a lot with Devin that it would be great to know people on campus who are sub-free, to be honest it can be really isolating. Connie Hildreth
 * Trainings could be implemented for disabilities including invisible disabilities, service animal laws, transgendered and transsexual student needs, LGB student needs, homelessness and low income students, and proper classroom behaviors in regards to not alienating people of color, international, disabled,and LGBT students. Vincenzo Alexander S11
 * I think having sub-free activities scheduled at the same time and in the same location every week would help generate buzz, connect sub-free students with each other, and offer students fun evening &amp; weekend alternatives to using substances. e.g. a sub-free dance every Friday night from 11:00 pm to 2:00am in the Tavern. Jessica Gifford
 * I agree completely with Ellen. I think having a sub-free dorm building and sub-free mod areas is a brilliant idea. Sub-free activities can happen in these areas too. Good for sub-free people to connect to each other. Xiaolei Gu
 * I want to add that we need, as a community, to become more educated about the Autism Spectrum, and how we might be better assisting our students with Asperger’s to develop both academically and socially. Some of these students could use more help and support to better navigate through academics and the social life at Hampshire, and to develop social skills they’ll need to make it on their own. There is no one department or group that can provide this support alone; it needs to be a community-wide effort, coming through the faculty, peers, staff, in classes, in the residence halls, in advising, in career services, etc. Carin Rank