Navigating Your Academic Journey: Understanding Student Advocacy and Support Services

The path through university life is often filled with excitement and growth, but it can also present unexpected challenges. Recognizing this, many institutions have established offices dedicated to student advocacy and support. These services are designed to empower students, provide guidance during difficult times, and ensure they have access to the resources needed to succeed. This article explores the role of student advocacy services, drawing on examples from various universities to illustrate the breadth and depth of support available.

The Mission of Student Support and Advocacy Services

Student Support and Advocacy Services exist to assist students in navigating difficult life events and crisis situations that impact their ability to be successful. These offices utilize a student-centered and individualized approach to support and empower students. As stated by the Senior Associate Dean of Students at Cornell University, the primary focus is to ensure that every student thrives and achieves their fullest potential. The Student Support and Advocacy Services team comprises dedicated and empathetic professionals who provide unwavering guidance to those facing challenging life events. They believe that by cultivating a supportive and caring community, they can empower students to achieve their goals.

Student Support and Advocacy Services is often a newly reimagined organization within the Office of the Dean of Students, in Student and Campus Life. These services strive to help students navigate challenging issues in all facets of their lives, utilizing non-clinical, trauma-informed, and identity-conscious approaches in their work. The aim is to create a welcoming, non-judgmental, and caring environment that facilitates access to holistic support services and campus and local resources.

Core Services and Focus Areas

The focus areas of student advocacy services typically include:

Case Management: Building one-on-one helping relationships with students while coaching them toward resources, self-care, and self-advocacy. At Cornell University, students experiencing non-crisis physical, psychological, safety, and patterns of academic concern should be referred to the Student Support and Advocacy Services office.
Crisis Response: Providing support and resources to students navigating high-level issues of physical and psychological safety. Many universities have an Administrator on-Call to support students after-hours.

These services often meet with students through one-on-one appointments, either in person or via Zoom. For example, Cornell University's Student Support and Advocacy Services can be reached at 607-254-8598 to schedule an appointment and also provides drop-in hours.

Addressing Academic Concerns

Student advocacy extends to academic matters, offering guidance on various processes and procedures.

Leave of Absence

Sometimes, students need to take a break from their studies. Student advocacy offices can provide information and support regarding leaves of absence.

Personal Leave of Absence: This is a request for reasons unrelated to medical or counseling conditions, such as national service or personal circumstances. To officially request a personal leave of absence at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, students must submit the request through their Albert Student Center. A personal leave is official only after the student receives final approval from the Office of the University Registrar.
Medical Leave of Absence: NYU recognizes that students may need to take a leave due to unforeseen medical occurrences/issues. The process typically involves submitting a request through the Albert Student Center and scheduling an evaluation with NYU Counseling and Wellness.

Important Considerations for Leaves of Absence:

Deadlines: All leave of absence requests must be submitted through the Albert Student Center no later than the University add/drop deadline. Any requests submitted after this date will be considered a Term Withdrawal.
International Students: It is crucial to consult the Office of Global Services (OGS) regarding the immigration implications of taking a leave of absence. Obtaining approval for a leave of absence from your program at NYU Tandon is a separate process from obtaining permission from OGS.
On-Campus Housing: Consult the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services for specific instructions and information on the impact of leaves of absence on on-campus housing, including the housing cancellation policy and eligibility for on-campus housing after returning from a leave of absence.

Course Load Adjustments

Student advocacy services also assist students who want to adjust their course load. If a student wants to drop individual classes but remain registered in other classes, they should seek guidance. International students who will not maintain full-time enrollment should contact OGS to discuss the option of a Reduced Course Load.

Transferring Majors

For undergraduates, student success services and support are also available when considering transferring into a different major or pursuing a double degree. At the University of Vermont's College of Education and Social Sciences (CESS), the internal transfer application process involves several steps:

Log into myUVM.
Go to the "Advising" tab.
Under the section "Declare or Change Your Major / Minor / Concentration," click the button that says, "In Another College/School."
Complete the application form, click "Check Submission," and then click "Submit."

GPA Requirements for Transferring into CESS Majors:

Programs requiring a minimum cumulative GPA OF 2.5: Art Education (BSAE), Early Childhood Education (BSEd), Elementary Education (BSEd), Middle Level Education (BSEd), Music Education (BSME), Physical Education (BSEd) (Not accepting applicants currently), Secondary Education (BSEd) (Coursework in the student’s area of concentration must meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0).
Program requiring a minimum cumulative GPA OF 2.3: Social Work (BSW).
Program requiring a minimum cumulative GPA OF 2.0: Human Development and Family Science (BS or Minor).

Review Process and Timeline at CESS:

Once the internal transfer application is completed, CESS Student Services invites the student to meet with either a faculty advisor or student services advisor to discuss benchmarks, program and licensure requirements, and expected graduation date. Provided the student meets the GPA requirements and agrees to the program requirements, the transfer into CESS typically occurs within 3-5 days.

Read also: Enhancing Education in Lake County

Creating a Supportive Community

Beyond specific services, student advocacy offices play a crucial role in fostering a sense of belonging and connection. Small colleges, in particular, often prioritize creating a community to support people as aspiring professionals and as individuals with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Care is often a central value, aiming to connect students with opportunities to learn, work, live, and play both within the university and in the surrounding community.

Trauma-Informed and Identity-Conscious Approaches

Recognizing the diverse experiences and backgrounds of students, student advocacy services often employ trauma-informed and identity-conscious approaches. This means understanding the potential impact of trauma on students' lives and tailoring support to meet their specific needs, while also being aware of how students' identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status) may shape their experiences and access to resources.

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