Aloha Yellow Jackets,

Welcome to week six of your Fall semester! I love the excitement and energy around the beginning of the Fall semester, but for most students, the first round of exams is already underway or about to be. Accordingly, this month’s newsletter focuses on:

• Why Belonging Makes a Difference for Student Success  
• Sharpening Your Self-Care Toolkit
• Ribbon Cutting for Black Culture, Innovation, and Technology
• New Covid-19 Vaccine Now Available for Students
• Student Engagement and Well-Being Advocates for Your Success

Why Belonging Makes a Difference for Student Success

Georgia Tech recently established the new Division of Arts, Belonging & Community. The purpose is to support student success – undergraduate and graduate students, students from rural and urban communities, students who call the US their home or hail from another country, students of all racial/ethnic backgrounds, of various socioeconomic backgrounds, and practicing diverse religions and faiths. This video (above) shares why belonging is so important and why we have placed a particular emphasis on the work of promoting belonging for all students.

Sharpening Your Self-Care Toolkit

With exams here or just around the corner, now is the time to take a few quick moments to look through your self-care toolkit and make sure you are ready to operate at optimal capacity to achieve your academic performance goals. A few suggestions that students have found helpful include:

• Set clearly defined, specific, and realistic goals for each day, and don’t overwhelm yourself. For example, instead of setting a goal like “get all my reading done” – which lacks specificity and feels big - set a goal to “finish chapters 3 and 4 for my science course.” 

• Take a digital detox: unplug and log off social media (this includes X, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and even apps like Snapchat). These distractions are invisible time suckers and can hurt your academic goals more than they provide social support. Research also shows that excessive time spent on social media can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness, as well as sleep disruptions and decreased attention span.  
• Set aside at least 30 minutes to get moving around each day – I use a Fitbit to track my steps daily; I particularly like walking on campus, especially now that the weather is starting to become more moderate. Or head over to the Campus Recreation Center and walk or jog around the track, swim some laps in the pool, or take a Zumba class! 
• Being mindful about hydration and nutrition to fuel your brain and body – Tech Dining has a lot of options all around campus available to meet your nutritional needs. Aiming to drink at least 64oz or 1.5L of fluids throughout your day can help; if it is hot outside or you are exercising, you will need more. Eating a variety of all food groups can provide your body with nourishment, and incorporating fruits and vegetables in meals and snacks can help you get additional vitamins and minerals you need for energy. The Wellness Empowerment Center also has a registered dietitian who can help you plan your meals and snacks!
• Ask for help! The Office of the Dean of Students or the Center for Mental Health Care & Resources can assist you with anxiety, depression, stress management, and other similar concerns.
• Don’t forget about the many academic support services that are offered at Georgia Tech: academic tutoring, writing center, peer coaching, or the Office of Minority Education (OMED) can help you build confidence in your academic skills. 
• This is also a good time to conduct an inventory of yourself and your social wellness. Have you developed and utilized a network of friends, family, fur babies, and others who can offer emotional support or a psychological sounding board? In what ways have you found a community on campus, doing the things that make you smile or happy? Building and sustaining these authentic connections are an important part of the collegiate experience and a key aspect of your overall wellness.  
   
  If you are still wondering how to get your “circle of trust” established, start by getting connected in spaces where you can explore your interests or hobbies and that will open doors to new friends. The Center for Student Engagement or one of our resource centers can help you learn where to build these connections! 

Ribbon Cutting for Black Culture, Innovation, and Technology
As I shared in my newsletter last month, we held the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new office of Black Culture, Innovation, and Technology on September 15^th. Visit this link for a video from the event!  Visit the Arts, Belonging, and Community website to learn more about this new program to support student belonging and promote academic success. I am very excited about the opening of this new office, but it’s important that we recognize the opening is only the beginning – the important work still lies ahead.

New Covid-19 Vaccine Now Available for Students
The FDA recently approved the administration of updated Covid-19 vaccines that provide enhanced coverage against new variants. Stamps Health Services (SHS) has received doses of the new vaccine and distribution to students began today, September 27. Registration is open for vaccination appointments on the SHS website. Students who would like to make an appointment should follow the instructions provided here.

Student Engagement and Well-Being Advocates for Your Success
Student Engagement and Well-Being and the entire Georgia Tech community remains committed to providing resources, referrals, advocacy, services, and support regarding a wide range of issues impacting students’ lives throughout their time here at Georgia Tech. Let’s all strive to offer grace and treat one another with compassion and kindness. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if our cabinet area can provide the encouragement or support you need to be successful.

Go Jackets!