An update on the Student Mental Health Task Force

NC State students, faculty and staff,

In the fall of 2022, Vice Chancellor and Dean Doneka Scott formed and charged the NC State Student Mental Health Task Force. The group, composed of students, faculty and staff, examined best practices around mental health and well-being; took inventory of our current services and resources; examined university policies, rules, regulations and practices; and collected feedback and ideas from our community.

The advisory group’s resulting report provides a baseline for our continued work around mental health and well-being, in addition to the steps the university has already taken to expand access to counseling and support services on campus.

The report’s recommendations are centered around three themes:

• Culture of care: Strengthen our holistic approach to mental health through institutional, curricular and training methods. Suggestions include further addressing basic needs, promoting belonging and inclusion, and providing more training opportunities.
• Resources: Provide additional resources needed to improve student mental health and well-being, such as establishing embedded counselors throughout our colleges and expanding programmatic opportunities on Centennial Campus.
• Policies: Revise current policies, rules and regulations to better support student well-being. Many in our community advocate for updated academic, withdrawal and leave-of-absence regulations.

As a next step, implementation teams will be established in the coming weeks. Those teams will examine the feasibility of the recommendations, prioritize actions, and with the approval of university leadership, manage the implementation starting this semester.

To review the task force report and recommendations, please visit this webpage. This page will be updated in the weeks and months ahead as decisions are finalized and put into practice.

As we approach the midpoint of the semester, please remember that you have many resources available to help you right now.

Students can schedule appointments with the Counseling Center, and our partnerships with community providers are another avenue for students seeking care. AcademicLiveCare, a teletherapy service launched in December, is also available to students as a resource. All students receive 12 free visits through the end of 2023. These and many more resources can be found on our Wolfpack Wellness website; please take some time to explore what the university has to offer.

We thank the faculty, staff, students, parents, community providers and volunteers who have taken extra time to offer support and care to our students these past several months. We also want to thank the members of the task force for their work and commitment, and those in the community who provided feedback and ideas to the task force, which was critical to inform our path forward.

NC State remains committed to doing all we can to support our community and each of you as we move forward. If you are struggling, please know that you are not alone; your Pack cares about and is here to support you. Reach out to a friend, colleague or faculty member, and please use the resources available to you here on campus and in the community.

Thank you,

Doneka R. Scott
Vice Chancellor and Dean, Division of Academic and Student Affairs

Warwick Arden
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

Randy Woodson
Chancellor