Student_Affairs_Annual_Report_2021

STUDENT AFFAIRS 11 ANNUAL REPORT Northern State University Prevention Services is a newly branded part of campus whose goal is to support the health and well- being of the NSU campus community. Created in March 2021 as part of the Student Affairs Strategic Action Plan, Prevention Services works to monitor, measure and improve prevention approaches to increase safety and reduce risks for members of the NSU campus community. “Whether working with students individually or providing population-wide programming, our goal is to empower students to make healthy choices while creating an environment that is conducive to academic and social success,” said NSU Coordinator of Prevention Services, Erin Olson. Olson’s goal is to provide training and services on campus and increase the department’s visibility by collaborating with staff, faculty and student groups across campus. Accredited and funded by the Department of Social Services, NSU Prevention Services is open to all Northern students. Areas of focus include suicide prevention, drug and alcohol diversion, and sexual assault prevention. It also offers the Insight Program, a substance misuse diversion program that uses an evidence-based approach to help students evaluate their risk regarding alcohol and substance abuse. Olson said the NSU Counseling Center has provided this type of programming for many years. But now by introducing Prevention Services, Northern looks to continue to provide quality holistic wellness programming while reaching more students and community members as a recognizable, branded entity on campus. Prevention Services is located in the Student Center Suite 240. For more information, students, faculty and staff may contact Olson at 605-626-2371 or Erin.Olson@northern.edu . Prevention Services Supports Campus Community Disability Services Returns to Student Affairs More available staff support, appropriate facilities, and other changes to the Student Success Center led Provost Wanous and Dean Blackburn to determine that Disability Services and their support for students will be best served within their current location (240 Avera Student Center). Beginning June 1, 2021, Doris Stusiak and Disability Services returned to Student Affairs to continue the mission of supporting students in their transition from high school to college in general and the collegiate framework of accommodations specifically. Doris Stusiak continues her work to advance student’s inclusion at Northern and encourage their full engagement in campus life. The opportunity to foster integrated and holistic wellness will be further enhanced with Disability Services remaining within 240. The identified space in MJ would have resulted in Disability Services being isolated from other Student Success Center staff. The proximity of the Counseling Center, Avera Student Health, and Prevention Services team members with Disabilities Services staff will provide greater support. The identified space in MJ would have also resulted in less privacy, a more challenging testing set-up, and less effective use of staff resources. In order to maximize efficiencies among available FTEs in the Student Success Center and Library staff, the Testing Center will remain in the Beulah Williams Library. This adjustment from the original plan for the Student Success Center means a desired partnership between Disability Services and Testing is no longer possible. Heather Aldentaler, Doris Stusiak, and Anna Weisser will work together to create a dynamic and student-centric team in 240. As Student Affairs prepares for a new NSU President, Disability Services will be folded into the 2022-2025 Student Affairs Strategic Action Plan. “…our goal is to empower students to make healthy choices…” Coordinator of Prevention Services, Erin Olson Doris Stusiak Director of Disability Services