Fall Term 2017 Message from the Dean of Students

1 September 2017

Title IX

Laura Riehle-Merrill became the college’s first full-time Title IX Coordinator on August 15, 2017. Laura is leading our efforts to improve the campus climate; ensure we have effective resources in place for students, faculty, and staff who are affected by sexual harassment, discrimination or violence; and implement policies and practices that are prompt, equitable, and in compliance with federal mandates. I remain grateful to Amy Sillanpa, who served as Interim Title IX Coordinator prior to Riehle-Merrill’s appointment.

Physical and Mental Health

Student Health and Counseling Services (SHAC) continues to offer individual therapy, online workshops, weekly meditation, and biofeedback services. They are also providing group therapy workshops this term. The three workshops are:

  • Understanding Self and Others: Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm
  • Expressive Arts: Wednesdays, 11am-12:30pm
  • Sexual Trauma Support: Wednesdays, 3:10-4:30pm
  • Sign up on the SHAC website

SHAC appointments are available

  • Medical appointments are available, usually for the same day or next day.
  • Counseling Services first-time appointments are available generally within one week or less. Same-day emergency/crisis appointments are available. There is not a waiting list for appointments.
  • Dietitian appointments are available to help better manage your nutrition.

On-call service
If you are stressed, upset, or in crisis, you are never alone. Telephone counselors are available 24/7/365 to help you calm down, problem-solve, or just be heard. Please call (855) 705-2479.

Low-Income and First-Generation Student Resources

  • Dash Grant
    Carleton received a two-year, $168,000 Dash Emergency Grant from the Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates to operate and maintain a student emergency aid program. Emergency grants will provide support for the college’s goal of improving retention and completion rates for low-income students who encounter unanticipated expenses.
  • Chromebooks
    A two-year laptop loaner pilot program was created in winter term 2017 for students who may not have the resources to buy one. Chromebooks are available and should be returned upon graduation. If you need a Chromebook, please contact Tammy Anderson at tanderso@carleton.edu.

Computers in the Residence Halls

In partnership with ITS, Student Life will be adding some computers to residential areas for student use by the end of fall term. The following spaces will have computers: Parish, Goodhue, Evans, Watson, and Stimson.

Creating an Inclusive Community (New Student Week): #CARLTALK series

  • Cultivating inclusion on campus: For the first time, incoming students were asked to complete Diversity.Edu, an online module aimed to help students address issues of race, difference, and socioeconomic diversity at Carleton and beyond.
  • Consent, healthy sexuality, and relationships: For the second year in a row, incoming students were asked to complete Haven.Edu, an online module discussing gender-based harassment and sexual violence.
  • Flourishing@Carleton: For the second year in a row, incoming students were asked to complete Alcohol.edu, an online module that focused on alcohol and other drug misuse. The revised in-person session focused on overall well-being; including mental health, substance use, spirituality, religion, and physical health.

Civil Discourse and Dialogue

  • Civil Discourse Living Learning Community: Carleton is currently in the second year of the Arthur Vining Davis Grant. Twelve students live together in Myers Hall and take a year-long course (two credits per term) exploring the question: what makes discourse good?
  • Students Engaging in Essential Dialogue (SEED): In the first year of SEED’s two-year pilot, the group conducted the first annual facilitator training and facilitated seven conversations with Carleton student groups. The group has started to plan facilitation training for winter 2018, with the goal of recruiting at least fifteen additional facilitators to replace those graduating in 2018, and to meet the increasing number of conversation requests.

Health Promotion

  • Student Wellness Advocate (SWA) Dogs: The Office of Health Promotion (OHP) is continuing the popular SWA Dog program. Last year’s assessment showed that students who visited the dogs, no matter how often, reported lower stress levels. All of the dogs who are older than one year have passed their “Canine Good Citizen” exam and are prepared to be petted and loved by students. Visit the OHP website to sign up for email announcements and see the weekly schedule of dogs on campus.
  • Partners for Success: This grant-funded project, which aims to reduce underage drinking and marijuana, continues. During its first year, the grant has helped Health Promotion acquire Alcohol.Edu and Marijuana Wise’s online education programming; collect data to track trends in use and attitudes; and, create in-person programming to assist teams and social groups examine their own beliefs about high-risk alcohol use.

Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant

This grant began on September 30. In addition to funding a full-time staff person to coordinate the grant, the grant will allow us to expand training for students, staff, and faculty in recognizing and responding to signs and symptoms related to mental health challenges. Grant funds will also support multiple programming efforts aimed at reducing stigma, elevating mental health conversations, and promoting mental well-being for all.

Posse Reunion

The first all Posse Scholar reunion will take place on October 20-21, 2017. Deborah Bial, founder and president of the Posse Foundation, will be the convocation speaker.

Department and Program Reviews

We will conduct external reviews of the Student Activities Office (SAO) and Gender & Sexuality Center (GSC). The first review will take place during winter term 2018. Executive summaries from previous reviews of OIIL and SHAC are available on the External Reviews page.

New Staff and/or Promotions

  • Elizabeth Charnell, Area Director of Cassat, James, and Nourse
    Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Elizabeth has her undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and her master’s degree in leadership in student affairs from the University of St. Thomas.
  • Elliott Courchaine, Administrative Assistant in Student Activities
    Elliott will support office staff and assist students in a variety of ways, including event planning, travel, and purchasing. Prior to Carleton, Elliott worked in the Northfield Public School system in special education as an educational assistant. Elliott grew up in Northfield and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from St. Olaf College.
  • Sindy Fleming, Assistant Dean of Students
    In this newly created position, Sindy will provide centralized support for students on leave or taking a leave and lead efforts to increase programmatic synergies between of the Office of Intercultural and International Life and the Gender and Sexuality Center. Sindy will also lead Student Life assessment and evaluation efforts. Prior to coming to Carleton, Sindy directed the Center for Multicultural and International Engagement at St. Olaf College.
  • Matt Lundberg, Manager of Employer Engagement in the Career Center
    Matt has been an Events Support Specialist in PEPS at Carleton for the past four years. Matt’s work in the Career Center will focus on developing and maintaining employer and graduate school recruiting relationships and building new models for connecting Carleton students with sought-after employers.
  • Karl Olson, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
    Karl replaces Dr. Henry Emmons, who left Carleton after twenty-three years of providing psychiatric medication management. Karl will provide limited hours fall term while he honors prior employment commitments. Beginning winter term, SHAC will offer the greatest number of psychiatric medication management hours (16) per week in the college’s history.
  • Steve Shauz, Area Director of Goodhue and Evans
    Steve hails from Wisconsin, so, yes, he does, in fact, love cheese. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Carroll University and recently completed his master’s degree in college student personnel at Western Illinois University. He is an avid runner, so you might see him dashing through the Arboretum.
  • Genia Wilson, Area Director of Watson, Myers, Faculty Club, and Chaney
    A native of West Fargo, North Dakota, Genia has spent the past decade “southern living.” An alumna of the University of Mississippi (“Ole Miss”) (B.A.) and Western Kentucky University (M.Ed.), Genia spent the past eighteen months working in fraternity and sorority life in Texas.
  • Brisa Zubia ’05, Interim Director of the Office of Intercultural & International Life
    Brisa was both a POSSE and TRIO Scholar while a student at Carleton. She is currently a Sexual Misconduct Adviser and a restorative justice facilitator. She earned her undergraduate degree in Latin American studies from Carleton and her master’s degree in international leadership from the University of St. Thomas. Before assuming the interim directorship, Brisa served as the Associate Director of OIIL.

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