HSCommunity: January 2025
/ COURT SIDE
I am so happy to have you back! I hope you feel refreshed after the break. With a new semester, we can begin anew in so many ways. Make sure as you are setting goals for the year, you tend to the most important person – yourself.
I also hope you take the time this month – National Poverty in America Awareness Month – to shift your focus to those who are in need. Whether it be food insecurities, financial struggles or medication access – times are really hard on so many around us and we may never even realize.
There are many things you can do to help those who are in need: donating food or items you are not using to a local shelter, donating time at a local food pantry (consider connecting with The Rack or The Rack II on campus); or simply consider the access others have that may differ from your experience.
Again – WELCOME BACK and let’s do some amazing things this year!!!!
💛💙
Court
/ Court Lanham, MSW (they/them)
Director of Diversity, WVU Health Sciences
Office of the Chancellor and Executive Dean
304-293-1425 | celanham@hsc.wvu.edu
/ BEWELL
As the new year and new semester kicks off, I wanted to a take a moment to provide a couple tips and resources for academic success. In case you didn’t know, when I first began training to be a counselor, my bread and butter was helping students with attentional concerns, study approaches, ways to improve time management and enhancing academic performance. High school doesn’t really prepare us for college, or maybe it’s been a while since you’ve been in school. Adjusting to the next step, like a graduate or professional program, can test our abilities to juggle it all.
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Prioritize sleep! You are always better served by getting that extra hour of sleep versus cramming in another hour of studying. Sleep is essential for our executive functions which is essential to be a successful student.
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Figure out where you study best. Do you thrive in quiet, more isolated spaces, such as the library? Do you work best around others? Consider background noises, music, or ear plugs. It’s also important to minimize distractions, like our phones.
Lastly, here is a 60 second elevator pitch on best study approaches: Get familiar with material before class; attend class or listen to lecture; take good notes; utilize office hours, online resources, peers, and tutors to make sure you understand the material ahead of time; don’t cram; begin studying, reviewing, and preparing for the exam as soon as possible. You will be more prepared and feel less stressed if you just get started.
Consider these resources and as always, we are happy to help!
Services | Student Success | West Virginia University (wvu.edu)
MindFit at West Virginia University (wvu.edu)
/ Layne M Hitchcock, MA, ALPS, LPC
BeWell Coordinator
Behavioral Health Clinician
Extension of The Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services
/ FEATURED EVENTS
Wellness in the Pylons
Take a pause during your busy day to tend to some self-care and stress management, Thursday Jan. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Pylons Commons.
Mindful Steps Part 2
Mindful Steps Part 2 is a six-week intermediate class that expands on the topics of the intro Mindful Steps series. The class is on Thursdays from Jan. 23 to Feb. 27 from Noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom.
Blood Drive
An American Red Cross blood drive will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 from 12-6 p.m. at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital Bruce McClymonds Conference Room A for WVU employees and students.
Pod Squad
The next meeting of the Pod Squad will take place on Jan. 29 at noon via Zoom. This month’s selections are focused on National Poverty in America Awareness Month.
International HomeStart Closet
The HomeStart Closet in Stalnaker Hall is requesting donations to provide international students with essential household items needed to feel at home as they transition to life in Morgantown.
For more events, visit cal.wvu.edu.