The Division of Student Affairs is opening a new Center for Student Advocacy and Community to promote a culture of care, focus on cultivating a sense of connection, address the wide-ranging needs of our students, and provide programming in connection with the development of community.

The Mission for the Center for Student Advocacy and Community is:

The Center for Student Advocacy and Community reduces barriers that inhibit academic and personal success by identifying areas of need, providing connections to resources, and supporting student-led programs and initiatives that strengthen our community.

The new Center for Student Advocacy and Community will focus on the following:

Advocacy

Hub for Campus Support Services: Build and maintain a network of campus and community stakeholders for student populations.  This network will support a student as they navigate the complexities of campus. Network partners will include, but are not limited to:

• One stop for advocacy – connecting students to campus and local resources
• Holistic wellbeing through collaborative efforts with University Career Services, UH Wellness, Campus Recreation, and other campus departments

Provide Essential Services that meet Basic Needs: The Center will reduce basic need barriers that inhibit student academic success related to food, housing, transportation, mental and physical health, and technology.  Services will include, but not limited to:

• Community food distributions and food insecurity support and resources - Cougar Cupboard and Peeps Pantry
• Campus and community resource listings for UH students, faculty, and staff (i.e., health, food source and social services for students, etc.).             
• Homelessness advocacy and support

Development of Resources and Educational Workshops

The Center will support the personal and professional development of students. This will include, but is not limited to:

• Personal Development workshops including Well-being and Self-care, Conflict resolution and Open Dialogue, Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, and Self-advocacy and Resilience
• Educational Workshops including Learning for Living in a Global Environment, and ally training
• Staff and faculty workshops including Supporting Today's Student, and trauma informed supportive behaviors in advising and working with students

Community

The Center will help create a welcoming and supportive campus community by organizing events and programs that encourage interaction, collaboration, and mutual respect among students. These activities will promote a sense of connection and foster positive relationships among the student population.  Examples of events could include:

• Programs that promote a welcoming climate and cultural competency.
• Support student parent programming.
• Mixer type events for relationship and community building between students, faculty, and staff.
• Heritage month and cultural programs and celebrations
• Educational events and programming, including a speaker series, celebrating UH as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Minority Service Institution (MSI) and as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
• Multicultural music, dance, and art sessions to introduce students to this art through the lens of culture. 
• Create a RSO consortium that meets quarterly to discuss and enhance the campus culture and student experience for all students. 

The Division of Student Affairs and the Center for Student Advocacy and Community will continue to work with students, faculty and staff in creating and evolving programs and services to best serve all students.

Sincerely,