August 3, 2020
Dear colleagues:
Addressing mental health is more important today than ever before, heightened by the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, a deep economic downturn and the renewed push for the social justice that has evaded our nation for too long. Together, these crises have added uncertainty and anxiety to our daily lives, creating struggles that can have a profound impact on the well-being of our campus communities.
As we prepare to welcome students back for a fall semester unlike any in our history, we also are taking proactive steps to help them cope and flourish in these challenging times.
Next month, the University of Illinois System will host a virtual, interactive discussion aimed at advancing our response to the mental health needs of students at our universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. The Student Mental Health Symposium will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, September 16, and is open to faculty, staff and student leaders across the U of I System who want to make a difference.
The discussion will include a keynote address by Gary D. Glass, director of counseling and career Services at Oxford College of Emory University. Dr. Glass is a licensed psychologist who has been working with colleges and students for more than 20 years, promoting a community-based approach that focuses on both individuals and campus culture.
We hope you will share this message so we can ensure that a broad and diverse group of faculty, staff and student-governance representatives will add their insights to this important conversation. Those interested should complete this simple registration form to attend the virtual symposium.
This event will be the first in a series to support student mental health. We are grateful to the system-wide planning team for its leadership in identifying ways to help students so they can achieve their dreams.
Sincerely,
Tim Killeen
President
Barb Wilson
Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Robert J. Jones
Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michael D. Amiridis
Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Karen M. Whitney
Interim Chancellor, University of Illinois at Springfield
