Dear Members of the Carleton Community,
As we officially start the fall term and begin the first day of classes for our students, I hope you’ve enjoyed a restful summer and are ready for an exciting new year ahead. The start of the academic year brings with it both enthusiasm and challenges, and it’s essential that we not only support our students but also each other. Carleton is known for its smart, caring community, and as we start to welcome our students back to campus, it’s an ideal time to reflect on our commitment to fostering a supportive and respectful environment where we can all thrive.
Our aspiration in the Students and Enrolment Division is to empower students to reach their academic, personal and professional potential, and we all have a role to play in fostering student success. Below are some key updates and resources to assist you in supporting our students as they navigate their university experience:
Student Support Resources
We have updated a digital version of the Student Referral Guide for the 2024-2025 academic year. This guide is designed to help you navigate students to the appropriate support services. You can also find digital copies of the other Student Support Resources, such as Supporting Students in Distress, the Resource Guide for Mental Health and Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence, on the Student Support website. Students can also be directed to search all of our support services on the Current Students website or in the Carleton Mobile app.
Upcoming Consultations
We will be launching broad and inclusive consultations this fall to revise two important institutional documents: The Sexual Violence Policy and the Coordinated Accessibility Strategy. Both consultations will rely on invaluable feedback from our community. More information regarding each process will be shared in the coming weeks, and I encourage all faculty, staff and students to engage through the variety of feedback mechanisms that will be provided.
Student Wellness
We continue to offer a wide variety of wellness resources, from therapy dogs to counselling. New this year, we have introduced a new single-session model of care in Counselling Services to ensure faster access, increased capacity and the ability to support students when they need it most. If you have concerns about a student and are unsure of how best to support them, please submit a care report. This will refer the student to our Care and Support team, who works with students to identify and assess needs and facilitate access to appropriate supports.
For a comprehensive overview of our student support services, please visit the faculty and staff section of our Current Students website. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, do not hesitate to contact my office at vpstudents@carleton.ca.
Finally, as campus begins to come to life with students again, I encourage you to wear your red “Ask Me” button as we continue to help create an inclusive, respectful and welcoming environment for our students. For more information about the campaign and to request a button, please visit our Ask Me website.
Wishing you a smooth transition into a successful and fulfilling academic year ahead.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Blanchard
Vice-President (Students and Enrolment)