Being passionate about helping students thrive is one of the great things about working at a university. Sometimes students have issues or problems that are complex or difficult to resolve, and this can be challenging for faculty and staff.
The Student Support Certificate Program, organized by Student Affairs at MtA, is designed for faculty and staff who wish to build skills and capacity supporting students across a diverse range of challenges and experiences. While participants are welcome to attend as many workshops as they like, those who complete all 6 Level 1 workshops and at least 4 Level 2 workshops will earn a certificate. These workshops will contribute to our collective capacity for a supportive, inclusive, and resilient campus environment.
These interactive, in-person sessions will provide practical strategies and resources, from effective referrals and privacy considerations to allyship, restorative approaches, and accessible event planning. Participants will learn to recognize and respond to students in crisis, address barriers to inclusion, and contribute to a campus culture where every individual feels valued and supported.
Upcoming workshops:
- Student Affairs: Community Standards, Accountability, and Support: January 29, 3 – 4:30 pm
- Sexual Violence Prevention and Survivor Support: February 5, 3 – 4:30 pm
- Supporting Students who are Religious/Spiritual: POSTPONED, DETAILS TBA
- Supporting Student Academic Success: February 23, 3 – 4:30 pm
- Understanding the Student Experience: March 5, 9 – 10:30 am
- The International Student Experience: March 11, 3 – 4:30 pm
- Conflict Resolution and Restorative Approaches: March 26, 9 – 10:30 am
- More Feet on the Ground: anytime (self-paced online)
Each workshop is capped at 25 participants and offered multiple times a year. Participants who are unable to attend a current session will be able to take it at a later date, allowing them to earn a certificate according to their own schedules.
Accidentally signed up for a workshop twice? No problem and no further action needed! We regularly check the registration list for duplicates to make sure the number of seats available is accurate.
How to earn a certificate
Participants who complete all Level 1 workshops and at least four Level 2 workshops will earn the Student Support Certificate.
Level 1 workshops
- Understanding the Student Experience;
- Student Affairs: Community Standards, Accountability, and Support;
- Conflict Resolution and Restorative Approaches;
- Supporting Equity and Building an Inclusive Campus;
- Supporting Student Academic Success;
- More Feet on the Ground: Mental Health Support.
Level 2 workshops
- Suicide Prevention;
- Reconciliation and Indigenous Student Support;
- Sexualized Violence Prevention and Survivor Support;
- Supporting Students who are Religious/Spiritual;
- The International Student Experience;
- Disability Accommodations and UDL;
- Event Planning and Risk Management.
Student Affairs: Community Standards, Accountability, and Support
Level 1
Thursday, January 29
3 – 4:30 pm
AVDX 230
This session provides an overview of Mount Allison policies and processes that are in place to support students and staff and to promote a safe campus community. These include the Student Code of Community Standards and Accountability, Accommodation processes, the Senate Policy on Students with Disabilities, the Student of Concern Case Team, and the Sexualized Violence Policy.
Sexualized Violence Prevention and Survivor Support
Level 2
Thursday, February 5
3 – 4:30 pm
Location TBA
What would you do if a student informed you they had been sexually assaulted? In this session we will help participants recognize sexual harassment and sexual violence, understand ways this can affect students and the rest of the university community, bystander intervention, and how to respond supportively and assist with resources if a student discloses an experience with sexual violence. We will explore available on-campus and community supports, as well as existing on-campus sexual assault prevention initiatives. Participants should expect to engage in an open discussion about sexual assault, consent and exploring campus and post-secondary sexual culture.
Supporting Students who are Religious/Spiritual
Level 2
POSTPONED, DETAILS TBA
This workshop will help participants better understand the religious/spiritual needs of students, learn about faiths lived on campus and in our area and learn concrete steps to build a more inclusive campus for people of all faiths, spiritualities and world views.
Supporting Student Academic Success
Level 1
Monday, February 23
3 – 4:30 pm
AVDX 112
Students face a range of academic stressors and pressures, have diverse learning styles, and come to Mount A with a range of skills. This workshop will help us identify factors that contribute to student academic challenges, encourage academic motivation and goal-setting, and provide tools and resources to students needing academic skills support.
Understanding the Student Experience
Level 1
Thursday, March 5
9 – 10:30 am
Location TBA
Adjusting to university is, for many students, one of the most intensive learning curves they've experienced in their lives to date. Understanding the challenges and issues many students face, as well as constructive and supportive ways to help students resolve them, can make an enormous difference in student success.
In this workshop, participants will learn about common student challenges, demographic shifts, and student transition theory. They will discuss student interactions and reducing barriers for students to seek help, with an additional focus on equity-deserving students and intersectionality. Participants will discuss how to create a supportive and developmental campus environment and approaches to addressing student issues to help empower students towards problem-solving.
The International Student Experience
Level 2
Wednesday, March 11
3 – 4:30 pm
BENB G03
International students can have different concerns than domestic students, including cultural adaptation, immigration requirements, health insurance concerns and a lack of an immediate support network. This workshop will highlight some of these concerns, while also discussing resources available for international students on campus and in the community, and provide you ways to continue building a supportive and inclusive environment for all.
More Feet on the Ground
Level 1
Self-paced online
Duration: 20-25 minutes
Thousands of students in Canada face mental health concerns every year, and mental health concerns continue to become more and more common on Canadian campuses. This course prepares you to support students on your campus who may be living with mental health concerns.
Learning aims
Participants will learn to
- Recognize indicators that someone may be experiencing mental health concerns.
- Respond appropriately to someone who needs support, based on the indicators present and your relationship with them.
- Refer someone to mental health supports and services in an appropriate way.
- Describe best practices for reflecting after interacting with someone who may be upset or distressed.
Registration
This mini-course was developed by the Council of Ontario Universities, Brock University, and the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health, which is funded by the Ontario Government.
Learn more and register at morefeetontheground.ca.
