Family E-News: Health & Well-being - September 2020
As your student settles in to the fall semester, please know that there are many well-being resources available to help them maintain their health and thrive during this unprecedented time.
By now, everyone is familiar with the public health guiding principles right now: wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, social distance from others, and wear a mask. All of these things are still vitally important to your student’s and Virginia Tech’s success this fall.
But—what else can we do? How does COVID interact with other areas of my Hokie’s life?
Physical Health
Adequate sleep and balanced nutrition are important not only for physical functioning, but they also impact our emotional health and our immune systems. With everything that is going on right now, your student needs to have enough energy to succeed personally and academically. Support them by promoting a healthy sleep schedule and choosing food that provides them with energy and nourishment. Two of our workshops we recommend are:
Sleep Better Techniques: In this workshop we cover what happens cognitively and physically when you sleep. We do sleep assessments so you can learn to change your sleep habits now and start reaping the benefits of great sleep.
Nutrition 101: The body needs fuel to succeed academically, emotionally, and physically. In this workshop, we don't focus on fad diets, Facebook food crazes, restrictions, monthly cleanses, or the like. You won't hear us talking about good-vs-bad foods. This workshop covers the fundamentals of healthy eating, including how to choose the right foods and the appropriate quantity, and where to access it. Learn how to understand confusing food labels, take advantage of resources, and navigate choices on campus and in daily life.
Mental Health: There is a LOT going on right now, on top of usual school stressors for students. They have to navigate a new campus climate, develop routines to keep them safe during a pandemic--while also figuring out a way to safely keep important social relationships. There are stressors as our community and nation grapples with important and heavy social justice matters. It is natural that they will feel overwhelmed, but you are a great resource to them, as well as these workshops:
Self-Care or Treat Yo’Self: Self-Care has become quite the buzz word, but how do you know if your current self-care practices are genuinely effective and sustainable for you? Here you can learn how to assess your current coping skills, develop school-life balance, and create a realistic self-care plan for yourself.
Developing a Growth Mindset: What do you say to yourself when you make a mistake or feel challenged? Often when we are struggling, we’re our own worst critic. Join us to learn how to develop a mindset focused on growth and positive self-talk.
Learning to Press Pause: Often our emotions and behaviors are based on our beliefs about ourselves and others. Here you can learn about the root of emotional responses and how to challenge unhelpful beliefs/thinking styles.
Substance Use/Social Well-Being
As you know, the social behaviors of our students, employees, and community members will dictate the success of this semester. This is not an easy time, but it’s an important moment to help your Hokie make choices that set them up for success. If you missed it, please read our Letter to Hokie Families, and consider having the conversations included within it.
Financial Wellness
COVID-19 has affected every one of us in different ways, and perhaps one of the most direct impacts is our financial well-being. The new landscape of campus life and personal finances looks different for every student, whether it be finding on-campus employment, making a meal plan and grocery budget for living off campus, or simply adjusting to making financial choices away from home.
We highly encourage you to check out our newest wellness resources in this area, which include both group workshop opportunities, as well as free one-on-one consultations with our Assistant Director for Financial Wellness.
These are just a few of our resources. We are ready to help you and your student navigate them. Give us a call or send us an email if we can help. We can’t wait to talk to you!
Take care,
Recreational Sports is committed to providing clean and safe services, programs, and opportunities for the fall semester. Here are a few things to know about our facilities, programs, and operations:
We've created a landing page that hosts FAQs, visual guides, and updated policies for our facilities and programs. Click here to learn more.
Rec Sports Field House: Now Open!
The Rec Sports Field House is located at 510 Beamer Way and was built in the summer of 2020. It boasts 5 sport courts and a fitness training area. In the fall 2020 semester, the Field House will play host to select intramural sports, sport club training, reservations, and open recreation (badminton, pickleball, and volleyball).
Fitness Programs:
Group exercise classes are available for in-person, on-demand, and live stream options to meet the needs of all group exercise members. Classes such as yoga, cycling, BODYPUMP, and HIIT will be offered. Personal training and small group training are also available in-person as well as virtually.
Registration for Intramural Sports is now available and includes a series of self-report leagues, net-based team sports, and special events with skill competitions. Self-report leagues will include activities such as tennis, golf, disc golf and geocaching. Net-based team sports include 4v4 volleyball, 2v2 pickleball, and 2v2 badminton. Skill competitions will include activities such as football, soccer, and basketball skills. Other tournaments such as volleyball, pickleball and badminton will be scheduled with proper safety precautions.
Clubs may practice if able to follow safety protocols. However, sport clubs will not travel or host competitions on-site during the Fall. Some sports have developed virtual competitions so clubs can compete without traveling.
Venture Out: Outdoor rec offerings will include rentals for gear such as canoes, camp stoves, SUPs and bikes that can be thoroughly cleaned between uses. All gear rental will be appointment based with curb-side pickup. Adventure trips will be “park and play” style which means we will meet you there with equipment and limited instructional elements. The Challenge Course will be open for small group registrations.
For more information about Rec Sports, please visit our website or email recsports@vt.edu.
Welcome new and returning Hokie families! Below are important health reminders to share with your student:
- Holds will be placed on accounts in October if your student has not completed their immunization history form requirement. Your student will not be able to take advantage of early registration for spring 2021 classes if a hold is placed on their account. Students with incomplete records will receive regular emails to their VT account until their immunizations are complete. Students should check their records online through the Online Student Health Portal. The student may also call Schiffert Health Center Medical Records at 540-231-8104, inquire about the nature of the hold, and ask for a list of required immunizations or tests. For further information, contact Phyllis Smith at 540-231-5313 or smithpj@vt.edu. You can find more details about medical holds on student schedules on our website.
- Schiffert Health Center strongly encourages your student to have the following self-care items for common medical conditions: antibiotic ointment, antiseptic, Band-Aids, antacid, cough syrup, sunscreen, bug bite remedies, cold medicine (antihistamines and decongestants), ibuprofen, and Tylenol. Tweezers are helpful for splinter removal and Benadryl for allergic reactions. A copy of the student’s personal insurance card, a digital thermometer, an extra pair of glasses (especially if contacts are worn), and a full semester supply of any long-term medications are very important. Make sure you student knows their medical history. They should be aware of specific allergies and any adverse reactions to medications. They should also know chronic conditions and what medications they take, including doses.
The Cook Counseling Center Implements Cook Connect Session to improve efficiency and student success on campus:
The Cook Counseling Center is offering students expanded services through the Cook Connect Session. Cook Connect allows counselors to connect students to more mental health services than ever before. Cook connect sessions offer personalized planning, more support, and new strategies with a faster response time. To find out more information about Cook Connect visit the Cook Counseling Center webpage. The Cook Connect Session is accessible through telehealth due to Covid-19. To schedule a Cook Connect session, call the Counseling Center office at 540-231-6557.
The Cook counseling Center Peer Assistance for Learning (PAL) program goes virtual!
The Cook Counseling Center PAL program is offering presentations to classes and student organizations on campus via Zoom. Since its start in 2007, the PAL program has been educating students on campus about various topics in mental health through in person presentations. To better serve Virginia Tech campus and accommodate the COVID-19 social distancing regulations, presentations are going virtual for the first time! The PAL peer educators are offering 6 presentations via Zoom: Orientation to Cook Counseling Center Services, Adjusting to College, Stress Management, Recognizing the Warning Signs of Anxiety Depression and Eating Disorders, How to Refer a Friend to Cook Counseling Service, and Improving Motivation. These programs have been designed to address the more traditional challenges that college students face on a daily basis as well the many new changes that students are facing surrounding COVID-19. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide students useful skills and resources to better navigate the college environment. If students are equipped with the skills needed to succeed, they are more likely to get the most out of their time at Virginia Tech.