Addressing Self-Care and Wellness During the Pandemic

Our first Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) summer bridge during the pandemic saw students from vulnerable homes unable to “go to school” to escape situations outside of their control and the devastating impact it had on their ability to be present.

For some students, frustration reigned because a family member required their attention when they were participating in a group discussion. For other students, the home environment was more difficult to manage. The memory of supporting one student whose parents were arguing in the background after announcing their impending divorce resonated loudly for our team. As a result, we saw the need to center self-care and wellness in the summer bridge curriculum. We were not alone–several partners across the university were focusing on wellness to support our first-generation students as they transitioned into the fall semester, especially given the fact that COVID still looms large and continues to have a significant impact on students' wellbeing.

The 2021 summer bridge launched Motivational Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays for the learning community. On Mondays, the students focused on meeting critical objectives that supported their matriculation to the university. On Wednesdays, students practiced yoga and mindfulness activities. Additionally, we encouraged students to invite their family members to participate in the Wellness Wednesdays sessions. The purpose of this was for students to feel empowered to manage their learning space while also introducing their loved ones to the start of their university experience.

We hope our efforts will ensure students know they have an ally on campus and help affirm their sense of purpose and belonging at our university.

To help relieve stress among its students, our partners in Upward Bound have softened rules on attendance and integrated wellness workshops into their curriculum. “Students who are struggling no longer worry about being placed on probation for missing tutoring, workshops, or Saturday Academy sessions,” said Upward Bound Director Yara Jimenez.

“If a student is not feeling well, we tell them to take the day off. We’ll revisit next week and talk about how to get them services,” said Yara. “We’re doing a lot more wellness checks. We’re going at a slower pace.”

Upward Bound staff receive training on wellness resources available to students and host workshops on time management, handling stress, and reaching out to academic advisors for support

The academic advising community has also taken a holistic approach. Evelyn Espinoza, director of student success and advising for the College of Arts and Letters, said “This year, we're striving to build solid student-advisor relationships and help students validate their major early on. We hope our efforts will ensure students know they have an ally on campus and help affirm their sense of purpose and belonging at our university.”

“I believe when the students participate in regular campaign meetings, it creates a better sense of community,” shared Chameeta Denton, director of student success and advising for the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services.

Students who are struggling no longer worry about being placed on probation for missing tutoring, workshops, or Saturday Academy sessions.

Part of creating that sense of community is making sure first-gen students know about the wellness resources that are available to them. As part of this summer’s Golden Eagle Orientation program, we introduced our students to Cal State LA’s WellBeingU program, a collection of activities and services aimed at promoting physical and mental wellness for students. WellBeingU hosts dynamic guest speakers, shares video testimonials from past and current students, brings therapy pets to campus, and emphasizes campus resources such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and basic needs resources through the Office of the Dean of Students.

Further integrating wellness into the first-gen student experience, our team in New Student and Family Engagement this fall will host GECO–the Golden Eagle Connection Opportunity–which will provide students with a mid-semester check-in and chance to de-stress as they prepare themselves for final exams and the spring semester.

The university is looking forward to Pitstop and Puppies, presented by the Center for Student Involvement. The upcoming event will feature therapy animals, large-group meditation, and tips and tricks on how to manage stress with aid from the Student Health Center and CAPS. Through these programs, Cal State LA will shine a light on the importance of wellness and demonstrate to our first-gen students that despite the challenges and uncertainty that the current climate may present, success remains within reach.