FSU's Division of Student Affairs Enhances Virtual Learning with Virtual FSU
When Florida State University’s campus made the switch to virtual learning in the spring, FSU’s Division of Student Affairs (DSA) created Virtual FSU, a new platform for providing students with remote services and resources pertaining to their involvement with FSU. Students are entering the fall under different circumstances, but no matter where your student is learning from or how they’re taking classes this semester, Virtual FSU is bringing student support services, community, wellness, and engagement to their home!
Virtual FSU’s homepage showcases a calendar of events that displays virtual and socially-distanced programming taking place here in Tallahassee or through your student’s desired technology. FSU continues to encourage students to participate in these remote events in order to uphold the tight-knit and fun-loving community that can normally be found any day on campus. Some upcoming events for this month include self-guided bike tours, virtual Question and Answer sessions, remote dialogues on various topics, and more!
Also found on Virtual FSU’s homepage is a directory of Virtual FSU Resources that are crafted with intentions of keeping students informed, involved, and mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy. Through Virtual FSU, campus groups such as Campus Recreation, The Career Center, University Health Services, Oglesby Union, and more are teaming with DSA in order to bring these facilities to students and their families while remote learning is practiced for some students during the Fall 2020 semester.
Here is a breakdown of what these Virtual FSU Resources can do for your student:
Active Anywhere. Campus Recreation encourages students to “find what moves you” wherever your student is with Active Anywhere, their new virtual initiative where students can participate in synchronous and asynchronous programs. Students can enjoy Virtual Personal Training, Group Fitness, the 100 Mile Club from Aquatics, virtual Intramural Sports, and more. Campus Rec has additional resources for fitness, wellness, outdoor participation, creative outlets, and building community on their page as well.
Design Your Career. Offered by The Career Center, Design Your Career allows students to have continued access to all of The Career Center’s resources virtually. Through Design Your Career, students can find virtual drop-in career advising, career liaison advising, career fairs, workshops and information sessions, and more. Graduating students and Graduate Students can continue utilizing The Career Center’s services remotely, as well. Additionally, there is information regarding those involved with the Experience Recognition Program (ERP), InternFSU, and Garnet & Gold Scholar Society.
Student Engagement. In order to maintain engagement among FSU students, Virtual FSU is providing remote opportunities for RSOs that are unable to meet through their Student Engagement page. In lieu of the weekly Market Wednesday on Legacy Walk, Virtual FSU has created RSO Rendezvous, where students can promote their RSO online every Wednesday between 10am-1pm. Virtual FSU is also looking to showcase an organization through all of Student Organizations & Involvement’s social media pages every Monday for their weekly RSO Spotlight. In addition to these FSU Student Engagement resources, Virtual FSU has included other virtual and online opportunities offered by global museums, zoos, performers, and more for students to enjoy as well.
Health and Wellness. Virtual FSU has merged all services and facilities available for students to use when it comes to their physical, emotional, and mental health.
- University Health Services has launched Telehealth Services, where students can speak to nurses, refill medications, participate in Wellness Coaching, and receive acute care.
- University Counseling Center (UCC) has launched Telemental Health Services to current ongoing clients and Telephonic Crisis Support to all students. UCC is also offering daily psychoeducational workshops via Zoom and WellTrack for self-help interactive therapy.
- The Center for Health Advocacy & Wellness has gone virtual with Connect with CHAW and features dynamic online resources organized by topic or need. They also encourage students to participate in online meetings or download their recommended and reliable wellness apps.
Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). CARE is bringing resources for their students through CAREOnline. Through this digital platform, students involved with CARE can have detailed guidance and access to virtual academic advising and student support, tutoring, workshops, and additional academic support resources.
Oglesby Union. Connect with the Union through remote programming and events. Students can Paint-A-Pot To-Go with the Art Center, reserve event space with Campus Event Services, and partake in virtual events with Club Downunder/Union Productions.
Victim Advocate Program. FSU’s Victim Advocate Program will have a confidential advocate on call 24 hours a day to respond to FSU students, faculty, and staff “who are victimized anywhere or at any time, as well as any other person who is victimized on our campus, at an FSU sponsored event, or by a FSU community members.”
Office of Accessibility Services (OAS). As FSU’s academics transition to remote and online learning, FSU’s Office of Accessibility Services wants to offer support to students with disabilities and ensure they have the opportunity to succeed in their online classes. Students and families can retroactively view past Zoom meetings and virtual events through the OAS site, and can make note of future events this month!
Case Management Services. FSU’s Case Management Services will continue to seamlessly support, advocate, identify immediate needs, and make appropriate referrals to campus and community resources for students. Case Management can be contacted through phone at (850) 644-9555 or email at casemanagement@fsu.edu.
Title IX. FSU’s Title IX Office continues to assist students and campus partners with all resources routinely provided by our staff. The Title IX Office can be contacted through email at tbuchholz@fsu.edu or by phone at 850-645-2741.
Food For Thought Pantry. The Food For Thought Pantry will continue to serve FSU students by supplementing students' nutritional needs and providing food access as FSU undertakes remote learning. The Food For Thought Pantry will be open 10 am to 1pm on Tuesdays and Fridays by appointment only. The Pantry will be providing bags of food outside College of Motion Picture Arts and asks that students who have travelled outside of Tallahassee to not utilize the Pantry until further notice.
ProfessioNole Clothing Closet. The Career Center’s ProfessioNole Clothing Closet will continue to offer students access to free professional or business clothing. The Closet has moved to appointment-only scheduling at this time.
Fraternity and Sorority Life. For students involved in Fraternity or Sorority Life, the department has created a platform full of online resources and services necessary to continue out their experience for Spring 2020. These online resources help foster meetings and member engagement, communication, chapter operations, planning, and management, wellness, advising from council advisors and chapter coaches, and housing/community living.
Center for Global Engagement (CGE). As FSU moves to remote learning, the Center for Global Engagement will continue to offer its programs and services virtually. CGE notes that all immigration services for all international students, scholars and FSU departments remotely, and CGE advisors are available during normal business hours. CGE will continue to host its English Conversation Club and International Coffee Hour remotely, in addition to other intercultural events.
Department of Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS). FSU’s Department of Student Conduct and Community Standards will continue to assist students and campus partners with Information Sessions for Conduct Hearings, Dean Certification requests, advising assistance for Academic Honor Policy preparation and all resources routinely provided by our staff. The SCCS can be contacted through email at sccs@fsu.edu or phone at 850-644-5136.
Student Resilience Project. The Student Resilience Project is a web-based, research-informed toolkit developed to encourage students’ wellness by helping them learn to manage stress in healthy ways and increase their sense of belonging. Students can find helpful videos, activities, and resources through the Project’s website.
Virtual FSU has recently begun preparing for in-person student returns with the Return to Student Life Plan where students that plan to be on campus for the fall can read up on how FSU is responding to the fluid Coronavirus circumstances. Families and students can find information on University guidelines, FSU’s planned response to a positive case, and face covering distribution. Event guidelines are detailed through this resource as well, and students can check to see what facilities and services are open under the “What’s Open” icon.
With Virtual FSU in place, FSU will continue to work diligently to ensure that students and families alike are prepared for remote learning or in-person arrivals this fall.