Resources during Thanksgiving and Beyond

Dear Students:

If you attended or watched the moving memorial service on Saturday honoring the lives of fellow students Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry, you heard President Ryan say their deaths have “changed our world.” He also said, “Despite all of this, life beckons nonetheless. We can and will move forward as a community provided we move forward together.” 

We are now moving forward into Thanksgiving break. Some of you are already home with family and friends, while others will be staying in Charlottesville or other areas for the break. Wherever you are and however you have been affected by this tragedy, we want you to be aware of resources available to you.

Thanksgiving Break: If you will be staying in Charlottesville this week, the website highlights several community activities, including a Thanksgiving Celebration at the International Center on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 26. The site also summarizes facility information.

Support for Students: This webpage summarizes counseling services and resources available to you. It is updated daily as resources, assistance stations, the presence of therapy dogs, and gathering places change. We expect to continue to have enhanced resources for support and assistance after the holiday break, and will keep this site updated as information becomes available.

CAPS and Medical Assistance: Access to 24/7 crisis help remains available to you through Counseling and Psychological Services. Please call 434-243-5150. You may also consult with Student Health and Wellness for medical assistance during the break by calling 434-297-4261, but as always, you should call 911 in the event of an emergency.

TimelyCare: You can access mental health services around the clock from anywhere in the world through TimelyCare, which is coordinated with CAPS. It is free, and the Talk Now feature is unlimited. Whether or not you think you will need TimelyCare, I encourage you to take a moment to download the app. You can call for any reason – if you are feeling lonely, unable to sleep or concentrate, worried about schoolwork, concerned about a friend, or if you simply want to know more about mental health care and how it might benefit you.

Academic Options: Be sure you read the message you received yesterday from Provost Ian Baucom. As he explains, to ease academic stress, most students will be able to choose grading options for their fall courses.

We in the Division of Student Affairs recognize a challenging time awaits you and all of us when we return next week to complete the fall semester. As President Ryan acknowledged all who had been affected by this tragedy, including the families, witnesses, friends and others, he said repeatedly “We will find strength.” We will be here in community to support one another and to share in activities like concerts and our beloved Lighting of the Lawn, which will proceed as planned on Dec. 1.

Please enjoy the time away from your classes. We all look forward to your return to Grounds.

Regards,

Robyn S. Hadley
Vice President and Dean of Students
Chief Student Affairs Officer