Written by Mia Pollard.
The October staff meeting for the University Cashier’s Office (UCO) focused largely on getting to know each other as coworkers and learning how to better support ourselves, our students and each other in times of high stress and/or crisis.
Our meeting began with an icebreaker to connect colleagues who may not interact on a regular basis and encouraged us all to find our common traits and interests to bridge the gaps between us. Following the icebreaker, five UCO employees had been chosen to share about themselves, and we learned about everything from hobbies and interests to impressive feats and fun facts. The room was full of laughter and light-hearted jokes, and we built community in such a short amount of time through listening and learning about each other.
Later in the meeting, we were joined by Dr. Daniel Goldberg from the NC State Counseling Center and Laura Boisvert Boyd from the CARES program to speak on how to best assist students who may be struggling personally or displaying behaviors that are concerning to those around them. Finances and academics are two common stressors for students, and it is extremely important for our staff to be prepared to support students who may need it in the future. We were lucky to receive guidance on ways to act and listen, how to support students in crisis, what resources are available to us and to students on campus and why and how to make a referral to the CARES team.
We closed out our meeting with Officers Jasmine Smith-Andrews and Jeanne Miller from the NC State University Police Department. Both Officers shared their reasons for becoming officers and for working at NC State University, along with their favorite parts of their jobs and how they work with their animal partners. We confirmed proper procedures in the event of an emergency situation and were given guidance to allow us to feel more comfortable when working with students who may be experiencing mental health crises.
Our October staff meeting was crucial to our better understanding of supporting students in every way possible, especially through a mental health event. The knowledge and preparedness we gained through this meeting will continue to guide our interactions with the students we serve here in the University Cashier’s Office.