Category: Messages to the Community

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Halloween will look much different this year.

There are many things to consider to ensure the safety of yourself and our UW community. Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses, and COVID aside, Halloween is a good time to be vigilant about your personal safety.

Staying healthy

The CDC has compiled a list of low-to-high-risk Halloween activities to help you plan safely from a virus standpoint. Examples include:

Lower risk activities:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with friends.
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with.
• See the full list.

Medium risk activities:

• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart.
• See the full list.

Higher risk activities (avoid these):

• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors.
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming.
• See the full list.

Staying safe

The UW Police Department has shared the following tips on staying safe on Halloween:

• If walking in a group, keep it small (2 – 4 persons) and keep at least 6 feet of distance between each other.
• If you walk alone be alert of your surroundings at all times. Call Nightwalk at 685-WALK for a campus escort!
• Whether walking alone or in a group, try to avoid dark or poorly-lit areas whenever possible.
• Avoid parties and other large gatherings where the risk for the spread of COVID-19 is high.
• If you wear a costume, make sure it includes a face covering that fits snugly over your nose and mouth.
• Remember to wash your hands often or carry hand sanitizer with you.
• Avoid playing pranks (particularly on strangers) that can be perceived as threatening.
• Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right, get yourself out of the situation as soon as possible.
• Carry your cell phone with you at all times and don’t hesitate to call 911 to report suspicious or criminal activity.
• Please be safe!

A message from Denzil Suite, UW Vice President for Student Life.

Hello Huskies,

Whether you are here in Seattle or engaging remotely from another state or country, I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2020-21 academic year. It goes without saying, this will be a year unlike any other. In fact, each of you is making history right now.

While it is sometimes hard to imagine looking back on this past year without just focusing on the negative, when we do reflect on this moment in history, as individuals and as a society, what will really stand out is what we chose to do with this time; how we chose to navigate these uncertain waters and extraordinary circumstances and come together as a community in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Whether you are a returning student or completely new to the UW, we in the Division of Student Life are here to help guide and support you as you navigate this transformational journey of discovery.

We’re here to listen when times get tough, help you with career choices, and make sure you have a friendly and inclusive community within the larger University environment. We also offer you a wide variety of activities to enhance your personal health, which we know is important to your academic success.

This year is no exception, and regardless of what the coming months bring, we are here for you and are committed to a great Husky Experience. We have adapted our programs and services to support your success, growth, connections, and well-being, even in this remote environment.

We have created virtual spaces for you to find opportunities to connect and engage with your fellow Huskies and opportunities across UW and beyond. We have also adapted recreational activities as a way for you to explore fun and active pursuits, on your own or with other Huskies, including virtual intramurals and free virtual mindfulness and fitness classes.

We are also offering remote counseling and well-being support in a variety of formats and languages, and you can access online workshops and other content to proactively bolster your self-care and wellness.

Student Life, in conjunction with our partners in the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Graduate School, and more, serves as the hub of many of the activities that complement your academic pursuits. And make no mistake, your academic pursuits need to remain your #1 priority.

BUT you must also get involved! I want you to know that your UW experience will be incomplete if all you do is attend class and then study all night.

We know from years of experience and research that students who participate in clubs and organizations, who get involved with their residence hall associations, who participate in engagement opportunities, or who hold office in student government —these students graduate at higher rates, they are more satisfied with the college experience, have better grades, and are less likely to drop out.

As I have said, while many things are not normal this autumn quarter, we are committed to making these same opportunities available to you. As distracting and distressing as the pandemic is, do not let these things deter you from getting involved or from making this experience an enriching one.

In fact, let these things propel you to be more proactive, more engaged, to put yourself out there, and to really make the most of your Husky Experience given the circumstances.

My message for you is that whatever your course of study, whatever your passion, just remember WHY you are here and stay focused on your goals. It is critically important for you to do well in the classroom, but also to get involved with YOUR campus on every level, even virtually, starting with the faculty but also including the wonderful staff and your fellow students.

Welcome to a new academic year. I’m excited for the things we will achieve together.

Sincerely,

Denzil J. Suite
Vice President for Student Life

 

This message was sent to UW Seattle students from Vice President for Student Life Denzil Suite on April 17, 2020.

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Five Cool Things from Denzil’s Desk (Spring Edition)

Contents

Academic Support during a Remote Quarter
Staying Close at a Distance
Careers: Preparing for an Uncertain Economy
Self-care and Managing Stress
Staying Safe during an Extraordinary Time

A Few Cool Extras…

• Career Corner
• Key Dates
• A Couple Graduation Updates

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Dear Huskies,

So much has changed since my winter quarter newsletter to you. Before anything else, I’d like to convey my heartfelt hope that you and those dear to you are healthy and doing as well as possible during these challenging times.

I want to recognize the extraordinary circumstances into which each one of you has been thrust. I also want to recognize the ways in which so many of you have risen to the occasion with resilience, grace, courage, and, critically – empathy. While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all, it will affect each of us at different times and in different ways. It is now more important than ever to practice intentional and unyielding compassion for one another and for ourselves.

This is new for all of us and certainly unprecedented. Nevertheless, it will pass, and it’s my sincere belief that we as a UW community will emerge more united than before. But I’ll be the first to acknowledge that this sentiment doesn’t negate the uncertainty and challenges that confront us right now, nor does it ameliorate the profound impacts this pandemic has had on academics, operations, and traditions across our UW community.

Nobody chose this, and yet, it is the difficult reality in which we find ourselves. It is also a reality that we all share. While the last month has undoubtedly been marked by anxiety, frustration, and fear, I am so impressed – though not at all surprised – by how you have collectively met this moment.

This crisis has showcased a uniquely UW trait that has stood out to me since my first week on this job, seven years ago: Huskies have an uncommon proclivity and capacity for altruism and for helping others. This is evident when I work with your amazing student leaders, and it consistently rings true for every one of you I meet.

There is no denying that we are living through a historic moment. Let’s make this a time that we remember, above all else, for how we came together as a community in kindness, patience, gratitude, and support for one another.

While so much is different this spring, we have been hard at work to ensure that as many services, resources, and engagement opportunities as possible are still available to you, including a few new ones. Below I’ve highlighted a handful of information and programming to support your success and well-being during a quarter like no other.

Please take care of yourselves and those around you.

Gratefully,

Denzil J. Suite, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life

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Academic Support during a Remote Quarter

As we continue to adapt to UW’s first-ever full-remote quarter, many helpful resources have emerged to help you navigate studying from home and succeeding in an online learning environment.

Academic Support Programs’ Online Learning page houses a variety of helpful content, including:

• Quick tips for being a successful online student
• Pro tips for setting up your “classroom”
• 10 successful online study habits
• Technology access information (including tech tips and deals on things like free Comcast for new customers)

The Race and Equity Initiative’s COVID-19 Resources page hosts valuable resources and information for all students, with a focus on helping students who face challenges and barriers to belonging based on their marginalized identities.

And let’s not forget Zoom backgrounds… Whether you’re tired of showcasing your personal space to 700 of your closest friends in a virtual lecture, or simply feel your background is lacking a certain Boundlessness, consider grabbing a Zoom Background for Huskies! Or, if you’d like to mix things up, there is plenty of other inspiration around the world wide web.

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Staying Close at a Distance

These are trying times, and keeping connected and engaging with each other are more vital than ever as we remain physically apart.

Dear Huskies,

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome you to a new academic year. We in the Division of Student Life serve to connect both undergrads and grad students with opportunities and resources to more fully engage while at UW, and to have a well-rounded, healthy, and fulfilling Husky Experience.

We regularly collaborate with students to create transformative experiences that encompass student voices and priorities in order to meet the real needs of our community. We’ve been hard at work over the summer, and I’m excited to share with you a couple big student-fueled developments:

A New Home for the Global Husky Experience

Introducing CIRCLE

CIRCLE is UW’s new hub for international student support and cross-cultural engagement. Opening this fall, the CIRCLE office will house FIUTS and Unite UW and provide a unified “front door” for domestic and international students’ global Husky Experience.

Explore CIRCLE

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A Unified Portal for your Health Services

Husky Health & Well-Being

Nothing is more important than your health and well-being. Husky Health & Well-Being is UW’s new one-stop wellness website. A student collaboration from the start, the site streamlines access to UW’s full spectrum of care and resources.

Husky Health & Well-Being

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We are here to support not only your educational journey, but also your growth and well-being beyond the classroom. College is a unique and transformational experience, and our top priority is to help you make the most of your time on campus.

On behalf of myself and all Student Life staff, welcome to the 2019-20 academic year!

Go Dawgs!

Denzil J. Suite, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life

An Important Note on Safety

If you ever need to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others, contact SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 any time. Additionally, any UW student who has experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, partner violence, or stalking has access to advocates for confidential support, information, and assistance at no cost. To connect with an advocate, visit: uw.edu/sexualassault.