Staff Writer- Cora Hess

The start of each school year can cause a whirl of emotions for everyone. Adjusting to new class schedules, completing hours of assignments, deciding which organizations to be involved in, finding time for yourself through it all, and more. But don’t let that deter you. Gustavus offers multiple student friendly resources for these exact instances. 

A great place to start is the Counseling Center, which shows immense care about students’ mental health. They offer confidential and free mental health therapy for all students. If you’d rather be in a group setting, they have that too. They offer workshops and support groups and they have a drop-in service, no appointment needed everyday from 11:30-12:30 called Let’s Talk. 

To get started, students can email, call or stop in for more information and to schedule an appointment. They are located in the Johnson Student Union, Office #204. Let’s Talk is located in JSU #105 near the CIE. They operate from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. 

If you need assistance in your classes instead, take a look at the Academic Support Center (ASC). The ASC helps with anything relating to academics. Student Support Specialist Mary Hellwege guides students to the right path. 

“As a Student Support Specialist, part of my role can be to help a student identify what may be affecting their academic success and either help them myself or refer them to appropriate campus resource,” Hellwege said.

Third-year Peer Academic Coach, Senior Emily Dehn meets with students to help them build a four-year plan and more. 

“Student worker Peer Academic Coaches can meet with students one-on-one for 4-year planning, improving time management skills, and improving study habits to increase student academic success” Dehn shared. 

Appointments can be made online at https://accessibility.gustavus.edu/custom/misc/home.aspx (you must register in their system for the first time and it might take up to 24 hours). You can also email them at asc@gustavus.edu (for general academic support questions) or asacsupport@gustavus.edu (for accommodations questions). You can see them in Anderson 107 from 8:00am – 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday or call at 507-933-7227

Another resource that Gustavus offers for all students is the Writing Center. During the hours of 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm on Sunday and 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Monday – Thursday, students are free to stop in the Writing Center. Located in Anderson #104, the Writing Center is an open space to receive help with your writing. 

Director of the Writing Center, Eric Vrooman emphasises the uses of the Writing Center, not just for pre-written papers. 

“Writing is hard, and we can help at any stage of the writing process. In fact, we recommend that students come in without having written anything, so they can avoid procrastination, get off to a good start, and make the best use of their time” Vrooman said. 

They also offer appointments in the Library (#211) and the Center for Inclusive Excellence.

“We have 19 different majors on staff, so we have expertise in a wide variety of disciplines, and we can help with non-academic writing, too,” Vrooman shared.

If you want advice and assistance or have questions about Gustavus policies, the Dean of Students Office is where you should head. The members of the Dean of Students Office are here to listen to and connect students to the support resources they need. 

The Executive Assistant of the Dean of Students Office, Deb Swanberg is one of the members who is here for all students. 

“We’re here to guide, support, and challenge students as they experience all Gustavus offers. We provide advice and assistance to individual students and student groups, and we respond to questions about the College’s policies and procedures. Both in and out of the classroom, we’re here to support students’ education and their development as a person,” Swanberg said. 

Students can stop by the office to ask Swanberg a question or if they’d prefer, they can set up a time to meet with Charlie Potts (Dean of Students) or Amy Pehrson (Assistant Dean of Students & Title IX Coordinator). If it is more convenient, instead students can also send an email to dos@gustavus.edu for a meeting time or to ask their question. 

Their office is located on the upper level of the Jackson Campus Center, situated across the hall from the Financial Aid office. Their office is staffed 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday – Friday. If a student should have an emergency or needs urgent support after these hours, they should call 507-933-8888 to reach Campus Safety and they will arrange the right resources for you. 

“The Dean of Students office is a good place for a student to go on campus if they have a question or challenge and don’t know where to start,” Swanberg expressed.

 If you are looking for help with navigating your career journey, the Center for Career Development is ready to guide you. 

Don’t worry! You don’t have to have any part in your career journey figured out before you talk to them. That’s what they are here for; to help plan your path with you. Associate Director for Career Development Jill VanOsdol’s job is to walk through uncertainty with and support Gustavus students in multiple ways. 

“Your career journey isn’t a single decision in your senior year, it’s a series of small, low-stakes steps you take throughout college. Our space is friendly and zero-judgment. Bring your questions or your uncertainty, and come chat with someone on our team. We’re here to support you every step of the way. We’re here to reduce your stress, help you discover what interests you, and design a path that fits your life – no pressure or expectations,” VanOsdol shared. 

You can book a 1-on-1 appointment through Handshake if you’d like to have a deeper conversation or just stop by during their hours for quick help or a quick question. They are located in the Johnson Student Union in Suite #209. They are open for all students Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. They also have drop-in hours with their Peer Career Advisors on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm and Tuesday/Thursday from 10 am – 4:30 pm. 

“We are here for all students and care about you as a whole person. Whether you’re a first-year completely undecided on a major, or a senior figuring out what’s next after graduation, or somewhere in between, we want to see you early and often,” VanOsdol exclaimed.

They offer help in a plethora of areas including, but not limited to: self-discovery and majors, résumés and cover letters, internships and job searching, interviewing and networking (https://career.gustavus.edu/channels/gustavus-mentoring-program/), and graduate school planning. If you’d like more information about what they offer, visit career.gustavus.edu

Students should not be afraid to utilize these resources, those involved are excited to be a strong support system for all of Gustavus.