George Washington University has reached out to students from Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other parts of the Caribbean that have been affected by Hurricane Irma.
Late last week, the Division of Student Affairs contacted by email the more 500 students from Florida and almost 50 more Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean to ensure that students are aware of resources that the university can offer if needed.
"Our thoughts are with our students, their families and the impacted communities that have been and are in the path of Hurricane Irma,” said Tracy T. Arwari, director of student support and family engagement. “We are ready to provide support for our students as they may need it, and encourage them to reach out to campus resources for additional assistance."
Dr. Arwari said similar emails were also sent on Monday to students from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, all of which will have some measure of impact from Hurricane Irma or remnants of the storm. In addition, students from Western states whose families could be facing wildfires, were contacted, she said.
Mental health professionals are always available to speak to GW students and consult with faculty, staff or parents about any mental health-related concerns. Mental Health Services at the Colonial Health Center are available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (202) 994-5300.
The majority of MHS services are free, including the initial consultation, crisis support in person or by phone and the first several individual counseling sessions. If there are financial concerns, a sliding scale can be arranged for MHS service fees. Students should not let finances be a barrier to seeking support.
Additional self-help resources are available on the MHS website: http://healthcenter.gwu.edu.
Students, faculty, staff, families and other university constituents can reach out to the Division of Student Affairs if they are concerned about a student. The Office of Student Support and Family Engagement can provide resources to families affected, and members of the CARE Network across campus provide support to students brought to our attention.
If you or someone you know has been personally affected by Hurricanes Harvey or Irma or Western wildfires please file a CARE report at https://students.gwu.edu/care.
Students living off campus can contact the Office of Student Support and Family Engagement for support and to access additional university resources. Students living on campus can also speak with their RAs.
For more information, please contact Student Support and Family Engagement at 202-994-6710 or email [email protected]. Staff in this department is prepared to support students with academic, financial, or other assistance they may need. Additional information is also available on the department website.
