Member Wellness
Building Belonging
Student organizations are one of the most important places that Clemson students find belonging on campus. They're invaluable for creating spaces where members can feel most themselves, whether pursuing a passion related to their studies or participating in a hobby or service they enjoy, student organizations give a framework for connection.
However, even the most diverse group of people isn't automatically a helpful space unless the leaders of an organization build structure to engage potential and current members to affirm that they have a place in the organization. A sense of belonging is tied to commitment, motivation, and pride about your organization, and cultivating a sense of belonging in your members directly affects the mission of your organization by retaining and celebrating your members.
“Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging, but often barriers to it.
Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
- Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
What do your members think about your organization's fairness, opportunities, purpose, & decision-making? Look outside of your executive board to discuss this issue, since people who run for office self-select in that they most likely already feel a sense of belonging to the organization, while people who remain general body members may feel less connected to your organization.
Ways to Build Connection
Evaluate - use a survey through TigerQuest to survey your members about their engagement with the organization and ideas they have for events and programs
Social Bonds - people tend to form favorable views about people they spend time with, even if they formed negative impressions of them when they first met. Try having multiple social events per semester so your members can meet and create these bonds. Social events aren't the only opportunities for connection; your members can also connect through service, event planning, studying, or problem-solving.
Trusting Relationships - when social bonds bloom into trusting relationships, members are more likely to share their ideas, be themselves, and commit fully to your organization. Foster trusting relationships through mentoring programs, and learn more about fostering psychological safety at Google's Re:work.
Be intentional about inclusion - unless your organization is intentional about inclusion, exclusion can occur by accident. Underrepresented groups at Clemson and in your organization may not be considered, so try attending trainings or learning about these groups and how to support them beyond the practices your organization already employs.
Bring belonging out into the open - encourage your members and executive board to share their stories, since effective storytelling is a large piece of belonging
A shared vision makes all the difference - make time to help general body members understand how they contribute to your organization's purpose, as well as giving them more opportunities for non-positional leadership
8 Dimensions of Wellness
Why talk about Wellness?
As a student organization leader and member, you can often see the lives of your fellow members in ways that staff, faculty, and even family might not. This gives you and your student organization opportunities to support your members' wellness.
As a leader, you may even spot signs that your friends or members are having difficulty with their wellness earlier than anyone else in their life. Use this opportunity to help them individually, as a community, and by directing them to resources. Additionally, balancing the dimensions of wellness in your own life can make you a more effective leader and a more well-rounded person.
How can your organization incorporate the 8 Dimensions of Wellness?
Incorporating these dimensions of wellness with your student organization may help members become more involved and care more about your organization.
Emotional - staying emotionally healthy includes managing stress, getting enough sleep, seeing a counselor if needed, and knowing how to ask for help. Create an environment where members feel comfortable asking for help by openly asking for help when you need it, too.
Environmental - taking care of your local and global environment. Check out our guide for sustainability with your student org—it's way more than just recycling!
Financial - talking about finances is often taboo; try breaking down those barriers with your members. Host events and opportunities where members don't have to pay extra funds to participate.
Intellectual - stay curious and keep learning, even outside of your classes! Invite a speaker to a general body meeting to present research or read articles together. Support each other in your learning by scheduling a study session for your organization during exams.
Occupational - help your members understand what skills they're learning in your student organization that will help them to transition to what's after Clemson.
Social - social needs don't just mean parties. Think about starting a mentoring program in your organization for people who prefer 1:1 interaction, try volunteering to give back to the community, or partnering with another organization to try a new activity like axe throwing.
Spiritual - not just for religiously based organizations! Finding meaning, creating change, understanding beliefs, and reflecting on ethics and assumptions are universal.
your members
Supporting Members' Identities & Experiences
It’s important to remember that you and your organization’s members come from different backgrounds and have a variety of lived experiences and identities.
College is a time of major transitions, and it's normal for some of these transitions to be difficult or stressful. Additionally, college may be the first time that some individuals are on their own. Each member brings unique strengths to your organization, and learning about needs, experiences, and identities they might have can help you support them as individuals and build a stronger community together.
You and your members are in a time devoted to learning both inside and outside of the classroom. It’s okay that you don’t know all the answers, but we hope you use this list as a tool to begin learning about yourself, your members, and the various ways you can support and help one another throughout your Clemson journey. The list includes a description, various resources offered, and contact information to share with your members should they need it. This list is not exhaustive...but rather a starting place to learn more about one another.
Bridge & Transfer Students
Bridge students enroll at Tri-County Technical College for their first year and start their course work in the fall semester. To be admitted to Clemson for the subsequent fall semester, Bridge students are required to earn a minimum of 30 transferable credit hours and a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) during their freshman year at Tri-County. (Course credits and GPA must be earned at Tri-County after high school graduation.)
Students who satisfy Bridge academic requirements will be admitted to Clemson for the subsequent fall semester without being required to resubmit a Clemson admission application. Students who do not satisfy the Bridge academic requirements will be encouraged to apply for admission to Clemson at a later date as a transfer applicant.
Resources
For more information regarding the Bridge to Clemson Program, please visit their Frequently Asked Questions page.
Contact
Contact bridgetoclemson@tctc.edu for more information about the Bridge to Clemson Program!
First-Generation Students
Clemson defines a first-generation student as “a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) do not have a four-year college degree.”
Resources
Clemson FIRST- this program helps first-generation students adjust to the college experience by offering a variety of opportunities and resources, from academic support to social activities.
Department of Community Achievement and Student Empowerment (CASE)
Contact
first@clemson.edu
clemsoncase@clemson.edu
Non-Traditional Students & Students with Families
Non-traditional students can be defined by a multitude of factors, including age, residency, level of employment, or other factors. Generally speaking, non-traditional students are those who attend a university in a status other than those who are enrolled full-time in college directly after high school.
Resources
Department of Community Achievement and Student Empowerment (CASE)
Office of Advocacy and Success
Contact
Kristie Hodge- Associate Dean of Students/Director
Abby Dill- Assistant Director
Mary Montgomery- Assistant Director for Residential Community Standards
Laura Clay- Administrative Coordinator
Cindi Gosnell- Administrative Assistant
Sexual Assault & Interpersonal Violence
Healthy Campus shares “Interpersonal violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person or against a group or community that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation.” “Survivors of interpersonal violence are NEVER at fault.”
Resources
How to Help Someone I Care About
Clemson Counseling and Psychological Services
Contact
Lauren Parker- Interpersonal Violence Response Coordinator
Megan Fallon- Clemson University Interpersonal Violence Prevention Coordinator
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)- 864-656-2451
Clemson University Police Department (CUPD)- 864-656-2222
Students with Disabilities
“Clemson recognizes a student with a disability as anyone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity."
“As defined by the Americans with Disability Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a disability is a mental, physical or emotional impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.
Physical, mental or emotional impairment means any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genito-urinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin and endocrine; "mental impairment" means any psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.
Substantially limits means unable to perform a major life activity or significantly restricted as to the condition, manner or duration under which a major life activity can be performed, in comparison to the average person or to most people; the availability of some mitigating measure (such as a hearing aid for someone with a hearing loss that brings hearing acuity within normal limits) is not to be considered when determining if the disability substantially limits the individual.
Major life activity means functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working”
Resources
Student Accessibility Services- Student Resources List
Contact
LGBTQIA+ Students
The current Pride acronym stands for: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual, with a plus (+) sign to include the numerous other sexual orientations on the spectrum. On Clemson’s campus you will see an abbreviated version, LGBTQ, meaning Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning.
Resources
There are a variety of resources on Clemson’s campus for the LGBTQ community including LGBTQ+ Student Organizations, the LGBTQ Liaison Program, and programs like National Coming Out Week, Trans Awareness and Visibility Week, and Pride. You can also find a list of LGBTQ Resources, both on and off campus, HERE.
Contacts
Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center
Call: 864-656-7625
Mental Health & Suicide Awareness
Healthy Campus shares, “At Clemson University we acknowledge mental health as an important element of student health and well-being.”
Resources
I’m concerned about a friend- How Can I Help?
Mental health specific resources
Tigers Together- Clemson’s suicide prevention initiative
Suicide Prevention Advocate Training
Clemson University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Contact
In a crisis? Text TIGERS to 741-741
Of course in an emergency, please call 911.
Clemson University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)- 864-656-2451
CUPD- “For psychological emergencies after hours and on weekends, a counselor can be reached by calling the Clemson University Police Department at 864-656-2222 and asking for the CAPS counselor on-call”
Students Experiencing Food Insecurity
While the definition of food insecurity varies, it’s important to remember that chronic lack of access to enough nourishing food has the potential to harm you or your members’ ability to succeed and achieve goals.
Resources
The Paw Pantry is a resource available to any current student with a valid CUID, in order to reduce food insecurity and promote wellbeing on Clemson’s campus. Paw Pantry has a variety of goods and services depending on donations, and more information can be found HERE.
Contact
Visit the Paw Pantry in Sirrine Hall, Suite 406 or contact Paw Pantry representatives at pawpantry@clemson.edu
Veteran Students
For an overview of Veteran and Military Connected Students, check out this video!
Resources
Department of Community Achievement and Student Empowerment- Veteran and Military Connected Students
Military and Veteran Engagement is designed to support the military connected community here at Clemson. There are many programs, services, and events offered to serve and support, including Military & Veteran Advising, Veteran Employment Transition Workshops, Military Appreciation Day Events, and more! You can find more information about Military and Veteran Engagement HERE.
Contact
Peyton Bade- Graduate Assistant for Military & Veteran Engagement
Socioeconomic Status & Student Org Participation
Socioeconomic status refers to the "social standing or class of an individual or group, often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation." More information can be found HERE.
Resources
Tips and Advice from Clemson Students
Frequently Asked Questions about Scholarships
Federal Student Aid Website Resources:
FAFSA and FSA ID Tips for Parents
After the FAFSA: What Happens Next
FAFSA: Determining Dependency Status
Overview of the Financial Aid Process
How to Manage Your Student Loans
Contact
Students of Color
“Students of color is a term used for students who identify as Black or African-American, Latinx, Asian, Native American and/or multiple of the aforementioned racial identities.”
Resources
Department of Community Achievement and Student Empowerment- Students of Color
CASE provides a variety of programs and resources for students of color on Clemson’s campus. These resources include CONNECTIONS, Renaissance MAN, Brother 2 Brother & Sister 2 Sister, the Commission on Latino Affairs, the Commission on Black Experience, and more.
Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center- Multicultural Programs
The Gantt Multicultural Center offers a variety of programs dedicated to the success and wellbeing of students of color including Black History Month, Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, Indigenous People’s Day, Native American Heritage Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and many more. In addition to programs and events, there are over 60 multicultural student organizations to join.
Campus Support Services for Students of Color:
Clemson University Diversity Scholarship
Counseling and Psychological Services
Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center
New Student and Family Programs
Student Accessibility Services
Contact
Gantt- 864-656-7625
Department of Community Achievement and Student Empowerment (CASE)
I'm worried about one of my members. What can I do?
You can reach out to a CSLE contact, and if you can also contact the CARE network. If you are concerned about a friend or peer facing a difficult situation, help them by submitting a CARE Network report. The CARE Network is designed to be one of the ways to help connect current students with the resources to help support them. Common reasons for a CARE Network referral can include, but are not limited to, the following:
Academic Concerns
Adjustment Issues
Behavioral Concerns
Career or Graduation
Death or Grief
Financial
Personal Health or Wellness
Relationships or Student Engagement
If a current student has an emergency or needs immediate attention, please click here to learn how best to respond, as filing a CARE report is NOT an appropriate first step.
If a current student poses a threat of harm to self or others, please call the Clemson University Police Department immediately at 864-656-2222. If support is needed from The Office of Advocacy and Success, CUPD will contact the Dean on Call. Learn more about the CARE Network here.
What can I say to someone I'm concerned about?
Referring a member to the CARE team might make you feel uncertain, but the most important thing is getting your friend connected to resources.
"Thank you for sharing that me. I appreciate you being vulnerable with me. I'm concerned about you, and because I care about you, would you be okay with me submitting a CARE report? The CARE team is at Clemson to help students, and information won't be shared outwardly, only to people who need to know to get you resources to help. "
"Do you have any other support systems at Clemson? How can I help support you?"
Policies & Procedures
Review Important Policies with Your Organization
Being familiar with these important policies is crucial in supporting your members and creating a welcoming environment with purposeful involvement.
One common misconception is that hazing is only in certain student organizations, but hazing practices can be unintentionally started or upheld because of tradition or practice. Clemson University's core values are integrity, honesty, & respect. Hazing is not consistent with these core values. If you have been a victim, participant, or witness with knowledge of hazing, report the hazing to the Office of Community and Ethical Standards (864) 656-0510 or Clemson University Police (864) 656-2222.
Try incorporating a review of these policies each year as members take on new roles. Reflect on these policies and always reach out to us at CLSE@clemson.edu if you have any questions.
Reporting Harassment or Bias Incidents
If you or someone you know has been affected by harassment or discrimination, a complaint can be filed through the Office of Access and Equity, 110 Holtzendorff Hall, at 864-656-3181.
Policies for Equitable Treatment (including Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy, Student Code of Conduct, Policy for Disabled and Vietnam-Era Veterans, Policy on HIV Diseases and AIDS, and Policy for Individuals with Disabilities) can also be found at this link.