Faculty and staff play an important role in helping students feel supported, connected, and able to thrive.
Health Promotion partners with faculty, staff, departments, and campus teams to strengthen student well-being, belonging, and success across the ODU community.
How to Refer a Student
You don't need to have all the answers to help a student take the next step.
If a student appears overwhelmed, disconnected, stressed, or unsure where to turn, a simple conversation and connection to resources can make a meaningful difference.
A student may benefit from support if they are experiencing:
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Noticeable stress or burnout
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Emotional distress
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Difficulty concentrating or attending class
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Academic concerns
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Food or housing insecurity
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Withdrawal from activities or peers
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Exhaustion or sleep difficulties
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Significant life transitions or challenges
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Check in privately and compassionately
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Normalize help-seeking
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Share campus resources
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Encourage connection and belonging
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Refer students to appropriate campus offices
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Contact campus support services when needed
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Counseling Services: Mental health counseling and emotional support resources. 757-683-4401
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Student Health Services: Medical care, health services, and wellness support. 757-683-3132
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Dean of Students: Student advocacy, support, and resource coordination. 757-683-3442
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ODU Police: Emergency assistance and campus safety support. 757-683-4000
Partnering to Support Student Well-Being
Faculty and staff play an essential role in creating learning environments where students feel welcomed, challenged, and supported. Every conversation, classroom interaction, and act of
encouragement contributes to student success.
The Office of Health Promotion is here to complement the work you're already doing by providing practical resources, workshops, and campus connections that can be easily incorporated into your classroom or student interactions.
Many faculty naturally incorporate practices that help students succeed. Here are a few simple ways to reinforce well-being and belonging throughout the semester.
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Set clear expectations and communicate consistently.
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Build opportunities for connection and engagement.
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Encourage students to seek support early when challenges arise.
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Share campus resources at key points during the semester.
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Check in after exams, presentations, or major assignments.
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Recognize effort, growth, and resilience.
Many instructors already include language that encourages students to seek support and connect with campus resources. If helpful, the examples below can be adapted to fit your course and teaching style.
Student well-being is an important part of academic success. College can be exciting, rewarding, and sometimes challenging. If you experience personal, academic, or life challenges during the semester, I encourage you to reach out early. ODU offers a variety of resources to support your well-being, help you overcome obstacles, and connect you with people who can help. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and you do not have to navigate challenges alone.
If something is affecting your ability to learn, attend class, or complete coursework, please let me know as early as possible. While I may not have all the answers, I can help connect you with campus resources that are here to support your success. Whether you're facing academic stress, financial concerns, mental health challenges, or other personal circumstances, there are people at ODU who want to help.
Our classroom is a place where every student should feel welcomed, respected, and valued. We learn best when we listen to one another, approach conversations with curiosity, and recognize that everyone brings unique experiences and perspectives. Together, we'll work to create a learning environment where everyone has the opportunity to participate, grow, and succeed.
Periods such as midterms, finals, presentations, and major project deadlines can be demanding. During these times, remember to prioritize the habits that support your well-being—sleep, movement, nourishing food, connection with others, and taking breaks when needed. If stress begins to interfere with your daily life or academic success, please consider reaching out to one of ODU's support resources.
Ways to Connect
FAQs
Yes. Workshops and presentations can be requested for classes, departments, staff teams, residence halls, student organizations, and campus groups.
Health Promotion can help connect faculty and staff with appropriate campus resources and referral pathways.
No. Many workshops, trainings, and campus wellness resources are available to faculty and staff as well.
Faculty, staff, departments, student organizations, and campus groups may request workshops and presentations through the Health Promotion workshop request form.