Information to Anchor Your Simmons Experience

Welcome to The Anchor. This bi-weekly communication will provide you with relevant information to anchor your Simmons experience.

From the VP's Desk

Hey Sharks!

It's only the second week of November, and we already have so much to celebrate as a community! We've finished midterms, wrapped up our fall athletics with many wins and honors, and according to the NSLVE report, on election day Simmons students voted at their highest rate ever.

In this week's edition of The Anchor, find tips and resources to maintain your balance and well-being, opportunities to get involved and promote healthy habits through the Wellness Ambassador program, and an invitation to the launch of our REEF Support Center.

Best,

Renique Kersh, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs

Health & Wellness

Managing Stress & Meditation

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives, with many of us facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.

Resources:

• Coping with Stress During the Pandemic
• Be Present | 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation
• Letting Go | 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation
• Present | 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation

Rest and Sleep

To rest is to pause, to relax, to recharge. Rest is necessary for our bodies and minds to recover from daily mental and physical activity and stress; to reduce cortisol and adrenaline levels, improving overall well-being; and to be more productive and happy when we return from rest.

The Power of Rest

In a society that encourages overwork, science now shows us that we can all work better, be more productive, and have happier lives if we learn how to balance work and rest. Join Dr. Alex Pang as he shares how you can avoid burnout and use rest skillfully so you can get more done by working less.

Resources:

• The Power of Rest Class
• Sleep with Me: The Podcast That Puts You To Sleep
• Calm Sleep Stories | The Nordland Night Train with Erik Braa
• Calm Sleep Stories | Stephen Fry's 'Blue Gold'

Become a Wellness Ambassador

Simmons's Recreation and Wellness department is seeking candidates for our Wellness Ambassador program. Wellness Ambassadors are a dynamic group of students who are passionate about an inclusive and comprehensive approach to wellbeing for the Simmons community, including undergraduate, graduate, residential, commuter, and online students. See the full job posting and apply on Workday. Student Job Requisition ID R08134.

COVID Dashboard Update

From October 27 - November 2, Simmons conducted 2,971 tests, with two positive results (one commuter student, one employee). 

In the fall semester, we have conducted a total of 26,594 tests, with 33 positive cases for a total positivity rate of .12%.

Student Experience

Upcoming Events

Annual First Generation Summit: Virtual Summit

Saturday, November 13 | 11:30am - 6pm

Come be part of the First-Gen community and meet others from across the country. We are looking forward to seeing you at this years 2021First Gen Summit. First-gen students and their allies come together to identify problems, discuss grassroots solutions, and share what’s working on their campuses. Register

Yoga Otzma with Emerson Hillel

Wednesday, November 17 | 7pm

Holmes Sports Center, Second Floor

SIS Friendsgiving

Friday, November 19 | 5pm

Main College Building, Fens Cafe, Lower Floor. Register 

Health & Wellness Book Club

Wednesday, December 1 | 5pm (student led, for students only)

Thursday, December 2 | 4pm (students, faculty, staff welcome)

Simmons' Health & Wellness Book Club invites you to join a discussion on their December read. Register to receive a copy of the book. The book is: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, by Dr. Vivek Murthy (United States Surgeon General). Register

FIT @ Simmons

Fall Semester | Various Times

Holmes Sports Center

Exercise has been shown to prevent or relieve numerous physical, mental, and emotional conditions; it is a potent stress reliever, boosts mood, and promotes mental health. Fit@Simmons offers students free fitness classes at the Holmes Sports Center in a variety of intensity levels, from relaxing yoga up to high intensity interval training.

Review the class schedule and take part in our November Fit@Simmons raffle. Participate in three different classes by December 3 to be entered for a chance to win a $50 activewear gift card!

REEF Support Center

In the ocean, the coral reef offers generations of sea life shelter and food, to support a healthy ocean. 

At Simmons, the REEF Support Center acts as a similar support hub for undergraduate, graduate, and online students. REEF refers to Resilience, Efficacy, and Empowerment through Foundational support services. Its mission is to make holistic support resources more easily accessible. 

The REEF Center includes resources specific to food access, off-campus living and commuter student experience, the SOS Emergency Fund, as well as violence prevention and survivor support.

Join us for our official REEF Launch Party on Tuesday, November 30 from 11am-12:30pm in the Commuter Student/Dix Scholar Lounge (A-075). All are welcome!

In the next weeks, keep an eye out for our updated website where you will find information about who we are, what we’re up to, and resources. We look forward to connecting with you!

Warmly,

Matoaka, Christine, and Halle

The REEF Team

Making a Difference

2020 NSLVE National Data

IDHE’s National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) is the nation’s largest study of college and university student voting. Institutions must opt in to the study, and at this time, nearly 1,200 campuses of all types—community colleges, research universities, minority-serving and women’s colleges, state universities, and private institutions—participate. Our dataset reflects all 50 states and the District of Columbia and includes 49 of the nation’s 50 flagship schools.

Today’s report comes from the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE), creators of the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, or NSLVE. IDHE is located at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life.

The graph above indicates a 12.4 percentage point increase over the last four years in voting rate. Simmons also falls far above the national voting rate of all institutions at 77.8% (as compared to the national average of 66%). 

Stay safe, and be well.

Simmons University

Division of Student Affairs

300 The Fenway

Boston, MA 02115