Faculty and teaching assistants advised on how to help students in distress

March 13, 2010

Dear Colleagues,

We are all mourning the student deaths suffered by the Cornell family in the past three weeks. As Provost and Dean of the Faculty, we are writing to advise faculty and graduate teaching assistants on how to help students experiencing personal challenges and stress. Please share this message with your teaching assistants.

As you are well aware the upcoming week will be one of the most stressful of the semester, with many students taking prelims prior to Spring Break. They need to know, and this must be emphasized, that while exams are important, they must be kept in perspective. They are not of sufficient importance to jeopardize an individual’s health and well being. We ask that you raise this particular issue in your classes this Monday and Tuesday, and that you express to your students that you care not only about their academic performance, but also about them personally.

Please encourage students who are feeling overwhelmed to seek help from the Gannett Health Services or any of the many other resources that are available to them. If you or your teaching assistants have concerns about an individual student please contact your college advising office immediately. You should encourage students to come to you with any concerns they may have about their own situations or about friends and classmates. Furthermore, we ask you to consider making adjustments to the exam schedules of students who appear to be under unusual duress.

Below is contact information for Cornell offices that can provide assistance.

Thank you for your work in educating, mentoring, and caring for our students.

Warmest regards,

Kent Fuchs
Provost

Bill Fry
Dean of the Faculty