By Elizabeth Boyd
Vanderbilt’s Student Care Network has received national recognition as a best practice for its innovative approach to supporting the health and wellness needs of Vanderbilt University students.
The Student Care Network was featured in an institutional profile published by the Education Advisory Board that outlined its dynamic structure and uniquely tailored design for supporting the wellness needs of Vanderbilt students. The EAB is a research, technology and consulting firm for educational institutions with more than 1,500 members.
Launched in fall 2018, the Student Care Network is a holistic network of services and resources pertaining to health and wellness available to all Vanderbilt University students. The network includes four primary offices—the Office of Student Care Coordination, the University Counseling Center, the Student Health Center and the Center for Student Wellbeing—as well as a variety of additional on-campus and community resources. A robust and sortable list of campus and community resources is available for students on the Student Care Network website, which was created through the active collaboration of students and administrative personnel.
The EAB utilizes institutional profiles to showcase best practices by institutions that have developed cutting-edge solutions and new paradigms to address perennial challenges, such as the rising demand across the nation for mental health services. Vanderbilt’s institutional profile will serve as a resource for the EAB’s member institutions.
In addition, Cynthia J. Cyrus, vice provost for learning and residential affairs, was invited to serve as a panelist at the American Council on Education Regional Summit Feb. 7-9 given Vanderbilt’s dynamic new approach to student wellness. During the summit, entitled “Tackling the Mental Health Crisis on American Campuses,” university leaders gained knowledge and insights to effectively address student mental health with the joint goals of sharing best practices and broadening perspectives. Cyrus discussed the Student Care Network as a proactive intervention for supporting the mental health of Vanderbilt’s student population.