April 14, 2022
 |
|
Dear Bobcat parent and family members,What a wild ride this weekend was in Bozeman! We hosted the Bobcat Spring Rodeo in the Brick Breeden and, wow, was it a ton of fun! My wife and I attended with a small group of MSU parents and family members. I am grateful for all of the hard work of Duane Morris and the staff in Sports Facilities to transform our basketball court into a full-fledged arena with indoor seating for thousands of spectators. And congratulations to all of the brave and talented student-athletes who competed over the weekend -- way to make all of us proud! As we approach the end of the semester, a critical registration deadline is coming up next week. The last day to drop a course with a "W" grade is April 20. To drop a course, students must contact their advisor, who will submit a drop request. It's important that students reach out to their advisors as soon as possible to ensure that they have time to complete the drop process before the deadline. The Office of the Registrar's website provides more information regarding deadlines and instructions for dropping a course. With final exams and projects, the end of the semester can also be a very stressful time for students. We want to make sure they are taking good care of themselves, including their mental health. Please continue to check in with your student and encourage them to maintain their study, sleep and eating routines. Urge them to seek help if they feel anxious, irritable, have low self-esteem or are frequently sad. MSU Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) has a team of practitioners specializing in college mental health and provide free and confidential personal counseling, both in-person and telehealth. Students can call CPS at 406-994-4531 to access short-term individual counseling and crisis intervention. CPS also offers their Let's Talk Drop-In Services, allowing students to consult with a counselor without initiating formal counseling. In addition, CPS offers many self-help resources through its website. For example, they have a webpage dedicated to addressing final exam stress that contains helpful reminders and self-care recommendations. Other online self-help resources address stress management, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, grief and loss, and eating concerns and body image. If you or your student are concerned about the welfare of a student, please complete a Campus Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) Referral. A referral can be submitted online or through the Safe Cats app on your mobile device. Sometimes people cannot or will not ask for support, so informing us of your concern may be a critical factor in assisting someone who is struggling. There are many reasons why someone might need help, including but not limited to: threats of suicide or self-harm, threats regarding violence to others, other mental health-related concerns, and concerns for the safety of the community. If you live in the area and ever consider a situation an emergency, call 911, or if you live out of the area and are calling about a student living in Gallatin County, call 406-994-2121, ext. 4. If it is not an emergency, please submit a CARE Referral by visiting the CARE Program website. Finally, I'd like to conclude with a plug for our AdvoCat program, which is currently accepting applications for AdvoCat Tour Guide positions for the 2022-23 school year. AdvoCats work with the Office of Admissions and serve as one of the initial contact points for prospective students visiting MSU. You might remember the AdvoCat who gave you and your student a campus tour during an MSU Friday event, which they help coordinate. AdvoCats earn 400-level course credit, get priority registration for classes, develop valuable leadership and public speaking skills, and have fun! If this is something your student might be interested in, please encourage them to check out the AdvoCat's website to apply. The application deadline is Friday, April 15. Sincerely,  Matthew R. Caires |
