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AMOSSHE is hosting an online professional development event for Student Services leaders to help you navigate the various sector mental health frameworks to apply them to (and identify gaps in) your service provision. The session also identifies resources and good practice to help you enhance some areas of mental health provision that might need attention.

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Student mental health: minding the gaps takes place online on Wednesday 14 October 2020 from 09:00 to 13:00 (BST).

Join a range of AMOSSHE members and higher education sector experts to explore how to use the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter and Universities UK Stepchange Mentally Healthy Universities framework to identify gaps in your student mental health provision. Then discover resources and good practice for virtual mental health support and supporting less prominent student groups.

The event features a mix of presentations, Q&A, interactive workshops and networking discussion. All delegates will receive a recording of the event afterwards, as well as any presentations or resources. Find out more about the programme and speakers.

Places are limited so book now to secure yours!

Book your place

Here's the AMOSSHE bulletin for summer 2020: a roundup of AMOSSHE news, events, and more (click image to view - PDF 3.1 MB).

This bulletin features a big thank you to everyone who look part in our virtual National Conference in July, and also some headline findings from member research into mental health and wellbeing service provision.

AMOSSHE is currently planning our continuing professional development programme for 2020/21. Find out more about our upcoming events and what we're planning.

This bulletin also features updates from AMOSSHE's annual sponsors, whose support helps us deliver our programme of work and who help keep us in touch with developments and research in the sector.

The AMOSSHE National Conference 2020 starts on Monday 6 July - it's all week, all online, all free, and open to everyone who wants to take part! This is a fantastic professional development opportunity for you, your colleagues, and sector friends, so please share the links widely. All the sessions would have featured in our physical conference if it had gone ahead in Newcastle, so you can access the same quality expertise and resources, but for free and without having to travel!

Here's the programme of sessions. You can register for the ones you want to attend, rather than everything at once.

Monday 6 July

• 13:30 to 14:45: Inspiration, design and excellence: Student Services and Student Affairs. Our opening keynote session explores the key themes of inspiration, design and excellence in UK Student Services and US Student Affairs. Speakers include Jayne Aldridge (Chair, AMOSSHE The Student Services Organisation) and Dr Kevin Kruger (President, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education).
• 15:30 to 16:15: Trying to create happiness in the workplace. In this free webinar for Student Services leaders Will Cooper (Head of Student Services, BIMM Institute) suggests simple, easy and cheap opportunities to change the working lives of the people who work in your teams.

Tuesday 7 July

• 10:00 to 10:45: Responsible drinking on campus: the role of Student Services. This free workshop led by Tracy Lumb (Senior Project Manager - Alcohol Impact, Students Organising for Sustainability) explores what role Student Services have to play in embedding social norms of responsible drinking on our campuses, changing attitudes towards alcohol, and building healthier, safer, more productive student communities.
• 11:30 to 12:15: Student Services in purpose-built student accommodation: design, delivery and partnership. In this free webinar Donny McCormick (Student Services & Welfare Manager, Unite Students) explore how a private student accommodation Student Services framework can be designed and delivered, through partnership, with the aim of promoting student success.

Wednesday 8 July

• 14:30 to 15:15: Helping socially isolated students to make social connections. Research shows that being involved and socially connected can improve mental health and quality of life. In this free interactive webinar Dr Jonny Lovell (Constantine College Manager, University of York) presents the results of research conducted in 2019 aimed at reducing social isolation among the student population.
• 16:00 to 17:00: Supporting estranged students: online discussion. This free interactive discussion is an opportunity to look ahead to the new academic year with estranged students in mind. Susan Mueller (Higher Education Director, Stand Alone) leads a structured discussion about the unique challenges these students face, and what we can do as Student Services leaders to support and engage them.

Thursday 9 July

• 10:00 to 10:45: Student Services through another lens: reflections on our AMOSSHE study tour to Michigan USA. This free webinar gives you a meaningful insight into the 2019 AMOSSHE / NASPA study tour to the USA. Intrepid AMOSSHE members Ian Munton (Director of Library and Student Services, Staffordshire University), Stephen White (Project and Policy Support Officer, Brunel University London) and Amy Close (Head of Advice and Money, Cardiff University) share their experiences, from application through to the impact the experience has had on them since returning to the UK.
• 11:30 to 12:15: Enhancing financial capabilities on campus: two case studies. This free webinar provides two case studies showing different ways to increase financial capability support, including streamlining funding applications and breaking down silos to make things work better. Danielle Coe (Head of Customer Success, Blackbullion) leads a discussion about how to identify challenges at your university and develop the next steps to make a change.
• 14:30 to 15:30: Intersectional approaches to target mental health support for students: online discussion. In this free interactive discussion session Emma Douthwaite (Safeguarding and Welfare Manager, Office for Students) provides an overview of the Office for Students’ regulatory approach in advancing equality of opportunity in relation to student mental health. Then you can take part in a workshop about intersectional approaches to supporting student mental health, focusing on the links between ethnicity and mental health.
• 19:30 to 21:30: AMOSSHE gala quiz. This will be an evening of structured fun and an opportunity to network with your sector colleagues and friends. We may all be logging on from home, but it’s still a chance to dress up, have a few laughs, and win some prizes!

Friday 10 July

• 13:30 to 14:15: Poppy’s wild week. In a bid to understand fully the off-campus student experience, hear how Poppy Humphrey (Off Campus Student Affairs Officer, Manchester Student Homes) headed back to live with a group of students... for a whole week!
• 15:00 to 16:15: Humour as a thinking skill. Our final keynote session draws on the expertise of Laughology to reveal that humour is a cognitive skill that is learnt and can be enhanced and utilised.

AMOSSHE is proud to have contributed to a major review of higher education Student Affairs and Services around the world. With 250 authors, advisors and editors from over 125 countries, Student Affairs and Services in Higher Education: Global Foundations, Issues, and Best Practices (third edition) is a truly global collaborative effort to capture the diverse frameworks, practices, models and services provided by Student Affairs and Services in higher education across the globe.

This is a comprehensive reference book for scholars, researchers and practitioners across the globe on all matters related to Student Services in higher education. It covers a vast breadth of issues including principles, values, theories and frameworks, professionalisation, research and scholarship, social justice, equality and gender issues, engagement, internationalisation, retention and graduate competencies, governance and student participation, leadership and migration. AMOSSHE's contribution is based on research from the 2016/17 academic year.

Due to the generous collaboration of IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services) with peer sector associations, book is available online for free.

Read it here

The Office for Students, Student Minds and HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council for Wales) are creating an online hub to support the wellbeing and mental health of students in England and Wales. This project will run for six months from late July to December 2020, giving students access to online mental health support, designed to respond to additional pressures caused by the pandemic.

The hub, called Student Space, is designed to complement the mental health support already in place through universities, colleges and NHS services in England and Wales, filling potential gaps in provision and ensuring that all students have access to support they need.

AMOSSHE has contributed to the planning discussions for Student Space. AMOSSHE Chair Jayne Aldridge said:

"AMOSSHE welcomes this announcement and the launch of Student Space to enhance the support for student mental health. We look forward to working with Student Minds and other sector bodies, students and staff to provide seamless provision with a positive impact."

Find out more about the project: New funds to boost student mental health through pandemic.

The AMOSSHE National Conference 2020 is the UK’s foremost opportunity for Student Services leaders to share expertise and good practice, develop strategy and skills, and build professional networks.

To replace the conference that would have taken place in Newcastle upon Tyne, we’re hosting a variety of free online sessions instead. Across the week of 6 to 10 July you can take part in webinars, virtual discussions, social events and more, led by AMOSSHE members and sector organisations.

Find out more: AMOSSHE National Conference 2020.

Here's the programme of confirmed sessions. You can register for the ones you want to attend, rather than everything at once.

Monday 6 July

• 13:30 to 14:45: Inspiration, design and excellence: Student Services and Student Affairs. Our opening keynote session explores the key themes of inspiration, design and excellence in UK Student Services and US Student Affairs. Speakers include Jayne Aldridge (Chair, AMOSSHE The Student Services Organisation) and Dr Kevin Kruger (President, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education).
• 15:30 to 16:15: Trying to create happiness in the workplace. In this free webinar for Student Services leaders Will Cooper (Head of Student Services, BIMM Institute) suggests simple, easy and cheap opportunities to change the working lives of the people who work in your teams.

Tuesday 7 July

• 10:00 to 10:45: Responsible drinking on campus: the role of Student Services. This free workshop led by Tracy Lumb (Senior Project Manager - Alcohol Impact, Students Organising for Sustainability) explores what role Student Services have to play in embedding social norms of responsible drinking on our campuses, changing attitudes towards alcohol, and building healthier, safer, more productive student communities.
• 11:30 to 12:15: Student Services in purpose-built student accommodation: design, delivery and partnership. In this free webinar Donny McCormick (Student Services & Welfare Manager, Unite Students) explore how a private student accommodation Student Services framework can be designed and delivered, through partnership, with the aim of promoting student success.

Wednesday 8 July

• 14:30 to 15:15: Helping socially isolated students to make social connections. Research shows that being involved and socially connected can improve mental health and quality of life. In this free interactive webinar Dr Jonny Lovell (Constantine College Manager, University of York) presents the results of research conducted in 2019 aimed at reducing social isolation among the student population.
• 16:00 to 17:00: Supporting estranged students: online discussion. This free interactive discussion is an opportunity to look ahead to the new academic year with estranged students in mind. Susan Mueller (Higher Education Director, Stand Alone) leads a structured discussion about the unique challenges these students face, and what we can do as Student Services leaders to support and engage them.

Thursday 9 July

• 10:00 to 10:45: Student Services through another lens: reflections on our AMOSSHE study tour to Michigan USA. This free webinar gives you a meaningful insight into the 2019 AMOSSHE / NASPA study tour to the USA. Intrepid AMOSSHE members Ian Munton (Director of Library and Student Services, Staffordshire University), Stephen White (Project and Policy Support Officer, Brunel University London) and Amy Close (Head of Advice and Money, Cardiff University) share their experiences, from application through to the impact the experience has had on them since returning to the UK.
• 11:30 to 12:15: Enhancing financial capabilities on campus: two case studies. This free webinar provides two case studies showing different ways to increase financial capability support, including streamlining funding applications and breaking down silos to make things work better. Danielle Coe (Head of Customer Success, Blackbullion) leads a discussion about how to identify challenges at your university and develop the next steps to make a change.
• 19:30 to 21:30: AMOSSHE gala quiz. This will be an evening of structured fun and an opportunity to network with your sector colleagues and friends. We may all be logging on from home, but it’s still a chance to dress up, have a few laughs, and win some prizes!

Friday 10 July

• 13:30 to 14:15: Poppy’s wild week. In a bid to understand fully the off-campus student experience, hear how Poppy Humphrey (Off Campus Student Affairs Officer, Manchester Student Homes) headed back to live with a group of students... for a whole week!
• 15:00 to 16:15: Humour as a thinking skill. Our final keynote session draws on the expertise of Laughology to reveal that humour is a cognitive skill that is learnt and can be enhanced and utilised.

Even more sessions are coming soon, so look out for further announcements!

Racism and discrimination are unacceptable. The killing of George Floyd is a reminder that racism is a systemic challenge in our society. Sadly, this is true for the UK as well as for the USA. AMOSSHE, The Student Services Organisation is committed to creating communities based on dignity, respect and equal opportunities. The AMOSSHE Executive Committee and National Office stand in solidarity with Black colleagues, students, community leaders and all those fighting racial injustice and inequality across the world.

Everyone has the responsibility to understand and learn more about the impact of societal, structural, and institutional racism, and to work together to tackle this. It’s not just the responsibility of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues and students. It’s important that we listen to the voices of our Black colleagues and students when they describe their experiences of microaggressions, discrimination and racism and that we develop the skills and confidence to recognise and challenge these unacceptable behaviours. AMOSSHE aims to support our members in Student Services to do this, through our network, resources and professional development opportunities.

We are committed to promoting inclusive university communities that meet the diverse needs of our students. Our members can find professional development resources here about safeguarding and duty of care to all students, unconscious bias, and how Student Services can more effectively engage and support students from different racial, cultural and minority groups, so that these students feel comfortable, included and understood when accessing services.

We recently hosted a member discussion about access to and participation in higher education for underrepresented groups. And we’re planning to deliver a professional development event in the new academic year about understanding and appreciating intersectionality in order to effectively support students and staff.

We want to hear from our members to help us develop more resources and approaches to addressing racism in higher education. Contact us here.

Here's the AMOSSHE bulletin for spring 2020: a roundup of AMOSSHE news, events, and more (click image to view - PDF 4 MB).

Find out how our membership network of Student Services leaders has been responding to the pandemic crisis, putting student wellbeing and success at the heart of everything they do. Also, discover more about UK Student Services through the research we undertook late last year into the remit of our members' work, and the scale, scope and resources of counselling services.

As part of AMOSSHE's response to the COVID-19 situation, we've developed a programme of free webinars to support the sector with ongoing continuing professional development opportunities. Find out what's coming up, and join us!

This bulletin also features updates from AMOSSHE's annual sponsors, whose support helps us deliver our programme of work and who help keep us in touch with developments and research in the sector.

AMOSSHE is directed an Executive Committee of twelve members. Every year, half the roles on the committee become vacant, and all eligible members have the opportunity to nominate themselves to join the Executive team. This year, AMOSSHE members have voted to postpone the Executive elections in order to provide business continuity for our professional association and help ensure consistency of leadership through this unprecedented time of change.

This means that for 2020 only:

• The terms of office for the 12 current Executive Committee members are extended by 12 months.
• Executive elections for the six roles that would have become available in 2020 (Chair, Vice Chair and four Executive Member roles) are deferred until 2021.
• Executive elections for the remaining six roles (Vice Chair Operations, Vice Chair Professional Development and four Executive Member roles) are deferred until 2022.
• No eligible AMOSSHE members can nominate to join the Executive Committee in 2020.
• Some current Executive members will serve for more than eight consecutive years in an Executive role by the next time their role falls vacant, thereby contravening our Rules of Association in this instance only. They will each serve for one additional year.

You can find out more about the AMOSSHE Executive Committee here: Who are we? and the AMOSSHE Rules of Association here: AMOSSHE governance.

The AMOSSHE Executive Committee has been reviewing our association’s strategy and programme of work in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. The National Office team is working from home to support and enable our members, guided by the Executive team through virtual meetings. Here’s an update on our current position regarding AMOSSHE events.

National Conference 2020

The Executive Committee team has decided, with regret, to cancel the AMOSSHE National Conference 2020, which was due to take place in Newcastle upon Tyne in July.

This was a difficult decision to make, considering the importance of the conference for our member network and the development of the UK Student Services sector. However, on consideration of government guidance, the current priorities of our members, and the opportunities for members and sector colleagues to make the most of the conference, the team felt that cancellation is not only necessary but the most appropriate course of action.

AMOSSHE is still keen to ensure that those who would have attended the conference still have the opportunity to network, learn and share good practice. So we’re currently looking into opportunities to share content and enable networking remotely instead over the coming months.

Continuing professional development events

In our last update we announced the postponement of two CPD (continuing professional development) day events in May. Our original plan was to hold these events in the first semester of the 2020/21 academic year instead. However, the Executive Committee has reviewed this and agreed that AMOSSHE will not host any physical CPD events until January 2021.

Instead of physical events in our usual format, AMOSSHE will aim to deliver CPD remotely through webinars, virtual meetings and suchlike. Look out for more information on our events page.