Support for Students

There are many resources available to support your academic and personal well-being during your time here at Laurier. We encourage you to take advantage of the many resources available to make the most of your student experience.

However, if you are experiencing more complex or elevated challenges, or require support to be coordinated through multiple departments or services, the Dean of Students staff are here to help. We appreciate that it can sometimes be overwhelming to try to figure out where to go for support or where to start, so our office is happy to provide you with information to help you navigate supports and services specific to your unique circumstances.

When to Reach Out

Our team is available to provide you with individualized support when extenuating circumstances impact your safety, well-being, and personal success. Some examples include, but are not limited to:

• Academic disruptions or absences due to injury, illness or emergency situations which require time away from studies (e.g. death of a loved one, mental health challenges, hospitalization, family and/or personal emergencies, etc.)
• Physical and mental health challenges that impact your academics and well-being
• Unexpected financial challenges or inability to cover your basic living expenses such as housing, food, medical costs, etc. 
• Resource navigation if you're struggling academically or personally and aren't sure what resources are available or where to start

How We Can Help

The Dean of Students Office staff can help you with the following:

• Providing information about resources on campus and how they might be helpful to your specific situation
• Notifying your instructors for extended absences if you are unable to do so for yourself
• Consulting with other departments on your behalf to provide coordinated and elevated support
• Listening to your concerns and helping you develop a plan for next steps and support moving forward

While our office is happy to provide support to students who are experiencing complex and elevated challenges, we are not able to provide academic guidance. There are many circumstances where you may be better suited to speak to your academic advisor or program coordinator as a first step. You should speak with your academic advisor if you have questions related to the following:

• Progressing in your program
• Graduation requirements
• Academic petitions
• Making adjustments to your course load
• Concerns with an instructor
• Challenges with course material

How to Connect With Us

We appreciate that during challenging times it can be difficult to reach out for support or even know where to start. Our team is here to provide you with information about next steps and resources so you can make the best decisions for your circumstances and your academic and personal well-being.

To connect with us for support or to request an appointment, please reach out to either deanofstudentsbr@wlu.ca (Brantford/Milton students) or deanofstudentswl@wlu.ca (Waterloo students).