West Virginia University
The Student Assembly - Student Government Association
Assembly Resolution: AR-2020-13
AN ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE A MENTAL HEALTH STATEMENT IN SYLLABI
Short Title: Mental Health Syllabus Statement
Author(s): Theodore Stackpole, College Senator (Chambers)
Meg Sorrells, College Senator (Education and Human Services)
Sohan Daniel, Senator
Sponsor(s): Amelia Jones, President Pro Tempore
Zac Backus, College Senator (Education and Human Services)
Morgan Glass, College Senator (Davis)
Joshua Harman, Senator
Sarah Ihlenfeld, Senator
Amaya Jernigan, Senator
Arpan Kumar, Senator
Lily McKnight, College Senator (Reed)
Hunter Moore, College Senator (Statler)
Colton Nichols, Senator
Tara Smith, Senator
Sarah Zanabli, Senator
Contributor(s): Michael Duong, Intern
First Reading Date: 12/02/2020
Second Reading Date: 01/27/2021
Whereas, the WVU Student Government Association Constitution states that "we desire to ensure the general welfare of the students within our University"; and,
Whereas, the WVU Faculty Senate creates and approves syllabus statements to provide students with guidance in their course experience 1; and,
Whereas, these statements are optional to include in syllabi; however, if a statement is used, it must appear word for word, as approved by the Faculty Senate; and,
Whereas, no statement about mental health currently exists in the WVU catalog and is not required to be included as a statement in course syllabi; and,
Whereas, the American College Health Association found in 2019 that over the past year, "87% of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do, 66% felt overwhelming anxiety, 56% felt things were hopeless and 13% seriously considered suicide" 2, and,
1 https://tlcommons.wvu.edu/syllabus-policies-and-statements#safety
2 https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-II_SPRING_2019_US_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf