DYSON WELLNESS CENTER

As Executive Director of the Dyson Wellness Center it is my top priority to ensure that your student receives outstanding healthcare on-campus. We recognize that health is inextricably linked to academic, work and relationship success. Your student is likely just learning how to navigate and identify when, where and how to get that care. We are here to support them as they become young adults who can do so independently. See our webpage for more details about our services.

As a parent of two college-age young men, I understand the joys and challenges that come with the role. I certainly don’t have all the answers to parenting young adults, but I do know that the more they engage with others on-campus, the higher likelihood that they will feel happy, connected and do well academically. Part of wellness is a result of positive and heartfelt connections. The Dyson Wellness Center is offering a variety of fun events that build these connections. Please pass this information along to them to encourage your student to attend! 

There are many great events, but I’d like to highlight a partnership with Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Hospital, made possible by the City of Naperville grant to help improve mental health in the community. The partnership involves a stress/anxiety “Empower Workshop” series this fall to help students with tools and skills to feel more balanced.

The Empower Workshop is a 5-week workshop designed to support participants in managing stress, anxiety, and social challenges through practical skills. Each session will last 60 minutes and provide a safe and supportive environment for learning healthy coping mechanisms. Sessions will be held one night a week and open to all NCC students. This is not a processing/therapeutic group but rather a workshop format of learning and applying skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and stress/anxiety management. Students can attend as many sessions as they want. Dates are September 26, October 10 & 24, and November 7 from 6:00-7:00 PM in the student lounge on the second floor of the White Activities Center (WAC).

If you haven’t already, find an agreed upon way to touch base with your student such as daily/weekly/biweekly, text/phone/Zoom. They will appreciate it. It takes time to build relationships and settle in or back in to college. Help them tune into themselves to know what they need whether that’s connection with you/family, to go to an event, quiet time, a walk, work-out, listen to music, delve into the homework, academic support. You know your student best. If they don’t seem like themselves, remember that there’s a team of people on-campus to help check-in on them and get them to the right care or resources. If urgent or an emergency, call 911 and/or Campus Safety at 630-637-5911. 

Lastly, remind your student of the simple ways to avoid illness such as regularly washing hands, cleaning shared surfaces, not sharing drinks or utensils, covering their cough and getting their flu and/or COVID-19 vaccines! It’s really helpful if they have a thermometer and some at-home COVID tests, just in case. As you will find in the brochure, the Dyson Wellness Center can be contacted at 630-637-5550 or dysonwellness@noctrl.edu or stop by to see us on the 2nd floor of the Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Students should call ahead for an appointment.

Tatiana Sifri

Executive Director of the Dyson Wellness Center