Congratulations Class of 2024!!
Academic Skills Center, University of Richmond
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Westhampton Way
The Academic Skills Center provides UR students with the support they need to get the most out of their college education.
Through free tutoring, academic skills advising, and a peer mentoring program, we help students understand and discover.

Knowing the peace of inner stillness, actual-hard-won stillness from cultivating it by gently disciplining our minds, brings a sense of self love and self caring that satisfies in a way nothing else ever has.
Dear Roger,
A connection tip, delivered to your inbox weekly …
Unfortunately, connection-eroding (or destroying) behaviors are commonplace. The news is rife with extreme examples: violence, war, hate crimes, divisive vitriol, the latest person who’s been canceled, etc.
While the news forms a backdrop of unease, it’s all too common to experience—or witness— disconnecting behaviors in our day-to-day lives too: micro and macro-aggressions, bullying, silencing, contempt, harassment, etc.
My posts generally focus on how to build stronger connection, but if we’re to achieve a more connected culture, we also need to actively address connection-destroying behaviors.
Data point of the week
According to stopbullying.gov, 19% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying nationwide. Although bullying is usually talked about in the context of schools, it doesn’t end there. A Harvard Business Review article estimates that 30% of Americans are bullied at work.
Research shows that bystanders—or those who witness bullying—can make a huge difference when they intervene and speak up on behalf of the person being targeted.
Reflection
It can be hard to speak up when someone is being generally offensive or is specifically mistreating another person, particularly if that person is in a position of power. Most of us haven’t been taught how to use our voices and assert ourselves in these situations, and intervening violates social norms. It’s uncomfortable.
Staying silent is easier but allows harmful behaviors to continue unchecked. Of course, it’s important to assess the potential consequences—to yourself and the other person—of speaking out. Are there ways to safely address the issue?
On the opposite end of the spectrum from silence is “calling out,” policing, or publicly criticizing other people’s behavior. While the behavior being “called out” may be problematic, the act of “calling out” usually magnifies the problem it claims to address and destroys connection in the process. Calling out often causes shame and defensiveness and leads to either escalation or withdrawal rather than learning and growth.
“Calling in” invites people to engage in conversation and change behavior by learning the impact of their actions.
Connection Skill & Action Step: Speak up, be an active ally, call in.
When you witness connection-destroying behaviors, such as: racist “jokes,” someone being criticized, silenced, belittled, etc., try to practice courage (yes, even in the face of anxiety) and speak up. Here are a few examples:
Offensive jokes or comments:
Hey, that joke/comment is belittling/demeaning/dehumanizing to people of color/trans people/women. Was that your intention?
We’re trying to create a safe, inclusive culture here … can you see how that joke/comment runs counter to that?
Specific person being targeted:
I don’t feel comfortable with the way you’re speaking to (name).
Check-in privately with the person being treated poorly and ask how they are experiencing it and what you can do to support them.
Questions to reflect on or to spark conversation. Please share your responses in the comments section of this blog post. I'd love to hear from you!
Have you ever spoken up or intervened on behalf of someone else who was being targeted or treated poorly? How did it go?
Has anyone ever stepped in and spoken up for you when you were being treated poorly? What difference did this make to you?
section of this blog post):
Thanks for being connection-builders!
Jessica Gifford, LICSW
Chief Connection Creator, ProjectConnect
If you’re enjoying this newsletter and know of others who might want to receive it too, they can sign up for it here. https://projectconnect-us.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c89789c6cbbf3b7b344cb0a1d&id=ff7ce49e77&e=eec68cad5f

https://www.fastcompany.com/90866087/red-flags-someone-cant-be-trusted-according-to-science
4 red flags that someone can’t be trusted, according to science Basic scientific facts about the typical characteristics of people who stand out for their egos.

https://www.wri.org/insights/2023-ipcc-ar6-synthesis-report-climate-change-findings
10 Big Findings from the 2023 IPCC Report on Climate Change The latest IPCC report details the devastating consequences of climate change and highlights pathways to avoid dangerous and irreversible risks from rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Talking with Mike Erwin about his new book, “Leadership Is a Relationship.”
I love that there are boxed “Big Lessons” and key learnings in each chapter. Here are three of my favorite callouts on accountability:
1. Accountability based in care inspires us to grow, rather than just fear negative consequences. Directly confronting problems in a relationship can not only lead to discrete solutions, but also create deeper intimacy.
2. Great leaders tailor accountability to the nuances of both situation and person. Screaming matches are no match for intelligent, sensitive, and strategic coaching.
3. Introspection is one of our best tools for increasing accountability. By better understanding ourselves and those around us, we can better diagnose problems, have more specific conversations about fixing them, and improve our shared situations.
You can listen to Part 1 of our two-parter with Mike at the link below. Let’s go!
Brené with Mike Erwin on Leadership Is a Relationship, Part 1 of 2 A beautiful conversation with the co-author of Leadership Is a Relationship, a timely book that details why leaders who prioritize relationships are more effective.

Talking with Mike Erwin about his new book, “Leadership Is a Relationship.”
I love that there are boxed “Big Lessons” and key learnings in each chapter. Here are three of my favorite callouts on accountability:
1. Accountability based in care inspires us to grow, rather than just fear negative consequences. Directly confronting problems in a relationship can not only lead to discrete solutions, but also create deeper intimacy.
2. Great leaders tailor accountability to the nuances of both situation and person. Screaming matches are no match for intelligent, sensitive, and strategic coaching.
3. Introspection is one of our best tools for increasing accountability. By better understanding ourselves and those around us, we can better diagnose problems, have more specific conversations about fixing them, and improve our shared situations.
You can listen to Part 1 of our two-parter with Mike at the link below. Let’s go!
https://bit.ly/3Vwibhu

What is your vision for a better world? How does social change happen? What role can you play in creating positive change in the world? Registration is open now through January 29 for Earth Lodge, UR’s sustainability related Living-Learning Community for 2023-2024!
🔗 For more information, visit https://livinglearning.richmond.edu/themed/earth-lodge.html.

Make sure to join us on December 7th to decompress during finals season! We hope to see you there!
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Asc.Richmond.edu

Company's Mantra is: No Guilt Ever
Why This Mom-Led Company's Mantra Is 'No Guilt Ever' OmieLife co-founder and CEO Nancy Yen has made her company a space for moms to succeed in business.

Welcome New Spiders!! Be sure to check out our website to see what the ASC has to offer! We have thousands of student contacts each year, so when we get closer to the start of the fall semester, check out what workshops we have and when tutoring begins!
Academic Skills Center - University of Richmond The Academic Skills Center provides University of Richmond students with support that will enhance their academic experience and personal development. The Center assists students in understanding and learning ways to improve their cognitive skills, thus maximizing their collegiate experience.

Go where your energy is reciprocated, celebrated, and appreciated.

The ASC is open with minimal staff until our full opening on January 24th. Visit asc.Richmond.edu for more information.
Academic Skills Center - University of Richmond The Academic Skills Center provides University of Richmond students with support that will enhance their academic experience and personal development. The Center assists students in understanding and learning ways to improve their cognitive skills, thus maximizing their collegiate experience.

Be safe Spiders! Wishing you the happiest western New Year!
The ASC will open full-time for appointments on Monday, January 24. On-call appointments will begin again the first week of classes.
Check https://asc.richmond.edu for upcoming workshops!!
Academic Skills Center - University of Richmond The Academic Skills Center provides University of Richmond students with support that will enhance their academic experience and personal development. The Center assists students in understanding and learning ways to improve their cognitive skills, thus maximizing their collegiate experience.

After creating a short film script in her Spelman screenwriting course, English major, film studies and visual culture minor Audra Davison, C'2022, received a large grant from Facebook and the Blackhouse Foundation for her animated short film, "The Hale Academy." Her work, which she premiered on her Instagram page in December 2021 with great success, centers around a magical HBCU and explores Africana spirituality.
SEEN, Facebook’s program in partnership with Blackstone supports underrepresented voices in film, helping them harness the audiences and opportunities across Facebook to connect more people to their stories in more meaningful ways.
Davison hopes that prospective and current Spelman students will consider taking film studies and visual culture minor courses. "Professor Iwa’s screenwriting course was transformative for my collegiate career since I am an aspiring screenwriter," she said. The film minor will also teach students not only how to produce creative content but to also understand the importance of creating culturally relevant and significant content. Read more in Our Stories: bit.ly/3sXsdws
The ASC will open again in the new year upon your return to school. Wishing you a safe and restful break and the happiest of holidays!

A chance to give to the Academic Skills Center, University of Richmond!
Academic Skills Center Support Academic Skills Center during UR Here!

Greetings!
The University's annual Giving Day, UR Here, launched today! As a reminder, please consider donating to the Academic Skills Center or PAM or both by May 26. Your gift will have a direct impact on the students who depend on our services.
You may give at the links above or via Venmo . If you give through Venmo, please include your class year or affiliation and ACS or PAM in the comments.
Gifts made before 3pm today will be matched up to $10,000! Check out all of the challenges and matches to make your gift go further.
Give Online
We appreciate your consideration and hope to see you on campus in the near future.
Continue to stay safe and healthy.
Warm regards,
Hope N. Walton
Director of Academic Skills and
Peer Advisors and Mentors program
[email protected]
Roger Mancastroppa
Associate Director of Academic Skills and
Peer Advisors and Mentors program
Greetings!
We hope that you and yours are faring well during these critical times. It has certainly been a while since we have connected with many of you!
As you may know, the University of Richmond is sponsoring a brief Giving Day campaign on May 25-26 and we wanted to ask for your support. During your former days as UR students, some of you benefited from our Academic Skills Center that offered assistance in peer tutoring and academic and life skills. Since your earlier days, the services emanating from the Center has expanded in many capacities that now include course review sessions, course mentoring in which tutors are in the classrooms assisting faculty and students, mindfulness meditation, KORU and so much more. And certainly, many of you were mentees, mentors and leaders in our Peer Advisors and Mentors (PAM) program that has served the UR community for almost 29 years. PAM now has over 180 mentees and mentors each year. We went from two to four PAM Co-Chairs long ago to now 62 students who are in leadership positions in PAM! I might add that PAM continued to exceed the University’s retention rates for 24 out of 28 years which is a phenomenal record of success!!
Accordingly, I am writing to ask you to keep the dates of May 25-26 in mind and seriously consider supporting either the Center or PAM or both during UR Here Giving Day. Any amount that you can provide would be most appreciated and will directly impact our students. We would also greatly appreciate it if you would pass the word to your friends and other alumni and encourage them to support our services.
Thank you so much for your consideration. We look forward to seeing you on campus in the near future.
Stay safe and healthy.
Best,
Hope N. Walton
Director of Academic Skills and
Peer Advisors and Mentors program
[email protected]
Roger Mancastroppa
Associate Director of Academic Skills and
Peer Advisors and Mentors program
[email protected]
You can also give through Venmo . Include your name, class year or affiliation, and the fund(s) supported. We will add your Venmo gift to the UR Here site!

Black student statement demands changes, renaming of Mitchell-Freeman, Ryland halls A Black Student Coalition released a statement on Black student welfare calling for UR to make a plan to meet the demands by April 1.

How you can be an ally in the fight for racial justice Many people want to help in the ongoing struggle for equality and equity, but they don’t know what to do. Activist DeRay Mckesson explains how we can all show up and stand up.


Mindful eating
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