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Wellness

Here at AUWCL, we invest in more than our students’ academic and professional development: we believe in supporting the whole student. A student’s health and well-being is our first priority, and the Office of Student Affairs works to provide students with the self-care tools they need to succeed in law school and beyond. Please see below for an extensive list of Student Support Services through AUWCL.

Mental Health and wellness counseling

  • Office of Student Affairs
    • What we do: Personal (nonprofessional) counseling; pep talks; personal and/or family issues; issues with faculty, staff, or students; ADA accommodations.
    • Hours of service: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm; after hours by appointment.
    • How to reach us: Email studentaffairs@wcl.american.edu.
  • Center for Well-Being Programs and Psychological Services
    • What we do: brief individual therapy (6-8 sessions per academic year), unlimited group therapy, community referral assistance, and consultation.
    • How to set up a session: Call 202-885-3500.
  • AU Virtual Group Therapy
  • AU LifeWorks
    • What we do: Culturally informed, solution-focused support for students located in the United States and abroad.
    • How to reach us: Download "MySSP" app; available on all platforms.
  • AU ProtoCall
    • What we do: 24/7 crisis support for all students, faculty, staff, and parents; talk to a licensed clinician for support and get information on community referrals.
    • How to reach us: Call 202-885-7979.
  • AU Q.P.R. Training:
    • What we do: Question, Persuade, Refer is an interactive hour-long training program that equips individuals with skills to help students who are expressing suicidal thinking; training is available for faculty, staff, and student leaders.
    • How to reach us: If interested in a QPR training, contact Dr. Malina Basdeo at basdeo@american.edu. Please give at least three weeks notice when you are submitting a request.
  • You@American
    • What we do: Free web-based resource center that provides information about other resources available at AU.
    • How to reach us: Create an account at https://you.american.edu.

 

disability accommodation services


short-term Support for life emergencies

  • The Office of Student Affairs provides support for short-term periods (up to 2 weeks) arising from an unexpected life emergency. These requests are not guaranteed. We ask all students to provide documentation to support a short-term support request.  
  • A short-term support request is NOT an accommodation under the ADA. It is support extended to the student by faculty in consultation with the Office of Student Affairs. While faculty are usually willing to work with students to extend such support, they are not required to do so. 
  • Some (non-exhaustive) examples of life emergencies include: a broken limb, a parent’s emergency surgery or needed care therefrom, a medication issue affecting one’s academic progress, a stolen laptop containing one’s class notes, a funeral requiring travel, a concussion, or even a scheduled surgery that needs to be performed. 
  • How to make a request: Contact the Office of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@wcl.american.edu or 202-274-4030 or stop by Capital 101. 

 

Pregnant & Parenting students

  • WCL is dedicated to providing a supportive and accessible learning environment for our pregnant and parenting students. The Office of Student Affairs also works to facilitate any necessary accommodations under Title IX for our moms-to-be to ensure they are happy, healthy, and able to maintain their academic progress throughout their pregnancy. READ MORE 

 

private appointment room

  • Private room within the Pence Law Library for virtual counseling appointments, medical appointments, or interviews. Available to WCL students to reserve in 50-minute increments. Bookings cannot be made consecutively, and this room is NOT a study space.
  • Hours of service: M-F 8:00am - 6:00pm 
  • How to access: Book a reservation at this link. You will receive a confirmation email with a code for the key box. Please do not share this code. 

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Services

  • Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Affinity Relations
    • What we do: Institutional equity and policy development, educational programming, diversity and inclusion collaborative initiatives, and affinity organization support.
    • Hours of service: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm.
    • How to reach us: email diversity@wcl.american.edu.

 

academic support

  • Office of Academic Excellence
    • What we do: Empower students to make informed decisions to succeed in law school and prepare for the bar exam and legal practice. Advisors counsel on academic planning, course selection, law school skills, and bar exam success through individual appointments, online resources, information sessions, and workshops. 
    • Hours of service: M-F 9:00am-6:00pm; after hours by appointment.
    • How to reach us: Visit www.bookwithoae.com for appointments and resources.
  • Office of the Registrar
  • Office of Student Affairs
    • What we do: Personal (nonprofessional) counseling; pep talks; personal and/or family issues; issues with faculty, staff, or students; ADA accommodations; student organization and SBA liaison; Orientation and Commencement planning. 
    • Hours of service: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm; after hours by appointment. 
    • How to reach us: Email studentaffairs@wcl.american.edu.

 

Career Counseling

  • Office of Career and Professional Development
    • What we do: Review job application materials, plan career strategy, conduct mock interviews, teach job search skills, provide information about opportunities, organize on campus interviews and career fairs, and support all of your professional goals. 
    • Hours of service: In-person and virtual appointments are available Monday – Friday, between 8:00am - 8:00pm. You can meet with a counselor by appointment only.
    • How to reach us: Make an appointment with any counselor via CareerLink: https://law-american-csm.symplicity.com/. You can also email careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu for questions about CareerLink or other assistance. 
    • How to get information about jobs and career events:  The best way to learn about upcoming OCPD events, deadlines, and highlighted positions is through the OCPD Connect Newsletter which is emailed to all WCL students weekly. OCPD resources can also be found via Legal Careers 101: https://wcl.american.libguides.com/wclocpd (Password is OCPD).


FINANCIAL SUPPORT

  • Office of Financial Aid
    • What we do: counseling on smart student loan borrowing and maximizing institutional aid; resources on budgeting and loan repayment; emergency funds (limited and with specific eligibility criteria); restricted scholarships.
    • Hours of service: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm, after hours by appointment only.
    • How to reach us: Email finaid@wcl.american.edu.

 

Immigration Services

  • ISSS
  • WCL’s AU Dream Initiative
    • What we do: Free immigration legal services to AU students and their family members; services range from consultations to full representation on a variety of immigration applications, including asylum, family petitions, DACA, TPS, applications for victims of crimes or violence, and deportation proceedings in immigration court. (Please note that we do not help with OPT, F, or J visas.)
    • Hours of service: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm.
    • How to reach us: Email AUDream@wcl.american.edu or call and leave a message at 202-274-4147 or drop into AU Dream’s confidential virtual office hours any Wednesday from 12:00 - 1:30pm for a 15-minute chat and to schedule a future consultation.

 

AU Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Reporting System

  • Please submit to the AU Office of Equity & Title IX any report, complaint, or concern regarding discrimination, harassment, bias or sexual misconduct.
  • The University will maintain the confidentiality of information shared throughout the complaint process. In the limited instances where disclosures must be made by the University, disclosures will be limited to those persons necessary to proceed in the fact-finding process or to otherwise address the complaint. Additionally, AU complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which protects the confidentiality of student education records, including academic and non-academic records. A copy of the University’s Policy on Confidentiality of Student Records can be found here: https://www.american.edu/policies/students/upload/confidentiality-of-student-records-policy.pdf
  • If you have additional questions or concerns, or wish to set up an appointment to meet with the Office of Equity and Title IX, you may email equityoffice@american.edu or call 202-885-8080.

 

AUWCL Student Affinity Groups

 

covid testing

  • Testing is available via vending machine located outside the Pence Law Library. You must have a smartphone to obtain a test. 

Again, please let one of us or one of your professors know if you need additional or different help or support. We’re committed to your wellbeing and to supporting you while you’re part of the AUWCL community and as you begin your legal careers.

All our very best,

Jennifer Baron, Associate Director for Disability Support
Heather Hughes, Senior Associate Dean
David Jaffe, Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Daniela Kraiem, Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development
Hilary Lappin, Registrar
Binny Miller, Associate Dean for Experiential Education
Ezra Rosser, Associate Dean of the Part-time and Evening Division
Lisa Taylor, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Inclusion and Affinity Relations
Joni Wiredu, Senior Director of Academic Excellence

Student Affairs Cares For

space

ME

Students are encouraged to refresh, re-center, and recharge at our Mindfulness sessions or weekly yoga classes in partnership with AhealthyU.
wellness

US

From cornhole to croquet, our office encourages students to stay active and to spend time with one another beyond the classroom.
Mindfulness

AUWCL

We bring the AUWCL community together for fun and relaxing events like outdoor movie nights, French toast dinners, or the semiannual puppy day! 

Find More Wellness Resources

Whether you are looking to understand nutrition, boost your overall well-being, or learn stress management skills, here are more resources that can help you stay healthy or find help when you need it.

Learn More