September 2, 2020
Dear Students,
Welcome to Fall 2020. I hope the semester is off to a good start as you take on new academic challenges and continue to navigate the virtual Scripps experience. There is so much about this time that is unfamiliar, requiring constant adaptation. And, there is much about this time that is all too familiar as we continue to bear witness to the violence against Black, Indigenous and People of Color. All Black Lives Matter.
With so much happening, we realize that as you begin a new semester, the stressors of these past months have not magically dissipated. Your Primary Contact Dean is ready to help and there are many resources available to promote your well-being.
- Students at the Claremont Colleges have access to Campus.Health, which provides 24/7 medical and mental telehealth care at no cost. Register now and use the service when you need it. The Scripps access code is SCRIPPS2020.
- If you are on the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you have the option of accessing the Aetna Health Care Teledoc network. Just go to Teladoc.com/Aetna or call 1-855-835-2362.
- Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services is open for virtual appointments. Though some counseling services are limited to California residents, crisis appointments are available 24/7 to all students. To access the crisis hotline at Monsour, please call 909-621-8202 and you will be connected to an on-call therapist. Monsour can assist with finding a therapist in your area and is offering a number of support groups and workshops this semester. To see a full list of offerings, visit the Monsour website.
- Student Health Services (SHS) is open to students in the Claremont area. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, you must make an appointment via the portal or by calling 909-621-8222. For after-hours emergencies, please dial 911.
- The EmPOWER Center for sexual assault prevention and education will be offering its services virtually. To schedule with a counselor or to learn more about services, call 909-607-0690. To schedule with the EmPOWER director, who also serves as a confidential advocate, call 909-607-2689 or email [email protected].
- For a brief overview of consortial services, including the Chaplains, Chicano Latino Student Affairs and the Office of Black Student Affairs, visit https://cucclaremont.box.com/s/vlmm8usc5eql0jqmf9ggkg9vszrobewy
- The Sally Tiernan Field House remains focused on student well-being. Check out the latest newsletter for health tips and wellness programming.
- Scripps Off Campus Referral Program provides subsidies of up to $75 per session to cover counseling costs for a local therapist or one in your area. These subsidies are meant for students who cannot afford treatment fees. Assistant Dean Simone Hicks oversees the program and can help you locate a therapist.
As a reminder, the Scripps campus is closed to all but essential workers. The mailroom is also closed. Please do not come on campus until further notice.
Because we are not operating on campus, Campus Safety and the Dean on Call may be able to assist with some non-urgent matters and can be reached by calling 909-607-2000, but will not be able to respond in person even for students who are relatively local. Please use 911 for emergencies.
Rental assistance deadline: Students on financial aid who do not have housing options for the fall or will be in a situation that makes remote learning extremely difficult may apply for rent assistance for the fall term. Assistance for approved students will be provided in the financial aid package and should not exceed the budgeted room amount, which is $4,979 for the semester. Requests for this assistance may be made no later than September 7, 2020, and should be directed to your Primary Contact Dean.
New Staff Members: A new Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Dean and Director for Scripps Communities of Resources and Empowerment (SCORE) were hired over the summer. Sara Miller is Scripps’ new Title IX Coordinator. She joins us from the University of Houston, where she served as an Equal Opportunity Coordinator and Trainer, working across the university with students, faculty, and staff. Prior to her role at UH, Sara served as a Title IX investigator at the University of Texas. Sara’s work is student-centered and she brings substantial expertise regarding Title IX and trauma-informed practices. Sara received her Master of Arts in English Literature from Florida State University and her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas.
Dr. Marissiko Wheaton is the new Assistant Dean and Director of SCORE. She comes to us having recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California, where she received her Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy. Marissiko earned her Master in Higher Education and Student Personnel Administration from New York University. Her work has focused on issues of social justice and racial equity, with a particular emphasis on college students and those in their family who are the first to attend or graduate from college. Marissiko’s experience in higher education includes past roles at New York University and Mills College. She brings significant expertise and passion for her work.
We are excited that Sara and Marissiko are now a part of our community. Please join me in welcoming them to Scripps!
Getting and Staying Connected: By now, you have received a number of emails on how to engage across the Scripps community. Scripps Community Coordinators, Peer Health Mentors, SAS (Scripps Associated Students) representatives, Scripps Advocates, First Gen interns, Laspa Scholars, and Club and Organization (CLORG) leaders are all committed to helping you find community and connection while we are remote. Student Affairs staff are working hard to help you get and stay connected, as well as to help you thrive academically in a virtual setting. Take advantage of these opportunities.
Finally, remember that we are all in this together, students, faculty, and staff. Each of us is coping with various stressors and navigating new territory. If you don’t get a response from a professor or staff member as soon as you think you should, be mindful that lots of folks are spread thin, tending to children learning from home, elderly parents, or whatever new responsibilities have come in the wake of the pandemic.
I look forward to seeing you during my office hours and at virtual events this fall. Let’s make the most of Fall 2020!
In support,
Dean Charlotte
Charlotte Johnson
Vice President for Student Affairs
and Dean of Students