Student Resources

Concerns

The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health is committed both to taking appropriate actions to optimize every student’s experience at the Gillings School and also to respond to students’ concerns about academic issues. We are committed to addressing issues in a fair, timely and professional manner.

• Student Feedback and Equity Concerns Form
• Student Resource Directory (PDF)

UNC resources for sharing feedback and getting help with concerns

• Carolina Student Legal Services
• The Graduate School
• UNC Ombuds Office
• Sexual misconduct, harassment and intimidation, and discrimination, UNC procedures
• Office of the Dean of Students
• The University Ombuds Office

Coaching

Coaching for students is a specialized form of coaching that provides targeted support and guidance to students in higher education. Coaches help students identify their strengths and weaknesses, set realistic goals, develop effective learning strategies, and overcome obstacles hindering academic progress. Coaching for students can be a transformative experience, providing students with the tools and strategies they need to thrive in higher education. By investing in yourself and seeking the support of an academic coach, you can unlock your full potential and achieve your academic goals.

Coaching is very different from therapy.  Therapy is focused on addressing emotional, psychological, and mental health issues. It aims to explore and heal past wounds, traumas, and patterns that may be causing distress and negatively impacting a person’s mental and emotional well-being.  If this is the assistance you need visit the Gillings Embedded Counselor or CAPS.

Coaching can help to:

• Improve communication with your peers.
• Improve communication with your faculty mentor or instructor.
• Set goals for academic work – discuss priorities, plan strategy, and demonstrate accountability.
• Reach/maintain work-life balance.
• Address imposter syndrome.
• Set up healthy boundaries- get better at time management and navigating competing interests.
• Maintain work motivation.
• Get support in facing many other challenges you encounter in your journey as a PhD student.

Contact Student Affairs  or your Academic Coordinator to schedule a coaching appointment.   Gillings Academic Coordinators and several additional staff members have been certified by the UNC Chapel Hill Coach Approach Training.

Counseling

Gillings Embedded Counselor and Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS)

The Gillings Embedded Counselor is available by appointment. The Gillings Embedded Counselor works exclusively with Gillings residential students, postdocs, and postdocs’ spouses. Available services include the following:

• Initial assessment
• Planning for reported concerns
• Brief therapy
• Connection to group therapy services
• Medication management and referral coordination.

To Schedule an appointment with the Gillings Embedded Counselor, Claudio Cáceres, email him at caceresa@unc.edu. CAPS and Embedded Counseling services are offered both in-person and by telehealth. The Gillings Embedded Counselor meets with students by appointment, with no walk-in services. CAPS (third floor, Campus Health building) is available for same-day, walk-in, and/or emergency services, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

Referrals

To refer a student to counseling, you can discuss with the student and then send an email to the student and the counselor. The embedded counselor will reach out separately. The laws on confidentiality even apply when referring to or connecting a student with embedded counselors. Embedded counselors cannot disclose whether students are receiving services to the referring party unless there are serious and immediate safety concerns.

For crisis or 24/7 support, call UNC CAPS at 919-966-3658 or call/text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
If you have urgent concerns or are in crisis: please use CAPS walk-in and after-hours services.

• Walk-in care is available Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – noon and 1-4 p.m., both in person and by phone, with no appointment necessary. You can either come to CAPS in person (third floor of Campus Health Building) or call (919) 966-3658 to request a virtual walk-in. You will be asked to fill out some paperwork, then meet with one of the walk-in therapists right away. Students are typically seen within 10-15 minutes of completing paperwork.
• After-hours care is available whenever CAPS is closed (including nights, weekends and holidays, 24/7 hours a day and 365 days a year). Just call the CAPS 24/7 line at (919) 966-3658.

Therapy Groups

CAPS offers a variety of support groups, groups focused on communication and relating to others, and workshop-style groups which teach specific skills. Below is the full list of therapy groups offered at CAPS.

Gillings Online Learners (MPH@UNC students)

Students who need clinical services can use Uwill.

• Students receive free immediate access to teletherapy with a therapist of their choice.
• Choose a therapist based on their preferences including issue, gender, language, ethnicity.
• Choose a time that fits their schedule with day, night, and weekend availability.
• Choose their appointment type – video, phone, chat, or message.
• Engage in up to six (6) video or phone sessions per year at no cost.

About Claudio Cáceres Araya, MSW, LCSW

Claudio Cáceres

Claudio was born and raised in Santiago, Chile and moved to the US in 2009. As a Licensed Social Worker, he has worked with diverse communities and organizations in Chile and in the US. He has practiced clinical Social Work since 2014 and worked at UNCG Counseling & Psychological Services for several years and earned is MSW from UNC School of Social Work. Claudio considers himself a generalist counselor, therefore, he is open to hear what students have to say and happy to help achieve their personal goals. He loves soccer, outdoor activities and video calling my Chilean family and friends.

UNC Peer Counseling Support (Peer2Peer)

Peer2Peer is an organization that promotes free one on one peer support for UNC students. Our Peer Responders are here to listen and support individuals, especially during these uncertain times. We hope with the diverse range of experience, backgrounds, and topics of interest, our Responders are able to provide a peer perspective. Peer support is a linkage between people that can provide support, encouragement, and feelings of normalcy. Peers can share knowledge and support that can only be gained through lived experience. Click here for more information.

Academic Support

Gillings School Resources

Academic Enrichment Program
The Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC is committed to making sure students receive the academic enrichment needed to be successful. The Academic Enrichment Program strives to provide quality academic support for students experiencing academic difficulty in SPHG 711 & 712 courses. Group tutoring sessions are held for SPHG 711 and SPHG 712 each week during the fall semester for residential students, and fall, spring, and summer for online students.

• MPH students: (Chapel Hill and Asheville): Academic Enrichment Program (Fall 2024).
• MPH@UNC students: Academic Enrichment Program (Fall 2024).
• All SPH Students: BIOS 600 & EPID 600 Tutor Program (Fall 2024).

Becoming a Tutor
Any student interested in tutoring through the Academic Enrichment Program must have received an H in the course they wish to tutor or they must have taken a higher level course in the same subject earning an H. This grade will be verified by Student Affairs.

• Apply now to become a tutor
• Submit Academic Reference form to faculty

Add/Drop, Post Semester, and Intra Forms
The Gillings School Office of Student Affairs works closely with the University Registrar to ensure students are able to navigate add/drop requests, post semester and Intra transfer requests. The Gillings School follows the UNC Academic Calendar for all requests. Please also see Rules on Course Drops from the Registrar’s Office. We have provided forms that are fillable and can be emailed to the Gillings Registrar, Daniel Collins, for signature. Further questions can be directed to the Director of Student Services, Dr. Greg Bocchino.

• Add/Drop Form
• Post-Semester Form
• Intra-Transfer Form

IPE – Interprofessional Education Resources
“Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes. Once students understand how to work interprofessionally, they are ready to enter the workplace as a member of the collaborative practice team. This is a key step in moving health systems from fragmentation to a position of strength.”

University Resources

• Academic Advising Program
• Academic Support Program for Student Athletes
• Accessibility Resources and Services
• Biology Peer Mentoring Program
• The Center for Student Success and Academic Counseling
• The Graduate School
• Health Sciences Library
• Honors Carolina
• The Learning Center
• Math Help Center
• Pre-Professional and Pre-Graduate Advising
• Rules on Course Drops
• Study Abroad
• UNC Academic Calendar
• Undergraduate Research
• University Libraries
• University Registrar
• The Writing Center

Funding Sources

Schoolwide Funding and Other Opportunities

• Student Awards, Funding and Financial Aid

For Student Organizations

• Graduate and Professional Student Federation (GPSF)
• UNC Student Congress
• OSA Student Funding

Emergency Funding

• GPSF Emergency Fund
• SPH Student Relief Fund
• UNC Student Emergency Fund

Wellbeing and Safety Resources

Diversity and inclusion are central to our mission to improve public health, promote individual well-being and eliminate health disparities across North Carolina and around the world.

Gillings Diversity Resources

• UNC Program on Ethnicity, Culture and Health Outcomes (ECHO)
• Minority Health Project

UNC-Chapel Hill Diversity and Wellbeing Resources

• UNC Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office
• Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History
• Carolina Women’s Center
• Institute of African American Research
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Center
• Student Veterans Resources

• Alcohol and other drug use at UNC
• Alert Carolina
• Americans with Disabilities Act information
• Carolina Campus Recreation
• Carolina Cupboard
• Campus Health Services
• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Gillings Embedded Counselor
• Health insurance
• Lactation rooms
• LiveSafe App
• Rosenau Mothers’ Room
• Support Animals
• Department of Public Safety

Resources for parents

• Student-Parent Resources
• Carolina Women’s Center – Parenting at UNC
• The LGBTQ Center – Family Support Services
• Embark Carolina – Student Parents

Copies and Supplies

Student organizations may use the copier located in Student Affairs to generate publicity and other event materials. Occasionally, they may use office supplies. Copies are free of charge. Please adhere to the following copying guidelines:

• Bring original copy to OSA or Email flyers to SPH OSA.  A time will be arranged for pick up
• 250 front to back copies per year. Color copies allowed.
• Services may not be available if staff is unable to assist students
• No brochures or manuals
• Colored paper can be used when available

Gillings School Academic Poster Templates