In the realm of higher education, the wellbeing and success of students are paramount. Universities and colleges are increasingly recognizing the importance of holistic support for students beyond academics. Symplicity's Advocate Flex emerges as a powerful tool that can revolutionize student support services by addressing a wide array of needs, from food insecurity to transportation challenges, equity issues, and more.
One of the pressing issues faced by students in higher education is food insecurity. Recent studies have found that 1 in 5 students struggle to afford nutritious meals, impacting their physical health, mental health, and academic performance. Symplicity Advocate Flex offers a solution by integrating food pantry resources into its platform. Institutions can track their basic needs offerings available to students, can follow up based on resources being offered and can also better report on usage of these resources. By connecting your existing campus resources with Advocate Flex, campuses can help alleviate food insecurity among students, ensuring they can focus on their studies without worrying about where their next meal will come from.
For many students getting to class can be an immense challenge, not only for reliability but also cost. Roughly 20 percent of college costs are for commuting, according to the College Board. Lack of reliable, affordable transportation predominantly impacts Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. Many colleges and universities are having to support students in how to just get them to campus. Transportation barriers can hinder students' ability to attend classes, access campus resources, and participate in extracurricular activities. For many students attending a community college, transportation barriers prevent them from finishing their degree. Simply accessing reliable cost-effective transportation is a hinderance to many.
With Advocate Flex, institutions can identify students who are in need of transportation and connect those students to commuter stipends through the university, carpools, biking options, or other alternative transportation options. Advocate Flex empowers students to navigate their transportation needs efficiently. This not only enhances students' mobility, but also fosters a sense of inclusivity and accessibility within the campus community.
The mental health and wellbeing of students are integral components of their overall success in higher education. A 2023 Healthy Minds Survey found that students’ rates of depression and anxiety are at an all-time high and are seeking more help than they have before. With this rise, institutions are increasingly looking to upgrade their mental health support offerings and identify students of concern for early prevention. With Advocate Flex, institutions can elevate students of concern right away. With custom workflows to ensure students’ concerns and safety are addressed adequately, and connect students to the right resources, counselors, early crisis intervention tools, or off-campus resources. This holistic approach to mental health support contributes to creating a campus culture that values emotional wellness and resilience.
A transformative tool, Advocate Flex is revolutionizing student support services in higher education by addressing a wide range of needs holistically. Maximize student success with customizable end-to-end workflows and automation for case management to support the entire institution with easy reporting on key metrics and critical programs.
From combating food insecurity to improving transportation access, promoting equity and inclusion, enhancing mental health support, and strengthening academic success, Advocate Flex offers a comprehensive solution that empowers students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. By leveraging technology to enhance student support services, universities and colleges can create a more inclusive, supportive, and empowering learning environment for all students.
To learn more about how Advocate Flex email us at info@symplicity.com or learn more here.