Case Manager Anna Sales and Dean Roper on How the CARE Team Supports Student Life
Between coursework, practices, training and travel games, athletes at the University of Dallas have many responsibilities to manage. Being a good student at any university requires facing challenges and rebounding from setbacks on the way to excellence.
However, at a certain point, it becomes necessary to perform a sincere internal check to keep yourself on track mentally and physically.
In the midst of exams and term papers, it can be difficult to keep your athletic life in order. By the same token, it can be difficult to keep your academic life on track amid the many responsibilities a student athlete faces.
The Care Team, composed of faculty members such as Case Manager Anna Sales, Dean of Students Dr. Greg Roper, Athletic Director Jarred Samples and many others, is a group that focuses on the well-being of the student body.
They are, as Dean Roper says, “A first-responder team for those who are struggling.” Their support includes guiding students through issues such as medical concerns, academic success, financial needs, emotional troubles, and any other obstacle in the path of a UD student.
While one might assume that the unique set of challenges presented to a student-athlete gives rise to unique concerns for them, the Care Team has stated that this is simply not the case.
Roper said, “To a great extent, athletes are no different from any other student…I don’t think I could say, in my three years, that athletes as a group need more assistance with any one particular issue.”
That being said, the Care Team exists to support student life in any capacity they can. If you have concerns about a teammate or a friend, you can file a report on their behalf.
As Sales said, “Anyone from the UD community can submit a CARE report on behalf of a student. Reporters should be assured that we always do our best to ensure that strict confidentiality is kept. Sharing with us who you are helps us ask you any follow up questions we may have about your report. CARE reports can be sent by email to care@udallas.edu”
When asked whether the Care Team was a work-in-progress or a finished project, Roper said that it is, “not really a ‘project’ but a resource, and maybe even better, a meta-resource, directing students to all of the other resources on campus. So the goal is simply given in its title-to provide care to students who might be struggling in any of the ways above.”
Roper attributes the success of the Care Team to the specific qualities each team member brings to the table, particularly Sales, saying that “She brings a wealth of experience, a superb organizational mind, and a heart full of empathy and compassion.”
If you or someone you know is struggling in any form or fashion, reaching out to the Care Team at care@udallas.edu is a fantastic first step.
Regardless of whether your struggles are based on financial resources, academic success or struggles with another student, the team can point you in the right direction for optimal support.