Office of Student Advocacy arrives as new ally to students

College is not always a breeze. Sometimes issues arise, whether they are financial, academic or personal, and students may be left to face such issues alone. 

However, the fall 2021 semester brings the launch of the Office of Student Advocacy (OSA). OSA is dedicated to assisting students in facing a variety of obstacles, striving to advocate on behalf of the students to ensure their success at UHCL. OSA covers five major areas: the Career Closet, emergency assistance such as the Hawk Emergency Grant, Foster Care Support Services, student complaints and grievances, and the Hawk Pantry. 

“Our department is committed to helping students navigate university and community resources when they’re faced with unforeseen circumstances, hardships and challenges that are going to hinder them getting their degree,” said Kristi Randolph Simon, assistant dean of students, director of Office of Student Advocacy and foster care liaison officer. “We are here to help guide them through some of those processes and support them so that we retain them and they stay in school and reach their academic goals.”

With OSA, students have access to resources that can provide them with clothes and food in the form of the Career Closet and Hawk Pantry, sections overseen by Ebony Brunn, OSA assistant director. 

“I’ve worked hard to form partnerships with Dress For Success and Career Gear to make sure we can suit our students,” Brunn said. “I also work to form partnerships with Goodwill.”

The creation of OSA also brings a new staff position: the student advocate. The student advocate’s primary purpose is to help be the voice for students, advocating for and supporting students in any issues brought to them, primarily handling complaints and grievances against a person or department or an issue the entire student body is facing. This new role is filled by LaToya Mills, who is also the associate director of OSA. 

“We’ve never had a person solely dedicated to our students to assist them when they have concerns, issues or want changes on our campus,” Mills said. “So this role is that for our students. I’m solely hired on the behalf of the student to assist them when they have those issues, when they have complaints, when they want to see changes on campus, when they don’t know what to do with difficult instructors, or they don’t know how to navigate, my role is to assist with that.” 

As the student advocate, Mills is a confidential resource and reaches out to offices for individuals involved in complaints and grievances, making sure students are aware of the policies and procedures involved.

“We want our students to be academically successful,” Mills said. “We want them to begin with us and end with us. As the advocate I can point them toward the emergency resource or I can work with other departments to see what kind of solutions we can create on the student’s behalf. What I find too is that a lot of students are intimidated by talking to instructors and department heads. They don’t want to make that first step so we assist with making that first step of communication.”

Mills, whose background is in social work, has worked in higher education for 15 years. Mills’  excitement for the help students will receive from her role and the new department conveys her passion for helping others. 

“I just like working with students,” Mills said. “I naturally enjoy assisting people and helping meet their basic needs. I come from a social work, sociology psychology background, and I am very fond of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. And I know that if our basic needs are not met, we can’t be self actualized. 

“I know that sounds very academic but it’s the truth. If we can’t meet our basic needs like food, shelter, healthcare, how can we expect students to become their best selves? So I’m excited to do that, give back, help and get back to the basics of counseling and helping students meet their needs.”

Mills said the office will impact communication with students.

“Hopefully students know they have a safe place and somewhere to go when they need assistance,” Mills said. “Already I hope it changes the way they’re receiving feedback, the way they don’t feel left out of the loop. Hopefully it serves as a place where they can get feedback on their situation. I think it will change the frequency we communicate with students and the way their needs are met.”

Brunn said the department is something students have long wanted and needed. 

“In recent town hall meetings students expressed not having [a department they can turn to],” Brunn said. “Just knowing they now have that and we can provide them with resources is something that will help students for years to come.”

With the department’s website in development and soon to launch, the trio’s enthusiasm is palpable.

“I’m excited to be here at the University of Houston-Clear Lake,” Mills said. “It’s a real rush for me to be able to meet students and help them. I’ve had students who have had major ‘aha’ moments and found real safe spaces in talking to me, and I’ve only been here four months. You want to take a position and know you’re doing what the position calls you to do, and the only way to know is when you get that feedback from students. I’m excited about that.”

“I think I’m most excited about our Career Closet,” Brunn said. “I’m really excited to offer this resource because we have never had something like this on our campus before. I am also excited to begin assisting our students with applying for SNAP benefits because there is definitely a demand for food.”

For Randolph Simon, OSA’s launch represents an exhilarating new journey and the beginning of students receiving greater support from UHCL. 

“If you are ever feeling discouraged, or lost or alone or unheard, the Office of Student Advocacy provides a safe space for you to receive care and support,” Randolph-Simon said. “If students are facing any hardships or difficulties in their personal or academic career, they are welcome to stop by the Office of Student Advocacy because we are here for you.”

CORRECTION 10/8/21:  A quote from Ebony Brunn was edited. It originally incorrectly quoted her as saying “I am also excited for the snack benefits because there is definitely a demand for food.” It should have read “I am also excited to begin assisting our students with applying for SNAP benefits because there is definitely a demand for food.”