In its continued efforts to serve its community, and in line with the NGU values, the Office of the Student Affairs created the Office of Student Support (OSS). The main objective of the OSS is to provide catered services to help students get an easy transition from school to university, assist them in dealing with common problems that arise during this developmental stage, provide services catered to help students on the emotional, psychological, social, and behavioral domains. The OSS offers free short-term one-on-one sessions to all registered NGU students regardless of major. It also extends support to school faculty and staff who have concerns related to students to ensure the implementation of a holistic cross-disciplinary learning pedagogy.
Well-Being Support to students include:
- Coping mechanisms for stress management.
- Dealing with personal emotional struggles.
- Help with school-college transition.
- Mentoring tips to improve soft academic skills.
- Support emotional needs of students who are away from their families.
- Help to deal with feelings of anxiety stemming from personal problems, exams, and/or overexposure to social media.
- Support grief and bereavement situations while taking into consideration outsourcing or referral to a therapist if needed.
- Tips to establish balanced and healthy habits (e.g. deal with emotional eating, sleep patterns, etc.).
Session Information
We strongly feel it is our duty to continue to provide support for the community in those current unprecedented circumstances. In an attempt to help students maintain a balanced and well-rounded mindset our sessions now take place ONLINE to best serve current needs. To book an appointment, please refer to the below information.
– Short-term, confidential, one-on-one sessions (45 minutes each for the first time and 30 minutes for follow-up sessions) on Microsoft Teams or on campus.
– Appointments are to be booked in advance via this link (please choose whether you are booking an online or on-site session and whether this is your first session or a returning student.
– Appointments are available on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M., unless otherwise agreed.
– Referrals from school deans, faculty, and staff are highly appreciated. However, information is strictly confidential and is only disclosed on a need to do basis with designated parties including parents upon senior administration approval.
For more information, please contact: studentsupport@ngu.edu.eg or visit our office located at C-G.8, Building C.
The Office of Student Support Services
1- Short-Term Support Sessions: Offered in one-on-one sessions the OSS provides guidance for students to develop healthy coping mechanisms to overcome emotional turmoil, mentor them in areas where cognitive/executive functions skills are needed to improve academic performance, and construct a more long-term plan to deal with similar problems in the future. Sessions focus on immediate struggles and problems a student is facing while taking into consideration the student’s background, physical and medical condition, and current academic status.
2- Screening/Emergency Support: In the case of an on-campus emergency, we provide screening on-site to assess the situation. In cases of health concerns and/or psychiatric needs, parents would be contacted, and referrals to external service providers will be made. Coordination with different schools and NGU administration and designated offices is handled in these cases.
3- Support to Faculty and Staff: We extend our support for all NGU faculty and staff through individual meetings to discuss specific student behavior and problems, and extend advice and support in planning to deal with such problems. Faculty and staff members can refer students to our office when needed; however, students cannot be forced to continue sessions beyond the first one unless they voluntarily want to seek help and/or if those sessions are compulsory to fulfill certain requirements approved by the University Administration.
4- Learning Difficulties/Physical Disabilities: Students with documented learning/physical disabilities are encouraged to contact our office to receive the support needed. Faculty members are welcome to discuss concerns related to certain accommodations needed for students with learning or physical disabilities.
5- Awareness Initiatives: In an aim to spread awareness among the NGU community, OSS collaborates with different schools, offices, and student leaders to help students with the transition and developmental stage; therefore, help increase retention rates and decrease the risk of psychological problems that could manifest at this age. Collaborations include the New Student Orientation for incoming students, White Coat Ceremony for new Health & Life Sciences students, and the graduation ceremony among others.