Wellbeing Services & Resources: The Living Room at the Heart of Student Wellbeing
How PLU's Wellbeing Services & Resources is wrapping its arms around students
Image: Wellness Services and Resources (Left to Right) – Jen Childress-White, Stephanie Gulledge ’24, ’25, Susan Pavur, Melaina Hayes ’25, Austin Beiermann ’18, ’21
By Britt Board
In many ways, WSR’s cozy living room is the center of it all: a space where needs surface, support shows up, and no one has to figure it out alone.
“We act fast, like the Avengers,” says Eva Frey ’95, PLU’s dean of students and the architect of Wellbeing Services & Resources (WSR). “We show up. We listen. And we figure things out quickly.”
Frey calls WSR a “super department,” as it brings together a network of offices and resources to support every aspect of a student’s life. WSR is an ecosystem of care that includes clinical services like Health Services and Counseling; academic and accessibility support through the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation; and basic needs and student advocacy via the Student Care Network, the Center for Military Student Support, and Food Pantry.
This summer, WSR relocated to Hong Hall, a former residence hall in the heart of campus. Students, staff, and faculty are buzzing around to create the homey, welcoming environment that WSR’s known for. With its fireplaces, oversized living room, and space to grow, Hong Hall is an ideal spot for WSR’s evolution. “We’re growing into PLU like a goldfish,” Frey notes. “As student needs evolve, we evolve.”
WSR is more than a collection of departments: it’s a fully integrated system of care. “A student may not even know they’re engaging with WSR when they’re engaging with WSR,” says Austin Beiermann ’18, ’21, director for Accessibility and Wellbeing Resources. That’s by design — WSR supports in all areas, from helping a student secure housing accommodations, connecting them to mental health care, to applying for SNAP benefits. Last year, 8 out of 10 first-year students engaged with at least one WSR resource.
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Care, Support and Solutions
No matter what a student is going through, PLU’s Wellbeing Services and Resources is there with support and solutions. It’s the starting point for care, with partners across campus and the greater community. WSR is in every student’s corner.
I’m having a hard time covering expenses right now. Is there a place where I can get free food?
I need more time to take tests. Who do I talk to?
I live off-campus and I am looking for ways to get involved.
How do I use my military benefits?
Where can I go to get accommodations so I can be successful in my classes?
Where can I go for mental health support?
“We can’t be compared to peer institutions because we’re so different,” Beiermann adds. “We touch nearly every part of campus life.” As an example, WSR’s reach extends beyond formal services. It houses the SLICC Fund — short for Student-Led Initiative for Community Creation — which supports joyful, community-building events like book swaps and live cooking nights. Many of those events are dreamed up and planned right in WSR’s living room.
Student contribution to WSR’s efficacy can’t be overstated. Together with staff, students run the campus pantry, work one-on-one with fellow students to connect them with services, and even apply for outside grants. Last year, WSR student interns helped bring in over $30,000 in grant support for various programs within WSR.
The work is constant, collaborative, fun, challenging, and wide-ranging. “We don’t do it alone,” says Frey. “We work with dining, athletics, residential life, faculty, student groups, our campus safety team, community partners — everyone.”
It is this teamwork that turns care into a campus culture. “We’re all working to help students move from just getting through college to thriving,” Frey shares. And like any good living room, WSR is a place where people gather, open up, and feel at home.
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A Squirrel with a Mission: Meet Sage, PLU's text-based student support
SAGE (Student Automated Guidance Expert) is a friendly, text-based support system designed to help students navigate college life with ease. Represented by Sage the Squirrel — a cheerful sidekick inspired by PLU’s social campus squirrels — SAGE is here to check in, offer guidance, and connect students to resources.
Throughout the academic year, SAGE sends check-in texts to students, answers frequently asked questions, and, when needed, connects them to real PLU staff for extra support.
SAGE received 10,789 student messages in the 2024-2025 academic year, with 92% of students enrolled and 60% actively engaging by sending at least one text.
Whether a student is wondering about campus events, academic deadlines, or how to access counseling, SAGE helps ensure they get the right information at the right time.
It’s a simple, friendly way PLU uses technology to build connections, reduce stress, and ensure students feel supported through every step.
Knack Tutoring: 1+ Year of Peer-Powered Support
Since spring 2023, PLU has used Knack, a peer-tutoring platform, to connect students with trained peers for one-on-one or group sessions. Available to all students both in-person and online, Knack has made academic support more accessible and flexible, helping improve academic outcomes and strengthen the campus community.
In just 12 months, 2,944 hours of tutoring were completed by 369 unique students, supported by 69 trained tutors. Tutoring is offered for every class taught at PLU.
Knack helped us reach new students and reduce traditional barriers.
43.3% of users had never accessed tutoring before
44.2% of sessions took place outside of the typical 9-to-5 schedule
16.2% of sessions were held online, supporting students wherever they are (including commuter students)
Knack is another way that students show up for one another and help each other succeed.
Student Health & Wellness First
TimelyCare is a 24/7, no-cost medical and mental health support resource that’s available anytime, anywhere for all students. With a phone or a laptop, students can connect remotely with licensed counselors, nurse practitioners, or health coaches, career coaches, academic success coaches, and financial wellbeing support from the comfort of their own space.
Designed with student life in mind, TimelyCare provides on-demand medical and mental health visits, scheduled counseling, a symptom checker, and even self-care tools like yoga, guided meditation, and wellness resources. Students can also choose providers based on personal preferences like race, gender identity, and expertise — making it easier to find the right fit.
Whether managing stress, dealing with a health concern, or just looking for support, TimelyCare makes it easier for students to prioritize their well-being.
Lutes Supporting Lutes through the Student Care Network
The Student Care Network (SCN) is PLU’s proactive, centralized support system for students facing academic and wellbeing challenges.
Anyone in the PLU community — faculty, staff, friends, even family members — can submit a quick and confidential SCN Report about a student. From there, a team of caring professionals offers support to help students stay on track.
In the 2024-2025 academic year alone, 1,184 care forms were submitted on behalf of 733 students.
Whether it’s academic stress, personal challenges, health concerns, or emotional support, SCN connects students with the right resources at the right time.
The Student Care Network exists to help every student feel supported and empowered, building on a campus culture rooted in care, connection, and community.
