Levering Partnerships: Innovative Approaches to Campus Mental Health Support
Includes a Live Web Event on 04/11/2025 at 2:30 PM (EDT)
Colleges face increasing demand for mental health support amid financial constraints. During this session, we will share a strategic approach to collaboration between student affairs and advancement teams to secure funding for mental health initiatives. We will explore effective fundraising methods, including partnerships with parents, alumni, and external stakeholders. We will cover best practices for cultivating relationships, articulating the value of mental health programs, and ensuring sustainable funding without adding financial burdens.
Learning Outcomes
1. Develop strategies to effectively promote mental health initiatives tailored to the specific needs and preferences of diverse student groups
2. Identify areas for expansion and enhancement within their counseling services to better support the needs of students
3. Apply effective storytelling techniques to convey the impact of mental health and wellness initiatives, fostering emotional connections with donors and inspiring them to invest in the cause
Laurel Donley
Vice Provost of Student Affairs
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Laurel Donley was named vice provost and dean for student affairs in July 2023 after 10 years of service in student affairs at UNCSA and more than 20 years of experience in various academic and student affairs positions. Prior to her role as the vice provost and dean for student affairs, Donley served as assistant dean of student development and director of high school life, which includes oversight of high school life, residence life, new student orientation, student engagement, student assistance and support (case management), and the Fitness Center. She served as interim director of high school life from July 2020 to December 2021. Previously at UNCSA, Donley served as a clinical case manager and director of student assistance and support for eight years, from 2013 to 2021. Donley came to UNCSA from Wake Forest University, where she served as director of campus support services for three years and was a CARE (Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation) coordinator for seven years. Previously, she was a medical social worker for the High Point Regional Health System. Donley has been a leader in student mental health, serving on the UNC System Mental Health Task Force and as a panelist for the UNC Board of Governors’ initiative on Collegiate Mental Health: Current Trends and Challenges. She has also presented at numerous conferences and convenings, including the UNC System Student Success Conference. A founding member of the Higher Education Case Managers Association (HECMA) in 2011, she served as president from 2018-2020. HECMA has more than 800 active members. From 2016-17, Donley served as chair of Staff Council at UNCSA, developing several initiatives focusing on staff development and recognition. The standing ovation program that was developed under her leadership continues today. She received the Professional Staff Excellence Award in 2018 and was a Community Service Award recipient in 2015. She has been a Mental Health First Aid instructor at UNCSA since 2019. Donley is a 2021 graduate of the University of North Carolina’s BRIDGES academic leadership professional development program. She has been a member of the Fordham University Parent Council since 2021 and a volunteer with the State Employees Credit Union (North Carolina) Family House since 2013.
Continuing Education Credits
CSAED
This session counts for 1.0 CSAEd-CORE credit
NASPA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). NASPA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.
Guidelines for earning CE credit:
No partial credit will be rewarded.
Participants must also complete the feedback survey in the Online Learning Community.
1 Credit is available for attending the live session or viewing the on-demand recording.
To receive CSAEd credit, attendees must complete the feedback survey that offers the certification in each session. Once you have attended all the live sessions or watched the on-demand sessions for which you would like to request credit, visit the Continuing Education (CE) website to fill out the Student Affairs Education Certification Request Form for all the sessions. All certificants must fill out one for the live session and a separate one for the on-demand sessions. Visit the Continued Education (CE) website to learn more regarding deadlines and receive your certificate of completion for the Virtual Conference.
NBCC
This session counts for 1 NBCC credit
NASPA has been approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider for live events.
Participants can receive a maximum of 13 clock hours for attending live sessions at this event. All eligible sessions are identified in the “Credit Information” tab at the top of the individual sessions. To receive credit, please complete the “Feedback Survey” found within each individual session under the “Continuing Education” section. Once the feedback surveys for all attended sessions are complete, complete this request form; a certificate documenting the number of hours of live sessions you attended will be emailed to you within two weeks of you submitting the form.
The deadline to request NBCC continuing education certificates for this event is May 12, 2025. For questions regarding continuing education, please email continuingeducation@naspa.org