Current Students

We are always here, in your corner and on your team, to help you during your time at Western and beyond. Jon and Melissa can help you with things like:

• Identifying, articulating, and making plans towards goals (including identifying and addressing barriers to meet those goals!)
• Navigating the ins and outs of campus, such as:
  • How to overcome fear of talking to professors?
  • How do I read my Financial Aid award letter?
  • Who to talk to for... whatever question comes to mind!
• Navigating bureaucratic processes on and off campus, helping with questions like:
  • How do I change my name and/or get new essential documents like a birth certificate or social security card?
  • How do I sign up for State Health Insurance?
• Navigating life in general! Questions like:
  • My friend said something hurtful and I don’t know how to talk to them about it...
  • My boss is not respecting my availability and is asking me to work way too many hours/work environment is not a good place to be... how do I address this?
  • Something really bad has happened... and I don’t know what to do next
  • I want to do this really cool thing...but I don’t know how to get there
• Referrals to on and off-campus services related to academic, financial, or personal needs
• Celebrating your wins!! No matter how big or small these wins, they add up and we're cheering you on. Swing by anytime just to say hi and let us know how things are going!

• Our Peer Mentors have walked in shoes very much like your own. They are here to support you as you find and navigate your own path.
• They are here to be a supportive ear, connect you to resources, navigate your options, and help you advocate for yourself 

• Examples of past workshops:
  • WSS Trauma skills workshop (in partnership with WWU’s   
    Counseling and Wellness Center)
  • Academic success series (in partnership with the Tutoring Center)
  • How to (Actually) Plan and Study this Spring: Strategies for the Scattered Mind (in partnership with Threshold ADHD coaches)
  • College for beginners workshop (led by WSS peer mentors)
  • Financial Literacy series, covering topics Budgeting, Building and Managing Credit, and filing your taxes! (in partnership with Merriman Financial Literacy program at WWU)
  • Mending workshop (led by WSS peer mentors)
  • Drop in academic advising (in partnership with Academic   
    Advising & Student Achievement Center)
  • How to Study Abroad (with Hannah Nevitt from WWU Education Abroad)
    • including how to pay for it, and how to potentially go abroad for less than what you pay to attend WWU!

• Annual Fall Whale Watching excursion with San Juan Cruises!
• WSS Friendsgiving
• Frequent trips to CreativiTea
• Community dinners off campus
• Valentine’s Day gift exchange
• End of the year BBQ
• Hanging out with cats at Neko Cat Cafe
• Watching an improv show at Upfront Theatre   
• Community tea times

Examples are financial aid, tutoring, libraries, career services, and more! Find a direct point of contact who is familiar with our program and the students in it. Visit the Liaison Team tab of our page to meet them!

• Examples of what the funds can help with:
  • paying some of one month’s rent or groceries when your hours have been cut at work
  • urgent car repairs
  • medical expenses
  • grocery gift cards
  • purchasing a laptop
• Please contact Jon or Melissa to discuss emergency funds should the need arise.

WSS provides funding for any Passport scholarship recipient who wants to   
complete an internship. This helps students to gain relevant work experience   
and not stress as much about basic needs challenges. Generally, students   
take MGMT 315 (1 credit) that help with career development and internship   
search strategies and then receive a stipend up to $2,200 when they have   
secured an internship. Reach out to Jon or Melissa to learn more about this   
opportunity.