At the AAA General Meeting back in September, Connie Boehm and Tim Anderson dropped by to introduce everyone to the Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) at UNL. Below is some additional information that we would like to share with you about the Collegiate Recovery Community at UNL. To make the CRC a success at UNL, we need the help of staff who work with students as you can identify students who would be interested and promote to students the opportunities the CRC would have for them. If you have any questions, please contact Connie Boehm (constance.boehm@unl.edu), Tim Anderson (tanderson60@huskers.unl.edu), or Doug Pellatz (dpellatz@unl.edu).
The mission of the Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) is to provide a caring, supportive environment that fosters individual well-being, academic success, and character growth to transform students in recovery into leaders in our community. Over the past year the Collegiate Recovery Community at Nebraska has come to fruition.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Identified a residence hall where students in recovery can live and enjoy programming.
• Initiated a formal partnership with University Housing and Residence Life to support the CRC.
• Formed a leadership core that includes faculty, staff, and students in recovery.
• Secured funding for programming.
• Established connections with the Nebraska Foundation and donors.
• Created Collegiate Recovery Community application to encourage joining the CRC and applying for housing. Currently working with legal counsel to finalize the application.
• Founded regular, weekly Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings.
• Partnering with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to promote the Collegiate Recovery Community to all Greek members through ScreenU screenings.
• Developed Recovery Ally training with support from the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Use. Recovery allies are members of the campus community who support students in recovery by using appropriate language, by advocating for them, and by learning about alcohol and drug use.
• Created a social media presence on Instagram and Facebook.
WHERE WE WANT TO GO
• Identify at least 10 faculty, staff, and students who are in recovery or allies for students in recovery to develop a Husker Recovery spotlight campaign.
• Create Husker Recovery t-shirts that are highly-desired on campus.
• In Fall 2021, open Husker Hall with at least 10 students in recovery as residents.
• Enhance the social and recreational area for students in recovery in Husker Hall.
• Grow our support system for those who seek it.
• Foster groups that allow students to choose in meeting type and recovery approach.
• Secure funding for scholarships for students in recovery.
• Offer students in recovery the opportunity to register with Services for Students with Disabilities.
• Host sober tailgates prior to Nebraska football games.
• Host annual graduation celebrations for students in recovery and their families.
• Offer weekly social gatherings for students in recovery to connect and enjoy a true college experience.
• Celebrate recovery all year long with a carefully planned series of events for campus and community members.
CHALLENGES
• COVID-19 has halted our timeline for opening the residence hall.
• Meetings have been absent on campus throughout the summer.
We believe that the CRC can be helpful to students in recovery and think it is a vital resource for their supporters. The CRC will be hosting meetings on campus and housing students in recovery in Husker Hall in the coming months. This resource is unique and vital to students who need it. You can help by collaborating with us to identify students in recovery. We know they are out there, often navigating the university experience with little support. When you meet individuals seeking to be substance free, please consider referring those students to Nebraska’s Collegiate Recovery Community at https://go.unl.edu/crcconnect.
Please visit https://go.unl.edu/promotecrc to watch a short video about the CRC, and please share this link with your students.
Thank you for your support of UNL students!
More details at: https://resilience.unl.edu/recovery