The University of Montpellier remains committed to supporting students in need
Since the start of the health crisis, the University of Montpellier has been fully committed to supporting students in need.
In addition to the measures taken during the first lockdown and in response to the potential risk of students falling behind, the UM has launched several additional initiatives focused on three key areas:
- Educational continuity
- Social and psychological support
- Maintaining social ties
Educational continuity
- free access for all students to the Zoom Education and Microsoft Office 365 Education plans;
- financial assistance for internet access (in addition to the 4G plans and computers provided by the Region);
- an additional position for a disability coordinator to support students with disabilities (as part of the Agil Hybrid project, a call for proposals to integrate higher education programs).
Social and psychological support
- Establishment of a network of “mentors” who reach out to incoming freshmen. Forty students were recruited and trained to contact nearly 6,000 incoming freshmen at the university. Their primary tasks included informing students about university services and identifying those who were struggling;
- maintenance of student contracts(Library, Student Centers, etc.);
- hiring an additional psychologist (preventive medicine);
- a doubling of the FSDIE social assistance budget, with grants awarded in larger amounts;
- Engaging student health ambassadors in efforts to prevent student mental health issues (creating a brochure, posting on social media), … .
Maintaining social ties
Proposals for remote activities and an increase in sessions (virtual art and culture workshops, webinars with artists, I-talks workshops [public speaking], short video clips of sewing workshops with kits provided to participants for practicing at home, etc.), etc.
Recruitment of student ambassadors for COVID-19 prevention, to raise awareness among students about the importance of wearing masks and following safety protocols within the University of Montpellier, 43 students were recruited in September across 11 UM campuses (including those located outside Montpellier and in the university libraries), and each student received two reusable masks.
Under the leadership of the President, the Vice President for Social Responsibility, and the Student Vice President, all relevant administrative departments and central services, as well as the academic departments, schools, and institutes, are working together to provide the best possible support to students, guided by the values of fairness and solidarity.