BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
GRAPHIC BY HANNAH KITZMANN<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone at FHSU should feel like they are heard, supported, and an important part of a larger community. Circles of Support makes sure the Fort Hays State University Online Tigers are included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Circles of Support is an online non-clinical, support group that was designed to help enhance and support the unique experiences of hardworking FHSU online students. Circles of Support was developed as a collaboration between Health and Wellness Services and FHSU Online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program offers a multitude of services, including weekly discussion prompts, opportunities to discuss challenges, and confidentiality-honored connections through group meetings at various times and days during the fall and spring semesters. (Circles of Support is not active during summer months.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kylie Jank, an on-campus student in the Clinical Psychology Master’s program that currently runs the Circles of Support program from the student side, said the purpose of creating this organization is to allow online students from across the globe to have a support system throughout their schooling experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assistant Director for Online Student Success Nicole Heitmann occupies the advisory role of Circles of Support and has held this position ever since about a year after it was created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heitmann wants to give FHSU\u2019s online students a chance to connect with other online students and find support in the stressors of online learning, and life in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur online students can, at times, feel disconnected, so this virtual space is a great way to connect them,\u201d Heitmann said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jank said the only qualification to be a member of the program is to be an online student and touches on a few benefits of being involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll majors, years in school, are allowed,\u201d Jank said. \u201cBeing a member of this group allows for online students to have a support system of FHSU students who have a similar schooling experience to themselves. It has been incredibly beneficial for students within the online community thus far.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heitmann believes the benefits of being involved in Circles of Support are found within the community created through the platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStudents are able to utilize this free space to help them work through issues that maybe on-campus learners do not experience,\u201d Heitmann said. \u201cOn-campus students are able to utilize the Health and Wellness services, but due to licensing restrictions with those counselors, online students living outside of Kansas cannot utilize those services. This is a pressure-free resource for them to find that unavailable support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heitmann then emphasizes how important it is for online students to get involved in Circles of Support because it was created specifically with them in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe understand that it is hard to find times and days of the week that work for all of our distance learners, but this resource is something that can help students in other aspects of life, along with academic stresses,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heitmann said no one truly understands what it is like to be an online learner unless you are one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCircles of Support is the place that students can go to feel connected to our campus and also feel cared about,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jank continues with the importance of having a program like the Circles of Support group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the online experience is so unique to our virtual students; no one else has the same FHSU experience,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is important for them to be able to make connections with individuals that can relate to them and understand their common stressors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jank adds to that with her biggest takeaway from Circles of Support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy most memorable moments have been getting to connect with online FHSU students and hearing their stories. Everyone has a different experience and their college experience is so different from mine, so I like being able to lend a listening ear while also giving them a space to share with like-minded individuals,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heitmann touches on the largest obstacle that the group is currently facing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA big issue that we are facing in getting our numbers up is that this resource is done through InSpace, not Zoom,\u201d Heitmann said. \u201cInSpace is a great new virtual meeting tool that allows for even more interaction. All FHSU students have InSpace accounts, they just have to set them up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jank invites anyone who is interested in joining one of their sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOverall, Circles of Support is a support group meant to benefit online students in whatever way they see fit,\u201d she said. \u201cWe would love to have your involvement to make this group whatever will be most beneficial.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Circles of Support has four separate meetings a week at a few different times. Students are invited to come to any meeting that fits their schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group meets virtually on InSpace on Mondays from 8:00-9:00 am and 5:00-6:00 pm, Tuesdays at 12:00-1:00 pm, and Wednesdays at 2:00-3:00 pm through the Tiger-2-Tiger \u201cWelcome to the Fort\u201d channel. All times are central.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The link to the Circles of Support InSpace Platform can be found here https:\/\/app.inspace.chat\/space\/5651CDC19581B58640A7D4D00EFE333E959612B9<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n