Many people know that sinking feeling of losing a document when a laptop unexpectedly dies. Or that “this can’t be happening now” thought when a car’s check engine light goes on.
A lower-end laptop will set someone back about $200. And, if a car repair is out of the question at the moment, the cost of a Detroit-area bus ticket is $66 for a 31-day pass. Stressful and inconvenient, sure. And when doing that “will this matter in five years?” exercise, some would just see it as a bump in the road. For many Dearborn Wolverines, however, these challenges are much more. “What may seem insignificant to you or me is a major blow to someone who is often a young person with extraordinary pressures. They could be at risk of stopping or dropping out,” says Dean of Students Amy Finley. “They are juggling work, family care and are already stressed about making ends meet. These are hard workers who are bright and talented and they know a degree will open doors for them. But they are sometimes in situations where reality overshadows dreams.”
Seeing these pressures and the impact they have on whether or not a student earns a degree, university leaders have found ways to support students beyond the classroom. They expanded campus’ mental health services, created grants for personal hardship situations and developed a laptop checkout service. But the pandemic, and the stark economic disparities that it revealed, drove leaders to do even more. A new office on campus called Dearborn Support aims to inform people of available campus and community resources in a holistic, personalized way. The service, which launched in fall 2022, provides a single point of contact where a student can address many of the challenges they are facing. Finley says it advances student success by connecting students with resources on and off campus to help ensure their basic needs are met.
“We realized students would be better served if they worked directly with a staff member who knew the available resources instead of giving them a list of numbers and emails. Not only does that build trust, it increases the likelihood that a student will get connected with what they need,” Finley says. “It also lets students know that we do care and do want them to succeed — it’s the reason we are here. When someone realizes that they have a community of support behind them, it can be the motivation needed to push through.”
Once a student reaches out to Dearborn Support, UM-Dearborn staff create an individualized plan based on the student’s needs, says Office of Student Life and Dearborn Support Director Tyler Guenette. “We know through research and experience that these challenges don’t occur in isolation. When you are in a low-income situation, a medical issue can lead to a lack of work hours, which can lead to unpaid bills and a lack of food, which can create a stressful situation and impact mental health in a way where a person can’t see how they can get through it while also being academically successful. And sometimes you don’t know what to ask for because you don’t know what resources are out there to help you. Dearborn Support provides critical life event triage care,” he says. This is especially important at UM-Dearborn, where nearly half of the undergraduate student population is PELL-grant eligible, meaning they come from families whose economic situations qualify as low income. Guenette says support during critical times is important because when students stop attending school, life circumstances often make it difficult to return, diminishing long-term job and wage prospects.
Finley also says the State of Michigan wants to increase the educational attainment of Michigan’s residents to strengthen its economy — the state created a goal of having 60% of its workforce with a college degree or skill certificate by 2030. With 91% of employed Dearborn Wolverines accepting Michigan-based jobs, these alumni boost the state’s workforce. “Not only is this work important on a human level, but it is important to remember that these students are looking to be our next generation of teachers, small business owners and civil servants,” Finley says. “We want to be sure that we are preparing these folks to be leaders in their community. It’s our role — not just as a university, but as a community member — to do everything we can to help our next generation be successful.”
* * *
From January through April 2023, the UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry, one of the resources under Dearborn Support, distributed more than 6,800 pounds of food. That’s up from the 4,350 pounds they distributed during the same time period in 2022 — and the numbers continue to climb. Campus leaders expect to see that trend continue with grocery costs increasing 11.8% during the past year and an overall increase in households that don’t have access to nutritionally adequate food in Michigan. Staffed by campus volunteers, the Student Food Pantry sees more than 1,000 visits a semester. Students only need to show their UM-Dearborn ID and they can choose items like milk, produce, canned goods, personal hygiene items and more — no questions asked.
During his first year of school, Detroit native Christopher Holly says he used the pantry on a regular basis — choosing items like noodles and spaghetti sauce or green beans and rice — to make meals so he’d have the energy to focus on why he was in college: to create a better life for himself. “I used to hide that I went there because I wrongly associated a stigma with it, but now I promote it because I know how much it has helped me,” says Holly, who graduated in 2019 and works as a Detroit-area educator. “Don’t focus on where you are going to get your next meal. If you are a student, campus has that covered. Instead, focus on learning.”
Finley, who helped create the first iteration of the campus food pantry in 2013, says the idea was partially inspired by what some had seen in the campus food court. “Sometimes students didn’t clean up after themselves and they would leave food on the table, like half-eaten fries or an unfinished sandwich,” she recalls. “Then, a few minutes later, a different student would sit down and finish the food. That was a wake-up call for us. We needed to act because that’s not something people do unless they are in a dire situation.”
Finley is proud of how the pantry has grown in the 10 years since it started. People who were once clients, like Holly, later became volunteers there so they could help others. “We often see that people who were helped come back and look for ways to help others. It’s created a culture of support,” Finley observes.
* * *
Inside the Renick University Center one Thursday last April, hundreds of students browsed racks of professional clothing, shoes, jewelry and more. Faculty, staff and community members had donated the gently used items and students were invited to choose two head-to-toe outfits. The pop-up shop, which was organized by UM-Dearborn’s Association for Nontraditional Students, helped jumpstart Wolverine Wardrobe, the new clothing pantry on campus, which will be open to all students on a permanent basis starting in fall 2023.
Guenette says that, in addition to professional clothing, Wolverine Wardrobe offers winter items like coats, hats and gloves to help students with seasonal changes, and gender-neutral clothing for students who may not feel comfortable in the gendered clothing they have at home. “Our goal is for students to be confident when they speak with people about opportunities. We know clothing plays a role in this. When you feel you look good and your clothing reflects who you are, you carry yourself more confidently,” he says.
Digital marketing major Kathy Bibang says she’d worn the same cardigan-based ensemble to all her interviews — but Wolverine Wardrobe changed that. After picking out a suit jacket, blouse and pants at the pop-up event, Bibang says she was pleased to have what she considers her first professional outfit. Prior to the semester ending, Bibang landed a paid summer research position in the university’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program, where she helped College of Business Assistant Professor Kyungwon Lee analyze digital marketing strategies in other parts of the world. “Not only did I get a new outfit for interviews, now I can also use it when I give my research presentations,” Bibang says.
Senior Jesse Jarvis says he wanted to check out Wolverine Wardrobe because he owns one suit that he wears to everything — it’s the one he originally bought for his grandfather’s funeral. Jarvis, who is studying behavioral sciences and political science, wears that blue suit for his job interviews, philanthropy work (he recently hosted a fundraising dinner through his fraternity that benefited St. Jude) and when canvassing for political candidates.
Looking through the racks at the pop-up, Jarvis found a sharp olive green suit with Burberry tags. “I’ve never even touched anything Burberry before,” says Jarvis, who’s worked with Detroit-based nonprofits Cass Community Social Services, Building Better Blocks, Focus: HOPE and Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. “I try to use the privilege I have (as a white man) to help bring awareness to institutionally caused social issues and human rights concerns. A suit like this will help me look the part when I’m out trying to create better systems and communities for people.”
Guenette says as times continue to change, Dearborn Support’s role on campus — and the resources offered — will grow and evolve. He says providing assistance to students navigating their challenges now helps them get beyond surviving so that they can get to thriving.
“Helping a student reach their dreams and realize their potential goes beyond one person — it impacts the people around them for generations to come; it impacts the community they live in,” he says. “We all benefit when they succeed.”
###
Story by Sarah Tuxbury
