Student Affairs and Outreach

A team of Social Workers who support students throughout their academic journey. Services include immediate support to students, crisis response, educational programming, and consultation with faculty, staff, and students who are concerned about a student.

To speak with someone: Call 306-966-5757 or book an appointment online.

Address
Third floor (Rm. 310) and fourth floor, Place Riel Student Centre

Concerned about a student

If you are concerned about a student, call us (306) 966-5757

We provide guidance, assistance, and support to faculty, staff, parents, and students who are concerned about a USask student.

Possible signs of distress

  • If a student has had a change in appearance, mood, and/or social functioning
  • A student's behaviour impacts another person’s ability to function appropriately and successfully on campus
  • If a student has expressed thoughts of suicide
  • If a student has attempted suicide or you believe them to be a threat to themselves
  • The student is misusing substances and it is causing others concern
  • The student is displaying odd behaviour that is causing others concern

SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY if, at any time, you or the student you are concerned about is having thoughts of suicide accompanied by:

  • A fear they will hurt themselves
  • They have developed a plan for suicide
  • They have secured a means to die by suicide 

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening event:

  • Saskatoon Police Service 911 or 9-911 (on campus)
  • Royal University Hospital 103 Hospital Drive
  • Campus Protective Services (306) 966-5555

After-hours assistance (4:30 pm to 8:30 am)

  • Local crisis lines
    • Saskatoon Mobile Crisis (306) 933-6200 
    • Prince Albert Crisis Unit (306) 764-1011
    • Regina Mobile Crisis (306) 757-0127
    • Southwest Crisis Services 1-800-567-3334
  • Royal University Hospital - 103 Hospital Drive
  • Campus Protective Services (306) 966-5555
  • Saskatoon Sexual Assault Crisis Line (306)244-2224
  • Talk Suicide Canada 1-833-456-4566
  • Wellness Together Canada 1-855-585-0445
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line (help for all Indigenous People in Canada) 1-855-242-3310

Student Support and Outreach Coordinators (SSOC)

The Student Support and Outreach Coordinators (SSOC), a team of Registered Social Workers, provide immediate support to students throughout their academic journey.

We provide direct support to students who: 

  • Are in distress or crisis
  • Having thoughts of suicide
  • Are hospitalized - for any reason or have been hospitalized
  • Have a lot going on and are feeling overwhelmed
  • Are feeling stuck and don’t know what to do next
  • Are experiencing a complicated or complex problem(s)
  • Are in need of intervention and connections to university and community programs
  • Are experiencing difficulties, challenges, or barriers in their personal and academic lives
  • Are impacted by traumatic events on or off campus
  • Find themselves in trouble and need help navigating systems or various Usask policies
  • Need help with difficult academic-related conversations
  • Need strategies for resolving conflict with a peer, instructor, supervisor, or roommate
  • at risk of receiving a faculty action or requesting a leave of absence from their program
  • victims, survivors, and respondents of sexualized and gender-based violence

We provide practical immediate support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off campus resources, and ongoing follow-up care. 

 

Connect with a member of our team

Call reception at (306) 966-5757

Request an appointment by emailing student.outreach@usask.ca 

Book online (link below)

Huskie Athletics Student Student and Outreach Coordinator (HA SOCC)

Student Affairs and Outreach and Huskie Athletics have partnered to provide Huskie Athletics with direct support from one of our Student Student and Outreach Coordinators. In order to access this support, you must be a huskie athlete. 

We provide practical support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off campus resources, and ongoing solution-focused follow-up care.

We provide direct support to athletes who: 

  • Are struggling with managing pressures, time, and expectations related to practices, games, classwork, and grades
  • Struggling with stress, feeling overwhelmed, and burnout
  • Are moving through a concussion protocol
  • Have experienced a season-ending injury
  • Are in distress or crisis
  • Having thoughts of suicide
  • Are hospitalized (for any reason) or have been hospitalized
  • Are feeling stuck and don’t know what to do next
  • Are experiencing a complicated or complex problem(s)
  • Are in need of intervention and connections to university and community programs
  • Are experiencing difficulties, challenges, or barriers in their personal and academic lives
  • Are impacted by traumatic events on or off campus
  • Find themselves in trouble and need help navigating systems or various Usask policies
  • Need help with difficult academic-related conversations
  • Need strategies for resolving conflict with a peer, instructor, supervisor, or roommate
  • at risk of receiving a faculty action or requesting a leave of absence from their program
  • victims, survivors, and respondents of sexualized and gender-based violence
Huskie Athletics SSOC schedule:
  • Monday 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 
  • Thursday 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Location: Merlis Belsher Place. 

To book an appointment call Huskie Health - Merlis Belsher Place at (306) 966-8176 or book online (link below).

To reach the Huskie Athletics, Student Support and Outreach Coordinator directly, email ryan.bilanski@usask.ca.

Huskie Athletics, Student Support and Outreach Coordinator provides educational workshops and presentations related to wellness in sports.  Contact ryan.bilanski@usask.ca to learn more.

Counsellor in Residence (CIR)

Student Affairs and Outreach and Residence Services have partnered to provide students, living in on-campus residences, with direct support from a member of our team. In order to access this support, you must be living in USask campus residences. 

The CIR provides practical support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off campus resources, and ongoing solution-focused follow-up care.

Residence CIR schedule: 

  • Monday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
  • Tuesday 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 

If you live in residence and would like to book an appointment or connect with the CIR call (306) 966-6171, email ryan.bilanski@usask.ca, drop in during the CIR scheduled hours, or book online

To reach the Counsellor in Residence directly, email ryan.bilanski@usask.ca.

Wellness Workshops

We are proud to offer a variety of workshops for students, faculty and staff. 

The Inquiring Mind:  This workshop focuses on promoting mental health, reducing stigma and negative attitudes, improving resiliency and coping strategies, increasing knowledge of the mental health continuum, fostering a supportive campus community, and helping to support others.

  • Length of time: 4 hours
  • Cost: FREE for students
  • Format: Virtual or in person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced-based program by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. 

Mental Health First Aid: This workshop is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing the worsening of an existing mental health problem, or in a mental health crisis. Just like physical first aid is provided until medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved. You will learn to recognize a change in behaviour, respond with a confident conversation, and guide to appropriate resources and support. 

  • Length of time: 12 hours
  • Cost: $25.00 (non-refundable) for students; $90.00 for faculty and staff
  • Format: in person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced-based program by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. 

Building Resiliency/Resiliency 101: A workshop focused on providing tools and strategies for students to develop and/or enhance their resiliency.

  • Length of time: 90 mins
  • Cost: Free for students
  • Format: Virtual or in person
  • CCR certified 

 Livingworks safeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone: You will learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing and engaging persons who might be having thoughts of suicide and to connect them with resources trained in suicide intervention.

  • Length of time: 3.5 hours
  • Cost: $10.00 (non-refundable) for students; $25.00 (non-refundable) for faculty and staff
  • Format: In person  
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced program by LivingWorks

Bringing in the Bystander (sexual violence prevention program): A skill-building bystander intervention workshop for preventing sexual violence and establishing a community of responsibility. 

  • Length of time: 3 hours
  • Cost: Free for students, faculty and staff
  • Format: virtual or in person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced program by Soteria Solutions

Mental Health and Wellness 101: Increase your mental health literacy, how our mental health is connected to coping and resiliency, and how to reach out for support when needed. You will increase your comfort and confidence in talking about mental health and how to promote positive mental health within yourself.

  • Length of time: 60 mins
  • Cost: Free for students
  • Format: virtual or in person

Identifying and Responding to Students in Crisis: This workshop helps faculty and staff recognize students who may be struggling or in distress, how to respond to students in distress, and refer them to support services on or off campus. 

  • Length of time: 1-2 hours 
  • Cost: Free 
  • Format: virtual or in person

Introduction to Conflict Resolution: Dealing with Difficult People: This workshop focuses on conflict resolution and tools and strategies when dealing with difficult people.  

  • Length of time: 12-hour foundational conflict resolution 
  • Cost: $30.00 (non-refundable) for students; $100.00 for faculty and staff
  • Format: in person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Certified program developed by Winnipeg Mediation Services and facilitated by a qualified mediator

Resolving Conflict Constructively: This session helps you to learn tools to improve skills in problem-solving and conflict management.

  • Length of time: 90 mins
  • Cost: Free for students
  • Format: virtual or in person

Everything DiSC®: A personal development learning experience that measures preferences and tendencies based on the DiSC® model. This simple yet powerful model describes four basic styles: D, i, S, and C, and serves as the foundation for the Everything DiSC Application Suite. Participants receive personalized insights that deepen their understanding of self and others, making workplace interactions more enjoyable and effective.

 For further information including dates, times, and registration details visit  

Privacy for parents and guardians

The University of Saskatchewan and all Student Affairs and Outreach team members are committed to the well-being of our students. In accordance with The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation, we cannot discuss details about a student or inform of their activities without the student’s direct consent.

If direct consent is provided, the student, at any time, may choose to revoke consent.

This legislation includes speaking with parents, guardians and family members. While you are able to share your concerns with us, we are unable to share information with you. In extreme circumstances, including imminent safety concerns, information may be shared on a case-by-case basis. 

These measures not only meet our legal requirements but also protect the safety of our students

Crisis response

The Student Affairs and Outreach team provides a coordinated response to crisis situations involving a student. A crisis may be caused by events such as a physical or emotional injury or illness, suicide behaviours, and concerns about safety.

Contact: (306) 966-5757 or the Manager directly at (306) 966-6079 

 

Staff

Tracy Spencer BHJ, BSW, RSW, M.Ed.
Manager, Student Affairs and Outreach


Beau Gallerneault BISW, RSW, M.Ed.
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator (Senior)


Ryan Bilanski BSW, MSW, RSW, Q.Med
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator (Huskie Athletics) / Counsellor in Residence


Jessica Fox MSW, RSW
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator


Shalisse Pelly BSW, RSW
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator