with its senior leadership, the student leadership and roundtable discussions with WIGUT presidents, and leaders of unions representing all categories of staff to discuss the threats and opportunities posed by COVID-19. Impact survey The UWI Rapid Response COVID-19 Impact Survey was launched across all five campuses in April 2020, to determine the extent of mental health and psychosocial problems being experienced by students and staff so that we could respond at the macro UWI level and the individual campus levels. Mental health services were made available remotely through Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The Psychosocial Unit delivered counselling and training for professional service providers on topics relevant to the handling of COVID-19 scenarios.
The impact survey will be repeated periodically to allow for monitoring and recording over time.
Support of socially displaced students A substantial percentage of registered students exist in financial and social circumstances that made it difficult for them to keep up with classes and even to live normal lives during the pandemic. While several existing programmes were already in place to assist students with severe financial constraints, such as the Adopt-a- Student programme and the Student Hardship Fund, but it was recognised that the circumstances required a more targeted response. The decision was made by the Vice-Chancellor, the Campus Principals, Pro Vice-Chancellors, University Bursar and University Registrar, to volunteer a percentage of their salaries, which signalled the birth of a special UWI Cares Fund to help students impacted by the pandemic. This was supplemented by various other fundraising initiatives across the university system, engaging staff, students, alumni, donors and partners.
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