Home
/
Student Resources & Supports

Student Resources & Supports

The University of King’s College is committed to providing resources and supports to members of our community impacted by the Independent Review and Final Report. Some of the supports outlined reflect the university’s existing network of support staff and other roles with an element of care (“Campus supports”). Other supports are being proactively introduced to address the distinct community needs anticipated around the release of the Final Report. The University will continue to provide responsive supports as needs arise. A comprehensive outline of external supports and resources available in the community (including online and in-person supports) is also provided.

Any member of the King’s community seeking supports not reflected in these documents or with questions or feedback about the supports available is invited to contact:

Sexual Health and Safety Officer Jordan Robertsjordan.roberts@ukings.ca
Vice President – Sarah Clift sarah.clift@ukings.ca
Dean of Students – Katie Merwin katie.merwin@ukings.ca

Enhanced Supports Available on March 15

The Senior Common Room will host a dedicated space for students from 1-3:30 p.m. Student support staff, including Equity Officer Rhema Ferguson, Isaac Wright, Peer Supporters will be on hand as active listeners and there will be snacks and other resources.

Resident Nsukwi’ (Auntie in Residence) Emily Pictou-Roberts will conduct smudging on March 15 (and beyond) for individuals, or for any spaces where this would be welcome.

Campus Community Supports

Father Ranall Ingalls, Chaplain (he/him)

Father Ingalls offers support to students of any faith or none. The Chapel offers space for students to explore their spirituality, hear beautiful music, or enjoy a place of solitude.

To meet with Father Ingalls, email ranall.ingalls@ukings.ca. For more information about the chapel, visit kingschapel.ca.

Michelle Mahoney, Accessibility Officer (she/her)

Michelle guides and supports the university’s implementation of King’s Accessibility Plan and works with faculty and staff to ensure that the university meets relevant standards to offer an accessible campus by 2030. Michelle also helps students to get the full benefit of King’s and Dalhousie’s shared Student Accessibility Centre.

Michelle can be reached at michelle.mahoney@ukings.ca.

Emily Pictou-Roberts, Resident Nsukwi’ (Auntie in Residence) (she/her)

Emily Pictou-Roberts is a member of Millbrook First Nation and a King’s alum (BA(Hons)’20) who is available to support Indigenous students at King’s.

Email auntie@ukings.ca to contact Emily.

Jordan Roberts, Sexual Health and Safety Officer (SHSO) (she/her)

Jordan is available to support students around sexualized violence, gender identity, sexual orientation, safer sex, and healthy relationships. Jordan can provide trauma-informed active listening and help individuals decide what avenues and supports are best for them.

Jordan can be reached by e-mail, phone call, or text. All communication is confidential. jordan.roberts@ukings.ca / 902-229-6123

Isaac Wright, Student Support Advisor (they/them)

Isaac is available to talk to students looking for support in resource navigation, life changes, mental health, goal setting, or problem-solving. If you’re not sure where to go or what you need, Isaac can help you figure that out.

Isaac also helps students access services at Dal Health and Wellness or in the community. Email isaac.wright@ukings.ca to make an appointment, or visit calendly.com/studentsupportadvisor

Academic Supports

Academic Advising Team

Julia Town (she/her), Kirstin Mosher (she/her), and Jennifer O’Keefe (she/her) are available to meet with students to discuss course scheduling and registration, degree pathways, academic supports and processes, and other academic concerns. The Peer Advising Team also available to meet with first & second-year students about course selection, registration, program exploration, degree planning and other academic supports.

To make an appointment, book online through the Academic Advising page, email registrar@ukings.ca or drop into the Registrar’s Office.

Katie Merwin, Dean of Students (she/her)

Katie is the senior administrator responsible for many aspects of student life including residence, student-facing policies, and other services which assist students to be well and maximize their potential.

Katie is not typically the first stop for one-on-one student support, but oversees the network of student supports available at King’s.

Email katie.merwin@ukings.ca to get in touch.

Dr. Michelle Wilband, Associate Director of Student Support (Foundation Year Program) (she/her)

Michelle supports FYP students when they require academic accommodations, assignment extensions, academic advising, and referrals to both nonacademic and academic supports. If students have not already developed an accessibility plan through the Dalhousie Accessibility Centre, they can meet with Michelle to obtain interim assignment accommodations.

To make an appointment with Michelle, email michelle.wilband@ukings.ca.

Peer Support

The Peer Support Workers are King’s students available to support their fellow students. This includes active listening, problem solving, supportive discussions, or just hanging out in a quiet space. Peer Support drop-in hours, events and updates are posted on Instagram at @ukcpeersupport.

You can also email peersupport@ukings.ca to get in touch.

Residence Life & Housing supports

Gavin Baumbach, Housing Coordinator (he/him)

Gavin oversees room changes, inspections and other day-to-day housing operations.

Email gavin.baumbach@ukings.ca

Ashley Nixon, Assistant Dean of Residence Life (they/them)

Ashley oversees Residence Life, residence student support and programming.

Email ashley.nixon@ukings.ca.

Dons & Patrol

The Dons are upper-year or graduate students who live in residence. There is a Don on duty every night and each weekend.

Patrol staff are current students who are available each night from 8 p.m.–2 a.m. in the Manning Room.

Housing Administrator

The housing administrator can help with residence withdrawals, applications, and general questions.

Email residence@ukings.ca

External Resources

External Supports / Free Phone Counselling & Crisis Lines

  • 211 – professional counselling available 24/7. Call 211 and ask for the women’s, men’s or all-gender helpline.
  • Good to Talk – professional counselling available 24/7 to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia. Call 1-833-292-3698 or visit https://good2talk.ca/novascotia/.
  • Trans Lifeline – call 1-877-330-6366. Operated by trans and nonbinary volunteers, open to any trans or gender-questioning person.
  • First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Crisis Line – call 1-855-242-3310.

External Supports / In Person & Virtual Counselling

  • Same-Day Counselling at Dalhousie
    • Call at 8am Monday-Friday or 11am Saturdays – 902-494-2171.
    • Free for King’s students. Ongoing counselling available with a waitlist.
  • Private Practice Counselling
    • As a student, you have health insurance via the KSU and Green Shield’s coverage unless you opted OUT in September 2022. The coverage is 80% of the cost of each counselling session, up to $1000 per academic year for social workers, counselling therapists, and / or psychologists. Find out more at https://www.greenshield.ca/en-ca/student-centre/kings-college-students-ukc
    • Some local counselling practices taking new clients are:
  • Lambda Health (queer/trans),
  • Whole Therapy,
  • ML Family Counselling,
  • Anxiety & Trauma Clinic,
  • Shift Therapy,
  • Diverse Roots Counselling (queer/trans),
  • and Fenwick Psychological and Wellness.
    • PsychologyToday is a great resource for finding a mental heath care provider. This link will show you therapists and other practitioners who practice in Nova Scotia. You can filter practitioners by gender, what they specialize in, modalities, price, insurance companies they work with, and other factors.

Browse the profiles and, if you find someone you might want to talk to, it can be good to email them and ask for a free phone consult to ask questions and see if it’s a good fit before committing to a full session. The free phone consult is also a good time to ask if they “direct bill” to your insurance provider or if you will have to pay out of pocket and submit the cost for reimbursement.

  • Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
    • https://avaloncentre.ca/
    • The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization working to eliminate sexual assault/abuse, and to change the current socio-political culture that fosters sexism, social injustice and other forms of oppression.
    • Avalon offers specialized therapeutic counselling program is available to women, Trans folks, and gender non-identified individuals 16 years and older, who have experienced a recent or historical sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment. Avalon also provides individual information sessions to the non-offending parents of children who have disclosed sexual abuse, and to supportive partners of clients accessing services. https://avaloncentre.ca/services/counselling-services/
    • Avalon also has a number of online resources including a “virtual healing room,” a consent and self-care game, and information on how to support a survivor. https://avaloncentre.ca/avalon-resources/
  • Couch of Hope
    • Free counselling with counselling interns in Dartmouth. Available only to those who do not have insurance or financial means to pay for counselling. Learn more at https://www.couchofhope.com

External Supports / Self-Guided Resources and Websites