A Message from Dr. Mark Allen Poisel

The following email was sent by Dr. Mark Allen Poisel, vice president for Enrollment and Student Affairs

To the GRU Community,

On Saturday, we learned that a sophomore Pre-Biology major, passed away. This is a tragic loss, and our hearts are broken. Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends.

Understandably, many students, faculty, and staff may have been affected by this death, and the University Counseling Center is available to help address any emotional needs of our students. As a community we should be sure to help each other through difficult times.

This time of the year often brings with it a higher level of anxiety and stress as we work through midterms and prepare for the end of the term. I want everyone to know that you are not alone and many people within the university community care about you and your well-being. We have professional staff that can help manage difficult situations or simply just provide an opportunity to listen in a time of need.

Also, if you interact with someone that may be exhibiting signs of depression, anxiety, or a marked change in behavior, please be sure to let someone know. We have a great team of professionals that can assist students in need. You can submit an anonymous report through our CARE (Campus Awareness Response and Evaluation) system (go to gru.edu/students and click the ‘CARE” button) and someone will follow up to check in on the person you are concerned about.

Our Counseling Center provides professional counseling services to currently enrolled students at no cost. For more information on the center, how to deal with distressed students, recognizing warning signs, making referrals, or locating off campus support group information visit gru.edu/admin/counseling.

Sincerely,

Mark Allen Poisel, Ed.D.
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs

Additional Resources:

• Crisis, Grief and Healing
• Journey of Hearts (an online place for anyone grieving a loss)
• GriefNet.org (an internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss)
• Grief Share (Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church) 706-738-8822
• Grief Share (Warren Baptist Church) 706-922-7041
• Grief Support (Trinity Community Bereavement Center) 706-729-6021
• Georgia Crisis and Access Line 800-715-4225