UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — While the COVID-19 pandemic is currently causing physical separation in the Penn State community, it has not destroyed the sense of unity and camaraderie among the students. To combat feelings of isolation and help make undergraduate students aware of the campus resources that are available to them, the Penn State College of Education Student Council (ESC) has started weekly virtual educational/networking programs called S.O.A.R. (Student Opportunities, Advocacy and Resources) and Restore.

“I’ve been involved with Education Student Council since I was a first-year student,” said Taylor Young, president of ESC and a senior majoring in secondary English education with minors in English and education policy studies. “This year, being in a pandemic and with heightened realizations about social issues and racism, it made me realize that I don’t think we’ve done enough advocacy work. Through S.O.A.R. and Restore, we are better fulfilling our mission to advocate for students and meet the needs of the students in the College of Education.” 

ESC alternates its virtual weekly programming, which is held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, with S.O.A.R., which features educational programming with guest speakers from across the University Park Campus; and Restore, which has a more informal format and gives students the opportunity to participate in recreational activities such as Pictionary and a virtual escape room.

“It’s a time and space to ‘restore,’” Young said.

The S.O.A.R. and Restore programs began to take shape over the summer, Young said, when ESC members “brainstormed programming we could do.” They hosted focus groups with students, who shared their thoughts about circumstances surrounding the pandemic.

“I also learned from the students what they thought they needed,” she said. “We’re trying to connect students with and make more visible the existing spaces for resources, advocacy and opportunities.”

In the first S.O.A.R. session on Sept. 24, participants learned about Penn State COVID policies and resources from Lisa Greeley, a resident adviser in East Halls and a College of Education student. In this first session, attendees also learned about the Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity from Eric Duran, program coordinator for the center. In the initial Restore session on Oct. 1, students navigated a virtual escape room hosted by Campus Recreation’s Outdoor Adventures.

On Oct. 22, the S.O.A.R. program featured presentations about two resources in the College of Education that are meant to help students succeed academically and socially, as well as care for their mental and emotional health. Brenda Martinez, a student advocate specialist, spoke about the Office of Education and Social Equity, which “supports students to establish healthy connections within the academic community through resource navigation, providing study space, offering multicultural programming, and student advising.”

In addition, Christy Beck, assistant teaching professor of education and supervisor of the Dr. Edwin L. Herr Clinic, which is run by the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education (EPCSE), gave a presentation. The Herr Clinic serves two purposes: the Counselor Education master's and doctoral programs use the Herr Clinic for clinical practicum in which they serve the University student population; and the School Psychology doctoral program uses the clinic to provide services to children, adolescent and young adult referrals from the community.

The Oct. 29 Restore session was a Penn State and College of Education themed Kahoot (a quiz-based game) with prizes for winners that included Penn State College of Education paraphernalia.

In addition to the formal programming of S.O.A.R. and Restore, Young said there are opportunities for more casual socializing. The Zoom meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. for those who would like to chat informally and bond with peers who are in similar situations.

“We have a consistent group of people who log on to join and eat dinner together,” Young said. “We’ve had some students who’ve had to quarantine, and they said that it’s been helpful to see, ‘Ok, I don’t have to eat alone in my room while I’m quarantining in my room for two weeks … just have human connection.”

Young said she welcomes feedback from College of Education students about the S.O.A.R. and Restore programs since “there’s always room for growth.”

“I genuinely care about my peers’ health, well-being and success, and it’s my goal to be a responsive leader,” she said.

To learn more about the S.O.A.R. and Restore programs, e-mail Young at tmy5110@psu.edu.