ANU Vice-Chancellor calls for measures to strengthen student support systems

Acharya Nagarjuna University's Vice-Chancellor, K. Gangadhara Rao, called for measures to strengthen student support systems during the inauguration of a Faculty Development Programme. The two-day event, organized by Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education as part of RUSA 2.0, aims to equip educational administrators with strategies to promote student well-being and resilience.

The programme's objectives include creating supportive campus environments, early intervention mechanisms, and comprehensive approaches to student wellness. Speakers emphasized the importance of family, community, and social cohesion in building resilience, as well as the role of extracurricular activities in fostering creativity, adaptability, leadership, and social responsibility.

Mental health experts discussed identifying student distress and the necessity of timely intervention, with teachers, wardens, and mentors advised to act as first responders. The FDP also highlighted the importance of clear referral systems, wellness centers, peer-support networks, and campus-wide mental health initiatives.