February 2026 Insights: Navigating Mid Semester Momentum
February brought a noticeable rise in student related concerns as academic expectations increased and the semester settled into full swing. The CARE Team continued its focus on early intervention, safety assessment, and coordinated support, ensuring students had access to the resources they needed during a demanding time of year.
February Overview: Reports & Key Activity
In February, the CARE Team received 127 reports, involving 116 unique students. Each
report was evaluated for safety, risk, and threat, with referrals made to Student
Outreach & Support (SOS) for non clinical case management when appropriate.
The most common concerns shared with the SOS Case Managers included:
• Direct statements indicating distress — 56
• Expressions of hopelessness, fear, or worthlessness — 29
• Family related concerns — 23
• Grief or loss — 20
• Illness or injury — 17
Student Outreach & Support supported 10 students who faced hospitalization during
the month of February by coordinating with faculty and supporting the student in their
transition back to school. These numbers reflect a busy and emotionally complex month,
with students experiencing a wide range of stressors related to health, academics,
and personal circumstances.
These themes align with what we typically see mid semester, as students begin to feel
the cumulative impact of academic pressure, personal responsibilities, and health
related challenges. Students are facing higher rates of anxiety due to approaching
mid-terms and health concerns with students facing illness as we finish out winter.
You will see below that these concerns correlate to the top resources and referrals
for February.
Top Referrals for February
Student Outreach & Support (SOS) continued to play a central role in connecting students
with campus resources. The most frequent referrals included:
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for mental health and emotional wellbeing
support.
• Office of Student Accommodations & Testing (OSAT) for course accommodations and
testing assistance.
• Success Coaching to aid in academic success.
• Student Health Services for medical support and services.
These referrals reflect a strong need for mental health support, academic accommodations, and holistic student success services.
Shocker Share A Meal: Continued Growth
Shocker Share-A-Meal is program aimed at combating food waste and food insecurity
on our campus. The program alerts the campus community when there is leftover, free
food available on campus. The program is open to all — current faculty and staff with
a WSU ID, as well as all currently enrolled students. These leftover portions come
from campus events where food was ordered through WSU Catering but was not fully consumed.
As of February 28th, total enrollment included:
• 270 students
• 75 faculty and staff
This program remains a vital resource for addressing food insecurity on campus by redistributing unused catered food to students in need. Increased participation demonstrates growing awareness and utilization of this support system.
Looking Ahead: March Expectations
As midterms approach, we anticipate continued increases in reporting related to academic
stress, mental health concerns, and requests for support. The CARE Team will maintain
its focus on early identification, safety assessment, and proactive outreach to ensure
students feel supported during this high pressure period.