For All Students

The Writing Center:  UNC’s Writing Center supports student writing in a variety of ways. All UNC students can schedule an in-person appointment with a writing coach or submit writing samples to an online coach who will provide specific feedback. This set of guides on scientific writing can be helpful to those who want to improve their writing skills. International students for whom English is a second language can access a wide variety of resources including writing groups, courses, and speaking groups. All international students will want to check out these guides for helpful ESL tips on academic writing.

Academic Resources and Training on Campus

• Health Sciences Libraries Classes (including Endnote, Bioinformatics tools, and more)
• How to Learn How to Code is a summer series for introduction to coding
• Maker Space for 3D printing, electronics, woodworking, and more.
• R Open Labs offers lessons and in person help with R

Other Academic Related Policies

• UNC-CH Honor Code: covers student conduct related policies including cheating, alcohol policy, and more
• UNC-CH Class Attendance and Religious Observance policy
• Federal Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) [pdf]

The Graduate School Handbook: All policies and procedures set forth by the UNC Graduate School, the unit which governs all BBSP PhD programs. Below are direct links to some commonly requested policies.

• Leave of Absence for Doctoral Students
• Grading and Grade Appeals
• Parental Leave Policy [pdf]
• Residency status for tuition purposes

Graduate Student Professional Federation (GPSF): Advocacy organization for graduate students.  GPSF representatives operate the Graduate Student Honor court, advocate for the interests of graduate students on campus committees, fund graduate student groups, and host events for graduate students.

Graduate school is rigorous and demanding. Many graduate students struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental illness during their training. While it is common to experience these issues, you don’t have to suffer. With help you can manage your symptoms and live a balanced, fulfilling life.  Below are a few of the options available to BBSP graduate students.  If you are unsure where to turn, you may reach out to Dave McDonald (david.mcdonald@unc.edu or 919-843-3387) for a consultation. While Dave is not a trained mental health provider, he is able to direct students to appropriate resources.

Mental Health & Wellness Program: The School of Medicine has a trained mental health provider who works with PhD students: Amanda Hall, MSW, LCSW, LCASA. Amanda is available to meet with students one-on-one to address mental health concerns by providing short-term counseling and referral to additional resources. To make an appointment with Amanda, email her at amahall@email.unc.edu.

UNC Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS): In addition to Amanda Hall as our BBSP-specific CAPS counselor, students can also go directly to CAPS to be seen for urgent needs without an appointment for counseling or medication management. CAPS is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Health Clinic. If you do not know where CAPS is located or are uncomfortable walking over there on your own, Dave McDonald and others in the OGE are available to walk with you. In addition, CAPS has a phone line that is available 24/7 for immediate needs, and you can find out how to contact them on their website.

BBSP Virtual Mindfulness Room: If you need to take a break, explore the different interactives in this virtual space.

Other resources outside of UNC-CH

• PhD_balance: a social media initiative (primarily using Instagram) focusing on mental health in higher education
• Science Careers and Mental Health collection from Nature journals

Your PI is invested in your success and is an important source of support and mentoring during your training. In addition, the individuals listed here a resource to you. Seek them out when you need advice or additional support.

• Your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or Student Services Manager (SSM): Your DGS and SSM are specifically invested in your progress and your well-being. They have experience with common student issues. It is important to keep the program informed if you are having any difficulty that impacts your performance because they can assist in resolving issues.
• Dave McDonald, Office of Graduate Education: Dave can provide advice and coaching to students who are experiencing a difficult issue. Typically Dave will also provide a connection with other appropriate on and off campus resources. Dave can be reached at david.mcdonald@unc.edu or by phone at 919-843-3387. Dave is available any time to answer questions, to advise on an unusual situation, for coaching, or to direct you to resources.
• Kate McAnulty, Associate Dean for Student Affairs: Kate, based in in the Graduate School, is a resource for all UNC graduate students and can advise especially on unusual or difficult situations. Many students have the misconception that seeking advice from someone in The Graduate School is equivalent to filing a formal complaint, but this is not the case. The Graduate School is a valuable resource for you at any stage. Kate can be reached at kmcanulty@unc.edu or by phone at 919-962-6329.
• Office of the Dean of Students: The Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) is concerned with the well-being of all students on campus. You do not need an appointment to meet with someone in the Dean of Students office.  Walk In Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
• UNC Ombuds: a confidential resource for all UNC-CH students, faculty, and staff. The Ombuds office can offer advice, coach individuals on responding to a situation, mediate conflicts, and more. As with The Graduate School, the Ombuds does not have to be a ‘last resort’ option and is not a formal complaint process. You can contact them anytime, and no one has to know. To make an appointment email, email one of the staff in the office directly.

All graduate students have a right to a safe, respectful working environment free of harassment. Students also have a right to an ethically responsible scientific environment, and as UNC scientists they have a responsibility to conduct their own science ethically. The links below point to UNC policies governing ethical and professional behavior relevant to biomedical graduate students, as well as options for reporting policy violations. Click here to access all UNC Policies.

David McDonald is available for consultation if you are unsure about how to handle a specific situation or whether it constitutes a policy violation.

UNC SOM Student Mistreatment Report Form

The UNC SOM is committed to a positive learning environment that is conducive to learning. Mistreatment can include speaking insultingly, belittling, threatening, attacking, retaliating, and other behaviors. On the above page is also a link to the mistreatment policy which goes into more detail.

UNC-CH Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct 

• safe.unc.edu: UNC’s portal for information and reporting incidences of discrimination, harassment, interpersonal violence, and stalking.
  
• File a report: more information about reporting options including anonymous support. Most individuals employed by UNC to whom a student might choose to make a report are considered Responsible Employees and must report these incidences to the Title IX office. This helps the university coordinate a response. Anonymous reporting options are described here.
• Gender Violence Services Coordinators: confidential support staff in the UNC Women’s Center (the GVSC are not responsible employees and can keep conversations confidential)
• Guide to getting support [pdf]

UNC-CH Policy on Research Misconduct [pdf]

• Detailed guide for Responsible Conduct of Research at UNC-CH
• Report a Research Ethics Violation
• UNC-CH Research Integrity Officers (RIO) 

UNC-CH Policy on ADA Reasonable Accommodations

• Register with Accessibility Resources for accommodations in class.
• Register with EOC for workplace accommodations including religious, accessibility, or medical conditions.

Report any Policy Violation: scroll down the page to select the type of concern you are reporting.

UNC Ombuds: a confidential resource for all UNC-CH students, faculty, and staff. The Ombuds office can offer advice, coach individuals on responding to a situation, mediate conflicts, and more. Contacting the Ombuds office is not necessarily at ‘last resort’. It can be a first step, a place to get advice. Their resources page contains many helpful links on conflict resolution.

The Carolina Ready Safety App for Apple and Android devices has great tools and information for you to safely work at UNC. You can have a friend watch your progress across campus, set automatic check-ins, report a tip, or call for help.

Campus Police: If you feel unsafe contact the campus police (919-962-8100) right away and report the incident. If it is an emergency, you can dial 911.

UNC MoveSafe: after-hours transportation options.

Compass Center for Women and Families (*confidential)
This off-campus resource provides confidential bilingual (English and Spanish) services for individuals and their friends/family who are experiencing emotional, physical, verbal, economic, or sexual abuse from an intimate partner or family member. Services include crisis counseling, safety planning, help with protective orders, support in civil and criminal DV court, support groups, and information and referrals Also provides information, referrals, and support groups. Services are provided to people of all races, classes, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities. You can call their 24-hour hotline at 919-929-7122.

UNC Gender Violence Services Coordinators (*confidential)

• Cassidy Johnson, 919-962-1343
• Holly Lovern, 919-962-7430
• Email: gvsc@unc.edu
• Hours: Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm

Orange County Rape Crisis Center (*confidential)

This off-campus center supports the community with a bilingual (English and Spanish) 24-hour crisis intervention service that provides support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault and adult survivors of child sexual abuse, their families, and friends. Information and referrals concerning law enforcement, medical, and legal processes can also be accessed through the hotline. Support groups are available throughout the year for female-identified, male-identified, LGBTQ-identified, and secondary survivors of sexual violence. Programs on sexual assault awareness and prevention are also provided. You can call their 24-hour hotline at 866-935-4783.