Investing in Success — Even From a Distance
The Hamilton family
It’s a perpetual question for many college parents: What can I do to help when I’m so far away?
Marci and Carlos Hamilton have asked that question several times during their time as parents of two current Buffs. That’s why they’re investing in the Student Support and Case Management (SSCM) program: to ensure students get the help they need.
The SSCM program, a program in the Division of Student Affairs, provides students with resources and support to achieve their personal and academic goals.
Case managers are trained to answer questions and coach students in self-care and self-advocacy strategies. They also connect students with campus partners, community resources and support systems to help them create a plan for success.
The Hamiltons, who live in Houston, Texas, specifically chose to philanthropically invest in this area because of the support their daughters have received from the program, giving them peace of mind even from a thousand miles away.
When their daughter Grace was struggling with her mental health last year, the SSCM office connected her with a case manager to work through those challenges.
“It was such a relief to know that Grace had support at school and somebody who could help her navigate her school work — who could not only show her the resources that are available but also talk to her professors on her behalf,” said Marci.
Another time, when their daughter Frances sprained her ankle and wasn’t able to attend class, the SSCM office served as an advocate and support system.
Investing in students helps them succeed
“The SSCM office is so good at assessing individual students’ needs and directing them to different venues of support at CU,” said Marci. “They really individualize their support to what the student needs — not to solve their problem, but to direct them to where they can get help and how to help themselves.
“SSCM case managers look at the big picture and take a holistic approach to student needs.”
The Division of Student Affairs, which manages the SSCM program, relies on support from parent donors to sustain this positive impact. “Parent gifts have made a tremendous impact on our ability to provide an exceptional student experience here at CU Boulder,” said Austin Jamar “JB” Banks, dean of students and acting vice chancellor for student affairs. “Each gift has an important impact as we work together to make holistic and intentional support of CU students possible.”
“We are grateful to the Hamilton family for their generosity and sincerely appreciate the investment each parent donor has made in the co-curricular programs offered through the Division of Student Affairs,” he continued.
In the long term, the Hamiltons hope that by investing in higher education and student support programs at CU, they’ll help make the world a better place overall.
“The future value and payoff — having functional adults who are well-educated and mentally healthy — is huge for society,” said Carlos. “We want to help students, including our daughters, to be happy and live a productive life.”