Recovery Is for Every Bear: National Collegiate Recovery Week

BARC celebrates National Collegiate Recovery with a week of fun and engaging events

April 4, 2023
BARC

BARC provides various weekly support meetings, guided meditations and many other resources and is located on campus in East Village near the corner of Third Street and Bagby Avenue.

Contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin, Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-327-8012
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WACO, Texas (April 4, 2023) – Baylor University's collegiate recovery program, Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center, known as BARC, is celebrating National Collegiate Recovery Week and National Collegiate Recovery Day with a line-up of engaging activities for students April 11-15, including daily lunches, games, puppy therapy and a formal dance.

Each year, collegiate recovery programs nationwide celebrate the founding of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) by observing National Collegiate Recovery Day on April 15. On many campuses, the observance has grown into a weeklong celebration known as Collegiate Recovery Week.

BARC's week-long schedule of events is designed to advocate, honor and celebrate collegiate recovery voices while helping students learn about resources and enjoy community and support from peers.

"It's important to celebrate National Collegiate Recovery Day [and week] to honor and promote allyship for our students in recovery," said Kelsey Austin, M.S., LMFT-A, assistant director for Collegiate Recovery at the BARC. "This is a day to raise awareness and promote belonging for collegiate recovery among the Baylor community."

The staff of the BARC has a saying, "Recovery is for every Bear," and understands that recovery is not defined in one way – it encompasses a wide range of needs for a wide range of students. Recovery can refer to addiction issues, including drugs, alcohol, gambling and eating disorders, as well as recovery from emotional trauma, self-harming and self-sabotage, Austin said.

"Recovery is synonymous with well-being to me," Austin said. "Recovery means intentional re-evaluation and reformation of relationships with substances, mental health, interpersonal relationships or anything else someone may struggle with."

Located on campus in East Village near the corner of Third Street and Bagby Avenue, BARC is open from 8 a.m.- to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center provides various weekly support meetings, guided meditations and many other resources. Students are welcome to come to the center to study, recharge or decompress in a low-stimulation space. BARC staff strives to provide a safe space without stigma for students to heal and rebuild their lives.

"I hope the community can normalize recovery," Austin said. "I hope the events lessen the "otherness" and stigma around recovery. These events are designed to promote engagement and belonging for any Bear recovering from anything."

National Collegiate Recovery Week Schedule of Events

All events are open to Baylor students, faculty and staff and held at the BARC or in East Village Commons unless otherwise stated.

TUESDAY, April 11

WEDNESDAY, April 12

THURSDAY, April 13

FRIDAY, April 14

SATURDAY, April 15

  • National Collegiate Recovery Day – Bowling & Brunch, 10 a.m. to noon, Location TBD.

ABOUT THE BEAUCHAMP ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER

The BARC provides support services for students in the initial stages of identifying an addiction, including counseling and possible referral to off-campus rehabilitation, as well as continued support for students who have completed rehabilitation programs. The program also provides reintegration support for students who may have left school and those who are already in recovery. BARC partners with additional recovery support services through the Baylor Counseling Center and Wellness Office. Located on the bottom floor of Teal Residential College, near the corner of Third Street and Bagby Avenue, BARC is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Access can be made available to trusted students in recovery after hours with ID card access.

The BARC is a significant part of the University's commitment to providing resources for students faced with all aspects of recovery. The program enhances Baylor's efforts to foster the holistic well-being of its students in a manner that reflects the University's values as a Christian community where wholeness, spiritual growth and academic success are priorities. BARC was made possible by a $2.5 million gift from Bob and Laura Beauchamp of Houston in 2017.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.