Confidants: A Listening Ear
The Confidant system is a new initiative in the academy. Confidants actively approach all students to offer a listening ear. They meet students individually to check in, and, if necessary, refer students to the appropriate support persons at school (counsellor, psychologist, student affairs, etc.), or elsewhere. Confidants provide general support and guidance regarding internal and external professionals, procedures and regulations, as well as complaint procedures.
The individual meeting with a confidant is an important opportunity for each of you to discuss in a 100% confidential setting issues or difficulties you encounter during your studies. The confidant’s role, as described above, is to support and guide you to solve the issue(s). The meetings are about your well-being and safety; therefore, we hope that you will use this chance to raise your voice about your difficulties or simply what you would like to see changed, improved, reinforced in the structure of the Academy. All information that you discuss with the confidant will be strictly held confidential and anonymous.
The confidants reach out to every student through email to organise a meeting, you can also contact them here: confidant@rietveldacademie.nl.
Note: The Confidants is part of The Student Support working group formed by students, lecturers and representatives from the Student Council and Unsettling, they focus on strengthening the position of the individual student in their personal well-being and resilience as a basic condition for studying through programming and additional support.
Contact: studentsupport@rietveldacademie.nl