As one of the few universities to offer student case management, NDSU is taking strides to ensure students’ needs are being addressed.

Case managers at NDSU assist students in addressing problems that interfere with their academic and personal success. From relationship and family issues to concerns about housing and food insecurity, NDSU’s case managers are the go-to people to help students navigate these complex challenges.

Lead student case manager, Angela Reinke, supervises a second social worker in NDSU’s case management, who both ensure students have everything they need to be successful. Reinke also works with a grad student who manages the Goods for the Herd Food Pantry in NDSU’s Memorial Union.

“When I started four years ago as the first NDSU case manager, universities were just beginning to understand that additional support was needed to fully assist students,” Reinke said. “NDSU is ahead of most and well positioned to identify students in need early, connect them to supports and assist the students through a coordinated care model. We support the whole student.”

In her day-to-day role, Reinke connects students with on and off-campus services. Some examples of her responsibilities include helping students identify and communicate their needs, systems navigation, coordination of mental and physical health needs, understanding and obtaining insurance, shelter and food insufficiencies, time management-balancing jobs/families/academics and budgeting.

NDSU case management also provides on-campus workshops, such as Mental Health First aid and Colors and Connections that are open for anyone on campus to attend.

For students who seek out assistance through case management, Reinke said their chances of success are higher than if they didn’t receive that support.

“Case management is voluntary; these students want to be successful at NDSU and show they need additional support to do that. Many students utilizing case management would just give up, because for them, it is too overwhelming to problem solve on their own,” she said.

Anyone, whether a student, staff, faculty, parent or community member, can refer any NDSU student that they have a concern for by filling out a referral online. After the referral is received, the student will get a call and email offering assistance.

Reinke, who is a lead student case manager, always knew she wanted to work in social work, but case management quickly became a passion early on in her career.

“It is a way of helping people to help themselves through development of executive functioning skills, accountability and responsibility,” Reinke said. “I was drawn to NDSU because it was a new position, something I could help build while working with the most developable population: College students.”

Reinke said she enjoys watching students develop skills that turn hurdles into successes. Other things she enjoys about her job is seeing faculty and staff refer students to case management and seeing the gratitude and collaboration from campus partners.

One of the things that has stood out the most to Reinke about NDSU is the amount of care faculty and staff across campus have for the wellbeing of students.

“Having worked in state agencies for decades, this campus is a leader,” she said. “It is amazing how everyone works together for the best interest of the whole student’s NDSU experience.”

Those wanting to learn more about case management can visit the case management website. Reinke can also be reached directly via email angela.reinke@ndsu.edu or phone 701-231-1809.