The NCAA is celebrating Division III Week April 10-16, 2023. Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. Here at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, we want to use the opportunity to highlight some of the unique stories of Yellowjacket Athletics.
 

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When student-athletes at UW-Superior fill out their annual survey, almost to a person, the item that comes back deemed the most important is mental health. The demands placed on today's student-athletes are many. Student-athletes are pulled in numerous directions – coursework, sports, employment and a social life to name a few, and as a result, the need to pay attention to one's mental health has never been more important.
 
Enter Randy Barker.
 
Randy Barker, a one-time student-athlete and assistant coach at UW-Superior, is the director of counseling services on campus, and he oversees the Department of Student Health and Counseling as well as the Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well Being.
 
"I get to see firsthand the stresses that students today, not just athletes but students, face every single day. They face enormous pressure to be successful, whether that's internal pressure or external pressure, and sometimes, it just gets overwhelming, and they need someone. That's where we come in," Barker said. "In that way we are reactive, but our staff also dedicates a lot of time providing proactive services, trying to get ahead of things so a student never hits that place where they feel hopeless."
 
In 2022, Barker, on a nomination from UW-Superior Athletics Director Nick Bursik, was put forth as a candidate to serve on the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group. After an interview and screening period, Barker was added to the group charged with revising the NCAA's best practices as they relate to mental health.
 
"We're a branch of NCAA DIII Governance and we're a group that is excited to be working on something that is so important to our student-athletes," Barker said. "I think the formation of this group sends a strong message to college athletes that we hear them. Our group hears them and the NCAA hears them and we want to give them what they are asking for."
 
Today's student-athletes are asking for mental health resources – they want more of them and they want more access to those services. Students also want inclusivity, and the group is ensuring that.
 
"We are working to make sure we are prioritizing the mental health of student-athletes because that is a priority for them, but we are also working hard to make sure we are inclusive of all student-athletes," Barker said. "We are working to support the mental health and well being of diverse student-athletes – students of color, students with disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+."
 
Naturally, there are things Barker is learning as part of the group that he is bringing back to serve the student-athletes at UW-Superior, but he's also learning that UW-Superior can be a leader in serving the mental health of students.
 
"I think in some ways, especially in the way of proactive services, we're ahead of the game. Student-athletes have to have a physical before they are deemed fit to perform, and we've taken that a step further, mandating that they have a mental health assessment before they can begin practice here," Barker said. "The assessments are incredibly valuable for us and for the student-athletes. First, they get to know our location. That's half the battle. Second, they meet with a professional staff member, and that will make them more comfortable as the year goes on to come in if they need to.
 
"Our staff does a lot of trainings and workshops during the year, both with individuals and with full teams. All of it together shows that UW-Superior is serious about the mental health of students, and all of it results in better performance, not just athletically, but also academically."
 
Another thing that separates UW-Superior from many of its peers is the presence of the Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well Being, an on-campus resource committed to advancing the science and practice of mindfulness and well being by utilizing a multidimensional framework that recognizes a diverse population within the campus and region.
 
"Having the Pruitt Center right on our campus distinguishes UW-Superior regionally and within UW System," Barker said. "Our students have significant resources at their fingertips with the Pruitt Center, and we are continually working to make sure they know it's there and we are open to helping them with whatever they need."
 
Barker enjoys the daily interaction with the students and staff at UW-Superior, and he equally enjoys the time and work he's doing with the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group.
 
"It's extremely enjoyable having the opportunity to work with that group of people. To have so many people, from all around the nation, coming together with the goal of improving the lives and mental health of student-athletes is really a great thing to be part of," Barker said. "We have experts in the field with clear data and we're all excited to work through what the group is charged with.
 
"We all have the same goals. We all want to do everything we can to make the lives of students better."