A collegiate recovery community is a College or University-provided, supportive environment within the campus culture that reinforces the decision to engage in a lifestyle of recovery from substance use. It is designed to provide an educational opportunity alongside recovery support to ensure that students do not have to sacrifice one for the other (Association for Recovery in Higher Education, 2021.)
The Center for Students in Recovery provides a safe space and supportive community for students in recovery or seeking recovery from addiction of any kind. Participation is completely voluntary and there is no barrier to entry. Students at any stage of recovery and at any point in their academic journeys are welcome. Come hang out during open hours, come to a support group meeting, attend a sober social event or just get in the loop about volunteer opportunities and upcoming activities. All are free to visit our space and pick up information about our resources with or without attending a meeting or event. Recovery works and can be part of a genuine college experience.
Our meetings and events are largely in-person; however, we also provide virtual options for one-on-one staff meetings, some weekly recovery meetings, Recovery Ally Trainings, and informational presentations. All meetings are accessible on a drop-in basis and no registration or sign-up is required. Please contact us at recovery@austin.utexas.edu.
The Center is located on the 2nd floor of Bellmont Hall, BEL 222. Campus Map
It’s common to feel uncertain about taking the first steps to get connected with the recovery community. If you’re interested in talking about your options or how we can support your recovery journey, you can schedule a one-on-one office hour appointment with one of our staff members. Staff office hour appointments can be held either in-person or virtually and typically last 30 minutes. Please contact us at recovery@austin.utexas.edu.
Yes. If a problem arises after business hours or on the weekends, call the University CMHC Crisis Line at 512-471-2255. A counselor is available to talk with you about your concerns 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In the case of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.
Crisis Services - I Need to Talk to Someone Now
Call the Behavioral Concerns and COVID Advice Line (BCCAL) at 512-232-5050 if you are concerned about the behavior of a UT student, faculty, or staff member. Trained staff will assist you in exploring available strategies, and will also provide appropriate guidance and resource referrals.
If you have concerns regarding an individual's behavior who is not at UT, or even your own behavior, call the CMHC Crisis Line at 512-471-CALL (2255) (UT Students Only).
Visit the University Health Services page for information on medical withdrawals and course load reductions.
Sober Austin maintains a database of local sober living resources and is a great place to begin to explore options.
It is quite common for students to want to learn a bit more about what options are available on campus to support their desired change in their substance use before jumping into a recovery meeting or group. It can be a big, sometimes scary, step to begin the process of changing the ways that we engage with certain behaviors or addictions. Fortunately, our campus offers a variety of supports that may be helpful.
The Center for Students in Recovery offers drop-in recovery groups for students interested in learning about their recovery options and what recovery could look like for them. We also offer one-on-one meetings with our professional staff, trained in recovery coaching, to help students determine what supports feel like the best fit for them. Please contact us at recovery@austin.utexas.edu
The Counseling and Mental Health Center is available to discuss mental health options (both in-person and telehealth appointments available.) Schedule an initial appointment online or call 512-471-3515.
Yes. Students of all ages and academic levels are welcome, from traditional undergraduates to non-traditional, graduate and professional students. Students who attend other colleges and schools in the Austin area are also welcome at CSR meetings. We welcome students pursuing various pathways to recovery and celebrate and support each person’s individual recovery journey. There is no formal membership and our meetings and activities are open to all students in recovery on campus. The Center is run by full-time staff members and part-time student assistants who are knowledgeable about recovery resources on and off campus. We’re here to link you to resources and help you get the support you need.
Recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2021.)
There is no one standard method for how people start and maintain their recovery over time. The most commonly used methods include:
While each type of recovery meeting that we offer may have slight differences in focus, you can expect a warm welcome and friendly folks! Our meetings are held in our main Community Room, just to your left when you enter our space in BEL 222. Our meetings are designed to provide a safe and supportive space for students exploring addiction recovery and often the sharing of personal experiences with addiction, recovery, successes, or challenges is encouraged, but not required of each person should you wish not to share. We offer a space where individuals respectfully listen to each other, share thoughts, feelings, provide validation, and offer encouragement to fellow members to help members cope with issues in their lives related to their substance use or addictive behaviors. We ask students to not attend the group under the influence. Coffee, tea, and snacks are provided.
The best way to know is to check one out, but answering yes to the following questions might indicate benefit from one of our groups:
Please contact us at recovery@austin.utexas.edu for any questions.
Yes, the Center offers scholarships to UT Austin students in recovery. For more information on eligibility requirements and application information, please review our scholarship portal.
The Center for Students in Recovery takes student privacy very seriously. All recovery meetings and groups are closed to observers. Center staff do not disclose the identities of those who attend our activities. Information on reporting options for student survivors of violence can be found through the CMHC Voices Against Violence webpage.
There are two main ways we hope to support you as you navigate supporting someone in your life in recovery. The first is through our Family Den group, designed for students who have a friend or family that may be struggling with addiction or already in recovery. More information about the Family Den group and when it meets may be found on our meeting page.
Secondly, the Recovery Ally Training program was developed by the Center for Students in Recovery as another way to support students in recovery on the UT Austin campus. Upon completion of the Recovery Ally Training, a participant will be able to:
Please visit our Recovery Ally page to learn more about the trainings and to view and RSVP for an upcoming date.
Please contact Katy Redd at kredd@austin.utexas.edu.
Your feedback matters to us. Please let us know how we’re doing by filling out our form. Information provided via this form will be transmitted over a non-secure channel. Please do not submit personal or confidential information.
For all inquiries, feedback, or to be added to our email list, please reach out using the form below. All messages will be returned during our standard business hours. We will be in touch as soon as we are able, and look forward to hearing from you!
 |
 |
 |