Hand Raises

Ask for help when you’re not sure where to go

Hand Raise allows students to “raise their hand” by issuing a referral on themselves, leading to direct connection with support staff across campus. This feature can be used when a student is not sure who to go to for help.

Upon submission, students will receive an auto-email with resources that may support them while waiting for a staff member to reach out directly. In most cases, a staff member will contact the student within three business days, typically via their Virginia Tech email account.

To submit a Hand Raise:

• select the Hand Raise icon on the quick launch menu
• click ‘create a hand raise’
• choose the appropriate topic
• if you question has to do with a specific class, select the course
• add comments
• click ‘submit’

It is very important to include a comment explaining what you need help with so staff can provide the most accurate support possible. You don’t need to include sensitive information, just the basics to help us get you to the most effective support.

There are four topics students can choose when submitting a Hand Raise:

• I need help with an academic concern- used when a student is having difficulty in a course, registering for classes, experiencing conflicts with an instructor or classmate, etc.
• I need help with a non-academic concern- used when a student is having difficulty outside of the classroom including roommate conflicts, finding involvement opportunities, experiencing a loss, etc.
• I need to change my major - provides students with instructions on how to schedule a transitional appointment; to connect with staff, the student will need to follow those instructions. (This hand raise is not available in the summer.)
• I need help with basic needs (food, housing, living expenses)- provides students with resources from the Dean of Students Office and Food Market. Dean of Students staff may reach out to the student with more information specific to student comments.