Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 3,700 hate crimes against Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people have been reported in the United States, according to Stop AAPI Hate. In the last few weeks alone, there has been a series of incidents targeting senior citizens in California, some of which resulted in fatalities, random attacks on Asian residents in New York City, and the most recent shootings that occurred in Atlanta, GA, resulting in the deaths of eight people, six of whom were identified as Asian women.

AUCCCD member Micky Sharma is interviewed in the PBS NewsHour segment, How the Pandemic is Impacting College Students Mental Health

The Association for University and College Counseling Center directors (AUCCCD) strongly condemns the unlawful and unwarranted attacks in Washington, DC, brought upon by a lengthy campaign of manipulation and misinformation. While AUCCCD firmly supports the fundamental first amendment right of the people to peaceably assemble, the desecration of our Capitol, threat to our dedicated political leaders, violence, and misguided anger aimed at a fair election process unwinds the fabric of our Democracy. AUCCCD always opposes violence, obstruction of freedom and the creation of unnecessary fear and anxiety.

The Association for University and College Counseling Directors (AUCCCD) condemns the racial violence continuing to claim the lives of unarmed persons who identify as Black or African-American. This shameful 400-year history of discrimination, degradation and death must stop -- and it will require the commitment of each of us.

Steps to mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19 have been in effect since March of this year. As states start to slowly re-open businesses and workplaces including colleges and universities, the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) strongly advocates for a public health-informed approach to re-commencing in-person mental health services.