Impact Spotlight: Amanda Hux Leads University of Arkansas to Add 988 to Student IDs
By: The Coalition for Student Wellbeing
At the Coalition for Student Wellbeing, we believe student voices are the most powerful force for change in higher education. Amanda Hux is proof of that.
As Student Body President at the University of Arkansas — a role she’s been building toward across four years in Associated Student Government — Amanda has always been motivated by the same thing: paying forward the mentorship she received. “I had fantastic mentors throughout my time at the UofA,” she told us, “and I felt indebted to present that same positive change to my community.”
When the Coalition reached out about the 988 on Student IDs campaign, it didn’t feel optional. “This initiative felt like a non-negotiable — not only for the life-saving impact it has, but also because of how easy it was to make a simple change to campus IDs.”
From SEC Exchange to 988 on Student IDs
Amanda and the Coalition first connected at SEC Exchange in the summer of 2025, a conference dedicated to equipping SEC student governments for the year ahead. When the Coalition for Student Wellbeing later launched its national 988 advocacy campaign, the team reached out to Amanda directly, exchanged emails about implementation specifics, and Amanda got to work.
Her first email to the Campus Card Office was straightforward — explaining the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, how it was being added at universities across the country, and asking to schedule a meeting. What happened next surprised even her.
“The card office emailed me back and asked me to swing by that same afternoon for a quick chat. I sat in her office for no longer than 10 minutes.” The director told Amanda she trusted the student voice — and that if this would help students, she was ready to act. As it turned out, the office was already in the middle of redesigning the cards and had actually been planning to remove the old crisis number entirely. The timing was perfect.
Within a week, Amanda had a proof in her inbox. The new batch of University of Arkansas student IDs will now carry the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
A Message to Other Campus Leaders
For Amanda, this wasn’t just a policy win — it was personal. “In the fall of 2025, I lost my uncle to suicide. While I felt helpless at first, I began to seek ways that I could contribute to the cause of suicide awareness and resources.” The 988 campaign gave that purpose a concrete outlet, and she hopes other students will feel the same sense of possibility.
“It is a cost-efficient, straightforward, non-political initiative. Everyone agrees that mental health is an important wellness factor across campus, and this should establish buy-in from any administrators you need to go through to complete it. I believe this is a simple act of extreme compassion that is necessary across our campuses.”
Amanda’s story is a strong testament to how resiliency and resourcefulness can fuel student advocates, and to just how achievable this change really is.
Want to bring 988 to your campus? The Coalition for Student Wellbeing has a free advocacy toolkit to help you get started. View the toolkit here.
Impact Spotlights is a new vertical of the Coalition for Student Wellbeing’s educational content focused on highlighting student changemakers advancing student wellbeing on campuses nationwide.