After representatives on the Student Advisory Committee learned of lengthy waits to receive a weekly appointment schedule with the University Counseling Center (UCC), the Students Association (SA) took action and passed the “Resolution Urging the Expansion and Improvement of UCC Resources” on Feb. 9.
Class of 2016 Senator and Wellness Coordinator Melissa Holloway was involved in bringing the matter before the SA Senate.
“I was hearing from students that there was a long wait list at the counseling center,” Holloway said. “I met with Paula Reynolds at UCC and had a conversation with her to ask about the process and see where the problem might lie.”
SA President and senior Antoinette Esce also met with Director of University Health Service Dr. Ralph Manchester.
They discovered that the root of the problem lay in a lack of funding: with the current level of funding, which affects staffing, only a limited number of cases can be handled. While all students are given a preliminary appointment within a week of contact with UCC, they may have to wait to schedule a regular weekly appointment.
When the problem was brought before Senate, they created a resolution calling on University Health Service, the Office of the President, the Board of Trustees and other relevant parties “to increase funding for UCC to allow for the betterment of [UR’s] counseling services.”
In the upcoming weeks, members of the SA, including Esce, will reach out to administrators to ensure that they are aware of the resolution and its contents. While the resolution itself will not alter funding, it may encourage administrators and other parties to put the matter on their agendas and perhaps encourage increased funding for UCC.
“We’re hoping that the relevant parties will see the resolution as a cry for help,” Holloway said.
In the event that UCC does receive increased funding, the resolution also requests that such funding be used “to expand the hours available for appointments to better accommodate students’ academic schedules, and to increase staffing for the purpose of expanding student access to individual and group counseling sessions.”
Ultimately, the SA resolved to support expanding the resources allocated to students’ mental well-being.
“Hopefully we can increase the resources for students on campus who need this support,” Holloway said. “You don’t want to be one of those kids who are moderate priorities. Having the resources to get all students support when they want them will create a safe environment for all students.”
Remus is a member of
the class of 2016.
