SLS Professors should emphasize services provided by the Student Health Center

Maytinee Kramer / Staff Writer

It’s a unique experience for freshmen to transition into college life. The University  recognizes the importance for academic and developmental success and mandates enrollment in First Year Experience classes, which are designed to prepare students for the college environment.

While the class reviews the skills and competencies needed to navigate the University’s environment, it sometimes fails to provide in-depth information about the Student Health Center and its various programs.

Though there is a section in the SLS book that deals with issues pertaining to health, it is not a requirement for professors to cover the center’s services. Professors have the liberty to invite Student Health representatives to talk to students about the services available to them.

Because of this, some students are still not aware about the help they can get on campus.

“We would love for it to be a requirement for every class to host one of our presentations so students can get the information from someone who has been trained in the subject,” said Wendy X. Ordonez, coordinator of outreach and educational media.

The Student Health Center has a diverse list of specialties and programs, equipped to educate students on a range of topics from health to domestic violence.

If invited, representatives from the Student Health Center can provide presentations on the Victim Empowerment Program, which deals with sexual assault and abusive relationships, as well as Healthy Living, which provides education on sexual health, aromatherapy, drugs and alcohol. They can also inform students on the services provided by FIU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, which aids students struggling with anxiety and mental health.

In addition to standard health services, SHS offers a “safe zone” for the University’s LGBT community by offering LGBT students primary care as well as reproductive and sexual health care.

Everything is a case-by-case basis, but each program is tailored to take into consideration the individual student to efficiently provide a safe and friendly environment.

Student Yoobin Lee suggested that while it may not be a requirement, “[The] Student Health Center and [SLS] classes can make it more known by doing little projects. For me, SLS class made us do a project on each chapter and present it to the class. It really helped to remember the information.”

Universities are designed to further education, so professors should not opt out of covering student health or the services the Student Health Center offers, because the information is essential to every student. The Student Health Center programs have the potential to change lives, or even save them, so everyone should hear it at least once; the earlier the better.