Photo by Victoria Durgin
By Victoria Durgin, Editor in Chief
Susquehanna’s Counseling Center will implement several changes for the upcoming fall semester as part of the university’s “SU 2.0” initiative.
To some students, these changes are long overdue after years of what they feel were inadequate procedures and treatment options.
Senior Dez Edwards is one of those students. She said she first sought treatment during her first year at Susquehanna and, because of ongoing difficulties, ultimately stopped going for treatment.
Edwards returned to counseling her sophomore year, where she felt she did not fit well with the counselor treating her.
“I tried to get another counselor, but the wait times were so bad and also I didn’t feel like I could pick my counselor, because the process was so hard,” Edwards said.
Edwards recounted what she said was a process with “lots of hoops to jump through” and ultimately stopped seeking treatment.
“I just kinda lost hope, in the Counseling Center in particular,” Edwards said.
Senior Jennifer Cesak said she had many of the same concerns when she sought help from the center.
Cesak’s first time at the center was during her sophomore year, when she said she was referred for treatment by a concerned staff member.
Like Edwards, Cesak said wait times were long and she felt she was constantly emailing to get treatment that suited her.
“I barely had the energy to do day-to-do things, let alone to chase the Counseling Center for the care I needed,” Cesak said.
Recent changes at the Counseling Center have addressed waiting time issues, according to Dean of Health and Wellness Dr. Stacey Pearson-Wharton.
Pearson-Wharton said the addition of two new counselors for this semester and additional drop-in hours have lowered wait times for a first appointment to 1.75 days.
Junior Lauren Runkle said she did not have any issues scheduling a virtual appointment with a counselor last semester.
“I emailed the Counseling Center and they gave me names of counselors along with their availability, so it was rather easy,” Runkle said of her experience.
But for Edwards and Cesak, the first appointment wasn’t the issue; it was scheduling out subsequent appointments that became difficult.
Pearson-Wharton said she “pays very close attention” to the time in between appointments and many of the changes she hopes to implement for the fall will address these delays.
“My goal is always to get services to students as soon as possible,” Pearson-Wharton said.
Pearson-Wharton also said students can request to change their counselors if they don’t feel their individual treatment is successful by reaching out to her directly.
Edwards said she tried to do this when she sought treatment two years ago, and while she was told she could switch counselors, was only switched to a new counselor for one session before being returned to the initial counselor because of what she was told were “scheduling issues.”
For Cesak, this process left her with little trust in the treatment she was offered.
“I feel like it’s either spot fixes that don’t help or it’s jumping through hoops to get what you need,” Cesak said.
Wait times and treatment at the counseling center often only go so far in a student’s efforts to get support on campus. Accommodations requests go through Disability Services and the Center for Academic Success, not the Counseling Center.
Additionally, wellness checks called in from concerned individuals are reported to the CARE Team outside of the Counseling Center for coverage. That team is currently headed by Dean of Student Life Christie Kräcker and includes representatives from eleven offices and departments across campus.
Cesak said she often feels frustrated and like she is running in circles to get the proper information through the right offices and finds herself explaining the same things every time she gets sent to a different person.
“We know when we’re being passed around,” Cesak said.
Edwards said she thinks there needs to be a “whole system in change” in how operations are handled across departments.
To Cesak, individuals across parts of campus have been helpful, but communication between offices as a whole lacked.
“I appreciate all the work that does get done,” Cesak said.
System-wide changes appear to be on the way courtesy of the SU 2.0 initiative. While specific changes have yet to be announced, the program’s description on the official university website calls for “reconstituting Susquehanna’s business model as one that empowers us to collaboratively ensure we deliver a student-focused model that effectively recruits, serves and retains our students.”
In an email to all students concerning the fee schedule for the 2021-22 academic year, Executive Vice President Mike Coyne hinted at changes to come.
“A centralized group of staff will work across many systems and offices to help you achieve results more efficiently. Public Safety, the Counseling Center and the Student Health Center, for instance, are all going to see significant reforms designed to increase your satisfaction,” Coyne said in the email.
Edwards and Cesak are both seniors and as a result will not see these changes during their time as students, but they both said they want to see students advocate for changes they want to see.
Cesak said she just hoped that students don’t feel as though they are alone in their experiences and, as a result, don’t speak up about difficulties.
“I want people to know that there are always others… you are feeling what you are feeling and it is valid,” Cesak said.
Edwards echoed Cesak’s words in encouraging students to talk about issues on campus.
“If students here are unhappy, they should demand more,” Edwards said.
Pearson-Wharton said she is always open to listening to students and wants as much input as she can get to advance improvements at the counseling center.
The Counseling Center can be reached at counseling@susqu.edu and 570-372-4385.
Students can also leave anonymous comments in a virtual suggestions box for the SU 2.0 initiative here.
