New Emphasis on Student Physical and Mental Health
Published: March 25, 2022 | Read Time: 2 minutes
The Utah Board of Higher Education on Thursday approved Southern Utah University’s recommendations to increase student fees by a net of $44 per student to allow the university to create an on-campus health clinic and enhance mental health counseling. The fee increases were recommended and approved by SUU students. The Higher Education Board also approved SUU’s request not to raise tuition for the fourth straight year.
“Physical and mental health may be the most important issue on every college campus across the country,” said SUU interim president Mindy Benson. “We are committed to serving our students. Those additional resources now allow us to establish an on-campus health clinic and to provide additional student mental health counseling. We thank SUU students for leading on these two vital initiatives.”
“Health is everything. I very much appreciate the Board of Higher Education and SUU’s administration for creating the student health clinic,” said Nouman Kante, SUU’s student body president. “This clinic will serve current and future T-Birds’ healthcare needs.”
With the start of the Fall 2022 semester, students will have an on-campus health clinic. The medical care will be free for all uninsured, underinsured and low income students.
Also beginning in the fall, students will have access to greater mental health counseling. SUU’s counseling and psychological services (CAPS) will hire an additional therapist. In addition, students in SUU’s new Doctorate of Psychology program will provide counseling services as part of their academic training and students will soon have access to mental health counselors via virtual video therapy.
“We are keenly aware of the physical, social, and mental health challenges being faced by so many of our students,” said Dr. Jared Tippets, SUU’s vice president for student affairs. “Our student’s mental health needs to be addressed and to this end, we are working hard to bring more services to serve our students.”
The breakdown of the student fee increase includes:
- $64 per student to create a student health clinic
- $50 per student (from $40) for increased Counseling & Psychological Services
- $2 increase for student tutoring center
- Eliminate $32 per student fee for student computer lab.
Student fees will increase by a net of $44 per student starting next academic year.
Tags: Student Psychology CAPS