The document provides recommendations to improve student mental health services and residential life at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). It summarizes the current Counseling Center and Student Health Center services. It recommends increasing counseling staff to meet recommended ratios, adding virtual counseling options, and joining programs like JED Campus and Kognito for training. For residential life, it recommends comparing SHSU's facilities to peers, increasing housing to meet demand, and implementing modern designs with kitchens and bathrooms. The goal is to better support the growing student population and increase retention through improved mental health and residential services.

1. DIRECTOR OF THE
DAY PROJECT: SHSU
Mentor: Frank Parker
Presentation by:
Contessa Haynes, Chris Arcos, & Vitia Bosch-Martinez

2. Counseling Center Services: Background
 Sam Houston State University serves approximately 20,107 students
 The Counseling Center consists of an Executive Director, Assistant Director, and
10 counselors
 Currently offers Individual counseling, Group counseling, Couples counseling,
Crisis intervention, and Case management
Contessa Haynes

3. Student Success
 Student mental health corresponds with student success (retention & completion)
 By improving overall student mental health, this will directly correlate with student success
 Importance of continually looking for ways to improve services

4. Recommendations
1. Increase staff to meet the ratio recommendation by the International Association of
Counseling Services: 1mental health professional per 1,500 students.
**Currently SHSU is at an approximate ratio of 1 per 2,000 students.
2. Supplement to existing services by adding virtual counseling services via online and text
messaging.
**Technology to assist with intake. For example: YOU at College created by Grit Digital Health
This online portal acts as a virtual counselor, asking students questions
about their mental and physical well-being and directing them to the
appropriate campus resources.
**Taken from website statement
http://youatcollege.com/product/

5. Recommendations
 To assist with building upon current program:
3. Join JED Campus
JED Campus is a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) designed to guide schools
through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems, program and policy development
with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse and
suicide prevention efforts. **Taken from website statement
http://www.thecampusprogram.org/learn-about-campusprogram

6. Recommendations
 To assist with training of faculty and staff:
(Academic advisor, residence hall staff, student peer leaders)
4. Join Kognito
Health simulation company that believes in the power of conversation to inspire and inform,
impact how people think and act, evoke empathy and change lives. ** Taken from website
https://kognito.com/products/

7. SHSU Student Health Center: Background
 The SHSU SHC currently staffs 2 physicians, 2 nurse practitioners, 2 medical
technologists, 1 registered nurse, 4 vocational nurses, 1 certified medical assistant,
1 pharmacist, 1 pharmacy technician, and 1 wellness education nurse.
 The services provided include: office visits for routine illness, nursing care,
immunizations, STI screenings, a full service pharmacy, and laboratory testing.

8. Student Health Center cont.
 In addition to its normal services the SHSU SHC also offers a Women’s Clinic. This
clinic provides the following services: pregnancy testing, reproductive health
counseling, nutrition and weight management, pelvic examination, bloodwork and
others.
 The SHC also provides a Dental Clinic. The services provided here include:
preventive exams, cleanings, endodontic services, oral surgery, wisdom teeth
consultations, and more.

9. SHC Compare and Contrast
 To determine the quality of care provided by SHSU it is crucial to compare its
services to those of its peer institutions in size and location.
 The Stephen F. Austin Health Clinic only employs 1 physician, 1 family nurse
practitioner, 3 nurses, and 2 laboratory technologists.
 SFA also does not provide access to dental services or a pharmacy.
 Lamar Universities Student Health Center employs 1 emergency nurse practitioner, 2
physicians, 1 pharmacist, 3 nurse practitioners, and 5 nurses.
 Lamar does provide access to a pharmacy on campus but does not offer dental
services.

10. Compare & Contrast Cont.
 Based on its peer information I would conclude that SHSU’s current quality of
service is above average despite its continually growing student population.
 The national standard for health care providers to student ratio is about 1 provider
to every 2000 students. SHSU currently employs 1 provider to about every 4500
students.
 For an example of an institution with a closer student to provider ratio we offer
Texas State University who employs 7 staff physicians, 5 nurse practitioners, 14
nurses, and 1 pharmacist.
 TSU is roughly twice the size of SHSU, so it remains important for SHSU to refer to
its sister system school as a guide to continue to provide the services necessary for
its growing population.

11. SHC Recommendations
1. Increase health center staff to meet 1 provider to 2000 student ratio.
• SHSU is currently seeking to employ 1 registered nurse and either 1 physician
assistant or advanced nurse practitioner. This will be a good first step toward
reaching its desired ratio and should plan to continue offering more positions in its
future FY18 budget and beyond.
2. Utilize an ACHA assessment service to monitor the universities quality of service
to remain a leader among its peers.
• ACHA currently offers a National College Health Assessment and a Patient
Satisfaction Assessment Service to help institutions identify their students health
needs and the quality of service being provided.

12. Recommendations cont.
3. Take the Healthy Campus pledge and commit to achieving the Healthy Campus
2020 goals and objectives.
• Currently the only Healthy Campus partner in the state is Houston Baptist University,
by taking the pledge and working towards addressing objectives such as health
impediments to academic performance and substance abuse SHSU will prove its
dedication to the success and well being of its students, faculty, and staff.

13. Residential Halls Current Facts
 26 residence halls and apartments
 Housing approximately 3300 Bearkats
 All beginning freshmen required to live on campus first year
 Enrollment 20,477
 50% of students are “first-generation”
 71% of students are “At Risk” students
How can SHSU meet the demands of the growing student population who wish to live on campus and
still maintain current residential halls?

14. Residential Halls
 Statistics have proven that living on campus has a direct correlation with student
success.
 “First-generation” students
 “At Risk” students
 Current and future students seek more from residential facilities than in past.
 The number 1 reasons students reject institutions is – INADEQUATE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
 Residential facilities ranked 2nd in importance during college visits
 Institutions asks themselves –
 What should our dormitories be like?
 What models should we follow?
 Where on campus should they be?
 How many rooms/beds should we add?
 Where will the funding come from?
 How can we update what we already have?

15. Recommendations
1. Association of College and University Housing Officers – International
Campus Housing Index
• Go-to guide
• Compare to peer institutions page
Facilities – As campuses expand and update their residence halls to meet changing student demands, this sections
provides an invaluable look at residential buildings, construction trends, and the maintenance they require.
• Residential Buildings
• Details regarding number of buildings and area managed by facilities departments
• Types of buildings owned and managed by campus
• Bed capacity for different types of buildings
• Maintenance
• Details regarding maintenance budgets and operations.
• Details regarding maintenance and custodial staff for residential facilities.
Category

16. Recommendations
2. Partner to Meet Changing Needs
• Private management firms
• Outsourcing
• Capstone Development Corporation – 7 facilities in state of Texas
• Decision makers
• Student Affairs
• Residence Halls
• President

17. Recommendation
Intentional Design of Student Occupancy
 1/3 rooms are single for upperclassman
 2/3 double for incoming freshman
 Indiana University - Bloomington
 Virtually every single room occupied
 Significant in college town where off campus housing is
abundant
3. 21st Century Project
Right-sized community baths
 Decrease the density of number of students using the
bathroom
 Card-accessed bathrooms assigned to sets of four double
rooms
Kitchens are a great community builder
 Each residential unit has a kitchen
 Shared cooking supplies and equipment
 Spaced used daily

18. REFERENCES
Albright, G. & Goldman, R. (2009). Kognito. Retrieved from
https://kognito.com/products/
Conrad, J. (2017). You at college. Grit Digital Health. Retrieved from
http://youatcollege.com/product/
Perry, C. (2016, February). Campus-based practices for promoting student success:
Counseling services. Retrieved from
http://www.mhec.org/sites/mhec.org/files/201602counseling_services.pdf
The JED Foundation. (2016). Campus program. Retrieved from
http://www.thecampusprogram.org/learn-about-campusprogram

19. Sam Houston State University. (2016). Student Health Center. Retrieved from
http://www.shsu.edu/dept/student-health-center/
Stephen F. Austin State University. (2016). Health Clinic. Retrieved from
http://www.sfasu.edu/healthclinic/126.asp
Lamar University. (2016). Student Health Center. Retrieved from
http://students.lamar.edu/student-engagement/student-health-
center/index.html
Texas State University. (2016). Student Health Center. Retrieved from
http://www.healthcenter.txstate.edu/
American College Health Association. (2016). Healthy Campus 2020. Retrieved
from
http://www.acha.org/HealthyCampus/Home/HealthyCampus/Home.aspx
?hke y=66e6892e-786c-4739-a156-f7def495f53c
REFERENCES

20. Association of College and University Housing Officers – International. (2017).
Retrieved from http://www.acuho-i.org/home/portalid/0
HermanMiller. (2007). Room and board redefined. Retrieved from
https://www.hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hermanmiller/documents/
research_summaries/wp_Room_and_Board.pdf
Reynolds, G. L., (2007). The impact of facilities on recruitment and retention of
students. New Directions for Institutional Research, 135, 63-80.
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