The State University of New York and The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York announced today the completion of a $2 million Health & Counseling Services Center on the University at Albany campus. The Center opened in time to welcome students for the spring semester. The relocation of the state-of-the-art facility to an on-campus location was part of a project to renovate the former Beverwyck and Schuyler Halls on the Dutch Quad. Together, the renovations totaled more than $33 million.
The project, which will provide students on-campus access to health, wellness, and psychological services, was financed with low-cost, tax-exempt bonds issued by DASNY as part of its SUNY Dormitory Facilities Program.
“Ensuring the wellness of our students continues to be a leading priority for SUNY, and this new building will enable our UAlbany clinicians to better meet the diverse and immediate health needs of our campus community.” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. “Our successful partnership with DASNY is resulting in a top-notch facility that delivers quality health care, so our students can thrive on campus and beyond.”
“DASNY is proud to partner with SUNY and deliver this truly exceptional quality care facility, the first of its kind to be completed on a SUNY campus,” said Reuben R. McDaniel, III, Acting DASNY President and CEO. “Our design and construction teams are at the forefront of creating healthy, meaningful spaces to empower students and help them in achieving academic success. DASNY is pleased to be a part of such a forward-thinking project. The University at Albany’s Health and Counseling Services will serve as a model for other campuses across the state.”
“The Health and Counseling Services Center is emblematic of UAlbany’s strong conviction that students’ health and well-being is key to their success,” said University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez. “This new, accessible, and state-of-the-art facility not only brings responsive medical and psychological services to where our students live and learn, but it will also provide them a wide range of holistic resources and training using evidence-based practices. I would like to thank DASNY and SUNY for their support in making this beautiful center possible, and congratulate UAlbany’s facilities team and our excellent staff for their amazing work in bringing this much-needed facility to life.”
The Health and Counseling Services Center features provider offices, exam and triage rooms, a laboratory, on-site pharmacy, and nurse’s station, as well as areas for workshops such as a napping class to help students improve their sleep quality. Other amenities include a kitchen and break room for staff, a meditation room, and a large group room complete with media capability for use during presentations and training sessions.
Finishes throughout the Center feature natural colors such as blue, green, gray, and brown to promote a calming atmosphere for students, visitors, and staff.
The new Health and Counseling Services Center will maintain some of UAlbany’s nationally recognized programs, including mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives and the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program. The Middle Earth program is entering its fifth decade and provides peer counseling and hotline services to students struggling with drug and alcohol issues, relationship concerns, and eating disorders. Students will also continue to receive medical, sexual, and gynecological health services from highly trained clinicians in a confidential and supportive environment.
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