FAU may approve a $1.17 increase in the student health fee this month in hopes of lowering the risk of campus violence.

According to a review of FAU’s health services, released in October by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS), the Counseling Center’s mental health services do not meet the growing demand of students seeking psychological and mental health counseling.

This problem, the report states, could lead to higher dropout rates and a higher risk of campus violence.

“We are hoping at least two more mental health professionals can be hired,” Director of Student Health Services Cathie Wallace says of the increase. “This should get us closer to the national average.”

The national average as defined by the IACS is 1,969 students to each counselor. The October report showed FAU’s 2007 student headcount at 26,525 with 12 counselors, a ratio of 2,210 students to each counselor. That’s two counselors below the national average and five behind the IACS recommended ratio of 15,000:1.

The proposed $1.17 per-credit-hour increase will raise the student health fee to $7.50 per credit hour this August, generating another $649,102 to the 2008-09 health services budget to pay for at least two new counselors, according to Wallace.

Two new full-time staff members would open more appointment times to see more students. In fact, according to the Counseling Center, the number of student appointments more than doubled from 145 to 324 in the past year.

The Board of Trustees – the 13-member board that votes on all of FAU’s important decisions – is scheduled to vote on the increase later this month.

Wallace says she is positive the proposed increase will be approved and hopes to hire the new counselors by August.

Quick Info

To learn more about the Counseling Center, or to set up a confidential session, visit the Counseling Center Web site or call your campus counseling center:

Boca Raton: (561) 297-3540

Davie: (954) 236-1216

Jupiter: (561) 799-8621