As part of the South Campus Renovation project, many student services have been moved to the Academy Hall building. The Office of First Year Experience, the Dean of Students Office, and the Student Health Center are now located within this building.
“We’re pleased with what we have and the space,” said Dean of Students Mark Smith. “It gives us more flexibility. I think the building will really evolve. I think because FYE [the Office of the First-Year Experience], the Dean of Students Office, and Health Center are here, more student life offices will be moved here. It will become a real student life center.”
Katrin Wesner, health systems manager, remembers that the transition for the Student Health Center was fairly easy because of good planning. She said that the health center closed at noon on Friday, May 9, had finished moving boxes by that night and then was again open for business at Academy Hall at 1 pm Sunday.
Even though there were no hitches with moving in, she said getting used to a building with other people has taken some getting used to. The construction workers have been very helpful to the staff, making the transition easier. “It’s a challenge every day to figure out what door to use,” Wesner said.
She likes the new space even though she says that the health center staff was sad to leave the old health center. However, the relocation of the health center has given staff the ability to add new services. There is one additional exam room and another office for a counselor who will be hired this summer.
Some had voiced reservations about the location, but Smith doesn’t think that students will be deterred from coming to Academy Hall, especially once the construction is completed. Currently, the office is getting as many international students coming through as usual, but the true test of the impact will come in the fall.
Wesner believes students can get more done with many services in the same building. International students just have to go downstairs rather than walk from the Troy building to the health center as in the past.
Smith said, “Overall, we’re pleased with the location, student access, and opportunities to grow.”
