Counseling center moves to early college building

The counseling center has moved temporarily to the early college building between the chemistry and geology building and Nail Technical Center during renovation of the first floor of Moody Learning Center.

David Rodriguez, director of counseling and advising services, said renovation should be completed in July.

He said once finished, the transfer center, counseling and advising services, career services and the veteran affairs office will move back to the first floor of Moody.

Disability support services, currently in Chance Academic Center, will relocate to Moody after construction, he said.

Student development classes meet on the second floor of the early college building and in the portables near the intersection of Locust Street and Main Avenue, north of the chemistry and geology annex.

The student development department will move permanently to the early college building once the renovation is complete, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the move began in October, but the center could not shut down its services because of spring registration, the center's busiest time.

The counseling center continued services Jan. 12 after closing the week of Jan. 9 to finish moving, but online capabilities ensure services are available.

"Just about anything that you can get done face-to-face coming in here can be done online," he said.

In addition to academic advising for first-time students and students who are undecided on a major, personal counseling is available for students in crisis situations, Rodriguez said.

Students can meet with counselors for three private sessions before receiving an off-campus referral.

Counselors assess students' situations and try to resolve them within three private sessions per semester; otherwise, they refer students to off-campus counselors.

Licensed counselors have private offices and other counselors advise students in group offices but can meet in private if the student needs to disclose sensitive information, Rodriguez said.

"Licensed counselors are held to a higher standard," he said. "There are certain standards of privacy that we need to maintain."

For example, he said an adviser could stop the session if it started getting personal.

Rodriguez said he could vacate his office if an adviser needs a room to discuss a student's issue.

"We can make those accommodations," he said.

For January, counseling center hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Hours during the semester are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every first Saturday.

There are no office hours on other weekends.

For more information, call 210-486-0333.