The College of Natural Sciences opened its newly renovated wellness center on Jan. 22 on the fifth floor of Painter Hall, according to an Instagram post from the Natural Sciences Council.
The new center houses non-academic coordinators who advise students on how to withdraw from a class because of well-being concerns and will notify professors of absences due to emergencies, according to the College of Natural Sciences website.
Anneke Chy, assistant dean of advising and student support for the college, said in an email the space will also have CARE counselors. They will guide students on how to cope with failure, manage stress and overcome test anxiety, according to the Healthyhorns website. The center also has a food pantry available for students, Chy said.
Natural sciences students can book an appointment with a non-academic coordinator through the college’s website. To visit with a counselor, students should visit the Healthyhorns website and click on their designated college to find a professional.
Sham Al Masalmeh, vice president of the Natural Sciences Council, said she proposed the idea to create a wellness center two years ago after seeing other colleges at the University had their own space.
“There was a lot of talk (about) improving mental health in general, but it kind of felt like hallway talk,” neuroscience senior Al Masalmeh said. “I thought to myself ‘If CNS is the largest college at UT … we have a lot of stress on our minds, I wonder if we would also benefit from having a CNS Wellness Center?’”
Chy said in an email she worked with the Natural Sciences Council, faculty and the Provost’s Office to create the center. Prior to the opening of the renovated space, the college offered both non-academic and mental health support services in the Will C. Hogg building, but the offices were located on different floors.
“We know from experience, though, that having a one-stop space can be especially helpful as students navigate various challenges they may face in their time at UT,” Chy said in an email. “The establishment of a wellness center allowed us to bring those services together.”
Alex Holloway, student access chair for the Natural Sciences Council, said aside from the resources now being easier to access, the new center is more spacious.
“Oftentimes, UT students don’t know that they can access these resources for free on campus,” said Holloway, a cellular and molecular biology senior. “That’s something that’s really important to make sure that’s widely available.”
Al Masalmeh said she hopes the new center not only provides students with the support they need, but helps destigmatize mental health conversations.
“Needing help doesn’t make you weak,” Al Masalmeh said. “If you choose to participate in the CNS Wellness Center, that doesn’t mean you (fell behind) in any way. It just means you’re helping yourself get better.”
