1. Office of Counseling, Health & Wellness
Center for Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
Center for Health Promotion
Hammond Health Center

2. College years are a critical time when students are working on major life tasks:
Learning to live independently
Making difficult choices and decisions
Accepting responsibility
Forming new relationships
Contributing to their new community
Developing a sense of identity and purpose
These are important, sometimes very stressful life steps, and your student will need help and support along the way. The staff in the Office for Counseling & Wellness are here for support.

3. Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) www.ithaca.edu/counseling
College is the time when many individuals first experience problems with depression, anxiety, or other psychological problems.
CAPS statistics:
19% of IC students meet with a counselor each year 1900 students requested personal counseling
25% of each graduating class has come to CAPS

4. Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) www.ithaca.edu/counseling
Counseling services are provided by licensed and license eligible psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors.
CAPS staff have expertise in adolescent and adult development, student development, and health education.
Counseling services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.
The Center for Counseling & Psychological Services is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS)

5. CAPS’ Services
Group psychotherapy (relationships, mindfulness, grief, eating issues, sexual assault support)
Individual counseling (brief, solution-focused)
Consultation (how to help a friend)
Outreach (mental health issues, stress management)
Educational Programs (stress management, enhanced performance)
Emergency Services (Same Day Crisis and after business hours when residence halls are open)

6. Why do students come to CAPS?
Primary presenting issues include
Anxiety
Depression
Relationship issues (peers, partners, family)
Academic / Stress concerns
53% of IC students report stress as a primary academic problem
Under “other” list: homesickness, stress, family concerns, time management, sexuality, assertiveness, eating and body image concerns, trauma, cultural issues, grief

7. How will you know if your student might benefit from CAPS?
When tearful calls outnumber the others
Talk of hopelessness, lack of purpose
Overwhelmed by anxiety and worry
Significant change in weight
Frequent illness
Excessive fatigue
Changes in behavior or hygiene
Isolation from others consistently

8. How you can help 200 First Year IC students said:
Keep in touch: “Calls & texts are appreciated, but don’t call too often.”
“Send care packages, they take our minds off the stress”
“Don’t focus on school work when we talk, we think about it enough”
“Be open-minded about our academic goals.”
“Be positive, even when times are rough.”
“Be caring, reassuring, loving and kind.”

9. Center for Health Promotion www.ithaca.edu/sacl/healthpromotion
Free wellness coaching
BASICS alcohol/drug consultations
Health information materials
Student Health 101 online wellness resource
Light therapy units
Massage Day events

10. Alcohol Edu Course- What & Why
1.5 hour interactive online course
Evidence-based, nonjudgmental information
Primary prevention: To prevent substance use problems before they start
WHY?
Substance use is a significant health concern of colleges nationwide.
Substance use is associated with academic impairment, injuries, sexual assault, and other problems.
First year students are particularly vulnerable to experiencing difficulties with substance use.
Always emphasize that this is a “non-opinionated, science-based course” – pausing on each adjective. Emphasize that each are important for success, especially having a course – that makes this real education rather than just dynamic information. Establish that we were the first and have been the leader ever since. The database point is HUGE. Stop here to describe how big it is. We have matched pre, post, follow-up data from over 250,000 students – for a total of nearly 40 million datapoints. This year’s dataset will be ten times larger than the Harvard School of Public Health’s College Alcohol Study. To give you an idea, we’re sending an average of about 3,000 students per day through AlcoholEdu this Fall. The important thing is what we can do with this data. Comparison/cohort for our client schools, national aggregate comparison, and research and development. We’re the only place in the world you can get this. And we know everything from what in AlcoholEdu works to what it’s strongest effects are on a population.

11. Alcohol Edu - Who, How, When
All incoming first year students are expected to complete Alcohol Edu.
The information is valuable even for students who do not use substances.
HOW?
At the end of July, you and your student will each receive a letter from Vice President Ferro with information about how to access the course.
WHEN?
Alcohol Edu will launch on Monday, AUGUST 6th. The course must be completed by Friday, AUGUST 24th.

12. For Parents
Research shows that parents are still influential in their students’ decisions about alcohol use during college.
Our Parent Alcohol Handbook will be shared with parents of first-year students this summer by .
The handbook provides research-based tips on how to discuss alcohol use with your student prior to the start of college.

13. Center for LGBT Education, Outreach & Services
Ithaca College is nationally recognized as an LGBT-friendly campus
Ithaca College is named on of the “Top 25 LGBT-Friendly Colleges and Universities” in the country by Campus Pride and The Huffington Post in 2017.
NerdScholar designated our LGBTQ initiatives “Most Innovative” in 2014, the same year BuzzFeed featured us in a story about the best schools for LGBTQ students
In 2012 we were named one of the Top 10 Most LGBT-Friends college sports programs in the nation and one of the Top 10 Trans Friendly Colleges and Universities in the nation
Since 2010, Ithaca College has achieved the highest rankings – 5 stars – on the Campus Pride Index LGBT Friendly Campus Climate National Assessment Tool, and we’ve repeated that accomplishment each year since

14. Center for LGBT Education, Outreach & Services Actively fosters the academic success and personal growth of LGBT students
Six active LGBT student organizations on campus
Welcoming and supportive resource room for LGBT people and their allies
Presentations and training workshops on a large variety of LGBT issues
Educational and social events including speakers, a film series, and Gaypril, LGBT Awareness month and Rainbow Reception for LGBT seniors and allies

15. The Office of Counseling & Wellness
We Care!