Board of Trustees Approves Student Services Initiatives

Two new positions — a full-time director of health education programs and a half-time LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) coordinator — have been created in the student affairs and campus life division. The Ithaca College Board of Trustees approved expenditures on the initiatives as part of the College’s 2001–2002 budget.

"While the focus of these efforts will certainly be on providing expanded services to our students, we see them as bringing important resources to the entire College community," says Brian McAree, acting vice president for student affairs and campus life. "They are consistent with several of the goals ranked as among the most urgent for the institution to meet as determined by the All-College Planning and Priorities Committee."

The director of health education programs will plan and develop programs for students on topics related to substance use, abuse, and dependency; AIDS; sexuality; sexually transmitted diseases; eating disorders; and other health and wellness issues. The position was developed largely as a result of the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on Alcohol and Other Drugs, and will serve as a central component of the College’s alcohol and other drugs prevention program.

The specific efforts of the director will be geared toward recruiting and training health peer educators; working with departments, committees, and other programming/education groups to promote alternative activities that are healthy and focused on the development of life skills; providing health information and referrals to students, faculty, and staff who have questions or personal concerns regarding various health topics; developing promotional campaigns; and working with faculty to infuse substance abuse prevention content into courses throughout the curriculum.

As part of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the LGBT coordinator will serve as a "point of contact" for students on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered issues and assist with counseling/referral services as needed. The position will coordinate role-modeling and mentoring opportunities for LGBT students; organize resources including books, periodicals, videos, and other educational materials; and provide assistance to student organizations including BiGAYLA and Created Equal. Funds will also be provided to establish an LGBT resource center.

Additionally, the first-year residence hall program will be expanding to encompass three residence halls. Established in 1995, the first-year residence hall program is an option that allows incoming students to participate in an active living/learning environment. Beginning in one hall, it expanded to a second in 1997 as application numbers increased. The latest expansion will give the program 337 spaces, more than doubling the available spots. Beginning next year, it will be located in Rowland, Boothroyd, and Tallcott Halls.

"Students who participate in the first-year residence hall program are more likely to stay at the College than those who do not," says McAree. "The expansion will give us more opportunities to offer programs and create greater efficiency in delivering services. Even with larger numbers of participants, we will be better able to foster a greater sense of community and to support the academic and personal growth and success of our first-year students."