Rowan supports students in and out of the classroom

Rowan University students have the potential to be lifesavers.

Via R U a Lifesaver, a program of Healthy Campus Initiatives at Rowan, students — as well as faculty and staff — can facilitate helping troubled students get assistance.

According to Allison Pearce, assistant director of Healthy Campus Initiatives, R U a Lifesaver empowers Rowan community members to learn how to talk to students who may be experiencing mental health distress. Part of the initiative — funded by a $270,000, three-year grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ­— is the online program Kognito. Kognito is a game-based simulation that teaches participants how to determine when a student needs help, how to talk students they are worried about and where they can turn for help. (To take the course, go to www.kognitocampus.com/login. Students enter “rowan133,” and faculty/staff enter “rowan445.”)

“The goal of RU a Lifesaver is to decrease the stigma around mental health issues and to increase help-seeking behavior among students,” Pearce said. “I think it’s hard for some. But students know if something is wrong with their friends before we do because they see them every day. We want them to recognize if something is not okay with themselves or their friends and to know where the resources are to get help.”

This is just one of the offerings of Healthy Campus Initiatives, which provides health and wellness programing that focuses on five main areas (suicide prevention, alcohol and other drug education, sexual health education, sexual assault prevention and mental health outreach), often working in collaboration with the Wellness Center, Student Rec Center and other departments.

And it is just a small part of support services Rowan offers all of its students.

Not always ideal

In an ideal world, students graduate high school, head to college, ace their exams, join activities, earn awards, land internships, make friends, maybe even fall in love — and then in four years spread their wings a little further and sail off into a joyful and productive future.

In an ideal world.

But life often is not ideal. And at times students need assistance to help them enjoy a successful college career.

Rowan University offers a broad range of support services and encourages students to tap into them whenever they feel a need and to recommend friends to do the same.

Below is a brief overview of just some of those services. Students who have concerns always are welcome to call the departments or ask their advisor for other suggestions.

Office of Social Justice, Inclusion, and Conflict Resolution (SJICR)

Robinson Hall Room 118
www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/sjicr

Hours of operation:

Contact:
Gardy J. Guiteau, Director
(856) 256-5495
socialjustice@rowan.edu

SJICR develops and implements educational activities, services and programs geared at providing all students opportunities for personal, social, professional and academic identity development.This work is done by way of student mentorship through the Dr. Harley E. Flack Student Mentoring program; serving as a "home away from home" for students who self-identified as ALANA (African, Latino/a, Asian and Native American), women, and LGBTQIA+; providing opportunities for student spiritual exploration; and collaborating with University offices and departments to provide workshops and social justice training to staff and faculty.

To access resources and support programs, Rowan students may either drop in during office hours, call to RSVP for a scheduled event/workshop or make an appointment with a staff member, or send an email to socialjustice@rowan.edu with a request for a workshop to be facilitated for a student group.

Academic Success
Center & Disability Resources

Savitz Hall, Third Floor
www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/asc/

Hours of operation:

Contact:
John Woodruff, Director
(856) 256-4234
woodruff@rowan.edu

The Academic Success Center provides/includes disability resources, veteran affairs, academic coaching and study skills workshops. Also located in the Academic Success Center, and reporting to Dr. Rory McElwee, are testing services and tutorial services. These resources are available to students as they transition into and through the University, as needed, from orientation to graduation. This year, more than 750 students with disabilities registered with the Academic Success Center, including 65 students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asperger’s). More than 300 veterans are certified for classes each semester.

Students may call, email or walk in.

Counseling and Psychological Services
The Wellness Center

Winans Hall, First Floor
www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/counseling

Hours of operation:

Contact:  (856) 256-4333

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) center offers a variety of services for students, some of which include individual counseling, group counseling, crisis counseling, on-call counseling services, psychiatric services, and drug and alcohol screenings. The center also is launching a new program at the University, “Let’s Talk,” a service that provides easy access to informal, confidential consultations with CPS counselors. Depending on what the student’s needs are, the type of treatment will vary for each individual. If students are having concerns about their psychological well-being it is imperative to seek out help, especially if they are in crisis. The CPS staff provides mental health services to treat a variety of issues and concerns and to ensure the most successful outcome for each individual. Students may call the Wellness Center to find out more information regarding services. CPS also provides walk-in services for students to see the on-call counselor during office hours.

Student Recreation Center

Student Recreation Center
www.rowan.edu/rec

Hours of Operation:

Contact:

Tina Pinocci, Associate Vice President, Campus Recreation and Student Center
(856) 256-4604
pinocci@rowan.edu

Melanie Alverio, Assistant Director, Marketing and Members Services
(856) 256-4957
alverio@rowan.edu

Focusing on developing sound minds and sound bodies, the Rec Center provides students with an opportunity to spend their leisure time in a positive, productive and healthy way. Participation in recreational activities provides an opportunity for stress reduction, socializing, new skill development, health benefits, fun/enjoyment, competition, teamwork and cooperation.  The majority of students connect with Rec Center programs and services through a walk-in process. They are met by frontline student staff, who can immediately assist or direct them to the appropriate professional staff or graduate staff.  The Rec Center also provides on-line registration processes for some programs.

The range of services includes, but is not limited to:

Drop-in/Informal Recreation (basketball, volleyball, soccer, racquetball, badminton, wallyball, cardio/free weight/fitness training, swimming, ping pong, running/walking on the track)

Sport Clubs (more than 40 individual and team sports that range from recreational to highly competitive)

Intramural Sports (individual and team sports and tournaments for students)

Fitness/Wellness (more than 50 group fitness classes taught by certified instructors, along with personal training services)

Rowan Writing Center

Campbell Library, First Floor, Room 131

Hours of operation:

Contact:

Sharada Krishnamurthy, Director
(856) 256-4163
krishnamurthy@rowan.edu

Rowan Writing Center
(856) 256-4376
writingcenter@rowan.edu

The Writing Center works to help students become better writers and communicators by providing tutorial services, giving students feedback on their writing in all disciplines and at all stages of the writing process

Students can go online to rowan.mywconline.com and once they create an account, can schedule appointments online. They can also call or email the writing center to schedule an appointment or for more information.