2008 Woodie Awards
New student health clinic in planning stages
Michael Rizzo
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: News
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Plans are in the works to replace San Jose State University's 50-year-old Student Health Center with a larger and updated health clinic in a brand-new building, campus officials said.
Veril Phillips, vice president of student affairs, said he hopes planning will be completed by the end of 2007 so SJSU can move on to architectural planning. And, it's possible that, much like the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, the new center may provide services for both students and the local community.
"(The new clinic) will have an adequate amount of space for student needs and growth," said Eloise Stiglitz, associate vice president of student services. "We're going to figure out a way to do extended hours to meet student needs. We'll be able to add some of the services we don't have now."
She said the new center will be large enough to provide dental, optometry and massage services. The building's design will take into account students' needs for privacy when approaching the front desk. The new focus will be on promoting lasting "wellness" rather than just treating "illness."
Socha Bell, a junior majoring in nursing, said this new priority will be a great step for the health center.
"One thing that's really important is promoting student mental health," she said. "I went through a lot of depression before."
Bell said that the one time she visited the health center it seemed understaffed. But Stiglitz said the new clinic will be designed in a way to increase productivity.
"Because there's more space, the service will be smoother," Stiglitz said. "We'll be able to design a team framework where all the physicians and nurses can work well together. Students may not see it so they won't be cognizant of it, but they'll feel it."
Talks between SJSU and San Jose city officials about locating a joint-initiative medical center on - or adjacent to - campus began in early May, Stiglitz said.
"It's very, very preliminary and it's a really big if," she said. "There's lots of issues to be resolved and timing is such that they may not get to be resolved in a time that will work."
Veril Phillips, vice president of student affairs, said he hopes planning will be completed by the end of 2007 so SJSU can move on to architectural planning. And, it's possible that, much like the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, the new center may provide services for both students and the local community.
"(The new clinic) will have an adequate amount of space for student needs and growth," said Eloise Stiglitz, associate vice president of student services. "We're going to figure out a way to do extended hours to meet student needs. We'll be able to add some of the services we don't have now."
She said the new center will be large enough to provide dental, optometry and massage services. The building's design will take into account students' needs for privacy when approaching the front desk. The new focus will be on promoting lasting "wellness" rather than just treating "illness."
Socha Bell, a junior majoring in nursing, said this new priority will be a great step for the health center.
"One thing that's really important is promoting student mental health," she said. "I went through a lot of depression before."
Bell said that the one time she visited the health center it seemed understaffed. But Stiglitz said the new clinic will be designed in a way to increase productivity.
"Because there's more space, the service will be smoother," Stiglitz said. "We'll be able to design a team framework where all the physicians and nurses can work well together. Students may not see it so they won't be cognizant of it, but they'll feel it."
Talks between SJSU and San Jose city officials about locating a joint-initiative medical center on - or adjacent to - campus began in early May, Stiglitz said.
"It's very, very preliminary and it's a really big if," she said. "There's lots of issues to be resolved and timing is such that they may not get to be resolved in a time that will work."
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