Life on the Hill can be described as a place where the only
constant is change. The ever-present construction going on near the
dorms serves as a physical manifestation of the constant internal
restructuring of residential life programming.
The student health advocate program is no different, as it is
making modifications for next year. While these changes offer
numerous benefits and expanded services, the SHA program must also
retain the current qualities that make it effective.
According to Tiffani Garnett, SHA program coordinator, the
program will “shift focus from student health and wellness to
student development,” which will emphasize the emotional
well-being of students through programming and activities.
Though much is still tentative as the reorganization process is
ongoing, one thing is for sure: The program is not recruiting any
new SHAs for the 2006-2007 school year.
Although the number of returning SHAs has not yet been released,
it will most definitely be fewer than the number this year, as some
SHAs are not returning because of graduation or for other
reasons.
According to Pam Viele, director of student health education, an
advantage of next year’s plan is the expanded knowledge and
experience of the returning SHAs, who will not have to sit through
training with new recruits; rather, they can direct their energies
toward developing their current skills and knowledge and expanding
their responsiveness and aptitude.
Viele stated that the program plans to raise awareness of
students’ overall well-being through various kinds of
programming sponsored through the Center for Women & Men and
the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center health education
unit (of which the SHA program is a part). The workshops provide
advice on issues such as time and stress management and conquering
procrastination.
Viele stated that the SHA program will also strive to aid
students in accessing resources and information at a large public
university and in guiding college life success.
While the above adjustments are significant in the
program’s expansion to serve student needs, the clinical
aspect of the SHA is one of the most valuable features of the
program.
Within the multi-faceted role of the SHA, some of the most
prominent duties include assisting and advising fellow student
residents in the dormitories about health issues and providing
over-the-counter medication and first-aid supplies ““ like a
live-in health adviser with a wider range of availability.
As the roommate of a SHA, I’ve witnessed the immediate
impact of a SHA’s presence on residents. SHAs can
conveniently and reliably serve students when health problems
arise, at all hours of the day. Peak cold season and additional
stress during finals week make such services essential to
students’ health by giving students immediate access to
medications and other forms of alleviation.
“Just having (the SHAs) there is comforting. … When I
need drugs, they’re there,” Stephanie Wang, a
second-year psychology student, said.
Though my dormitory has a sizeable number of SHAs compared to
other residential buildings, I feel that even with these numbers it
is difficult to cater to the large population, especially since not
all of the SHAs are available all of the time.
In light of the upcoming program reforms, maintaining
accessibility and convenience will be crucial in continuing
residential life enhancement.
With fewer SHAs, it would be helpful to have centralized,
24-hour locations throughout the Hill (such as at the front desks
of each building) to dispense medication and supplies, in addition
to the returning SHAs.
In addition to the newly proposed programs and projects,
workshops on the Hill covering basic first aid and treatment of
common ailments would greatly benefit residents (and even
non-residents), and would lessen their dependency on SHAs. Though
they might not be attended by all students, it would be nice to
have these options in case a SHA is not around.
Also, in order to effectively integrate these new programs into
residential life, proximity should be considered. Instead of
on-campus locations, holding these workshops and other activities
on the Hill (at Sproul lecture hall, Rieber Fireside Lounge, or De
Neve auditorium or quad) would draw greater participation and
interest from residents.
Health is often neglected ““ even taken for granted ““
during the busy course of everyday college life, and the SHA
program is valuable in safeguarding neglected student health.
Beneficial aspects of the program should be preserved as the SHA
program expands its vision of student health. These can be
safeguarded most effectively with active student feedback, which
Viele said the program seeks and welcomes. Such responsiveness
would productively sustain the constantly changing tradition that
defines life on the Hill.
E-mail Yoo at jyoo@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to
viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.