Working on student wellness

In the coming weeks, the entrance space to the Student Wellness Centre will become virtually unrecognizable. The Student Wellness Centre has been working closely with facilities to complete renovations with one goal — to improve student service. Rosanne Kent, the director of the Student Wellness Centre, recognized the pressing need for structural changes, a response to accessibility and privacy concerns.

“We have always had conversations with [the MSU] and asked them what students are saying and thinking. We also have a survey that includes a comments section, and we look at each and every one of those,” said Kent. “Visually I could see that people in wheelchairs were having [accessibility] problems, plus students were voicing issues about privacy. So we knew [change] had to happen. We just knew that we had to plan it in such a way that we could make it work with facilities.”

The current layout of the Wellness Centre includes three reception desks lined up side by side. Students waiting to speak to someone at reception line up directly beside these desks, making the space tight and personal. When students approach receptionists to book an appointment, it is easy for their voice to carry virtually around the whole room, even if they do their best to whisper. As a student in the wellness line, it is hard not to overhear conversations that are meant to stay private.

The recent renovations are tackling this issue. The new desks have additional barriers on either side that increases privacy and are structured in an "L" shape, with two receptionists on either side.  This means that instead of having each desk in a line, students will be more spaced out. The new layout also has a lot to offer in terms of accessibility for students using wheelchairs.

“[At the moment], the front staff have to stand up to speak to a student who is in a wheelchair [because of desk height]. We wanted to make sure that the space is usable and friendly for all students,” said Kent. “We want to target three fronts: accessibility, privacy and improved service. [In the new area] students can stand or sit, and [in either case] they will still be faced with a member of staff so that they can have a conversation. Plus, there are more barriers on the side so you can have more confidentiality for each student.”

The addition of a fourth desk will also improve flow and decrease wait time for students wanting to make an appointment. Changes to the reception area were completed under phase one and work on phase two will begin shortly.

“On Wednesday [March 18], we are going to start moving some of the reception staff that are in the current area over to the new area. Then we're going to take down the makeshift safety wall. We’ll open up the other side so students can sit there. Across the hall [where the current reception area exists], we will have two rooms being furnished and built. One area will be for psychiatry residents and the other room will be for the mental health nurse. This is phase two, and should be done quite quickly – we are thinking the second week of April.”

The project was completed in two phases so as to allow the Student Wellness Centre to continue running at full capacity.

“[Reception] has done a wonderful job in working with us. Yes it has been inconvenient for students and we’re well aware of that, but it was a better plan than closing and not [being able to provide] any services for students.”