The News Argus - Page 4
CAMPUS HAPPENINGS
Counseling Center Provides A Variety
of Special Student Services
BY MILDRED GUMBS
Siaff Writer
“The Counseling Center offers
services for all stadents enrolled at
Winston-Salem State University
staled Althea Taylor Jones, director
of the counseling services center.
Confidentially of the strictest
nature is observed at all times. No
record of counseling is made on the
academic transcripts or job
placement files. The counseling
center is not only a place for
advising on personal problems, but
also social , academic, career,
vocational, and financial.
“We don’t do in depth
counseling in terms of financial or
even vocational services because we
have a career services department
and also a financial aid department,”
said Jones. “However, we do
screen an individual to determine
what their needs are and we put them in
touch with the appropriate person. There
are two full time professional counselors
besides myself that screen students
confidentially. The percentage of students
that we now service has increased over the
past four years.”
According to Jones, non-traditional
and/or day students often have “special”
counseling needs. The Counseling Center
provides an avenue they can use for help.
They can register for a confidential
screening that will benefit them in
whatever areas they need assistance.
Those that need help with stress
management, time management, study
skills, financial planning, listening skills.
The
Counseling Staff: (from left to right): Mrs. Althea Taylor Jones, Director; J.
Michael Harpe; and Mrs. Phyllis Grace
test taking techniques now know what
kind of services the center offers.
Non-traditional students who are
married or have children deal with a
broader base of emotional and social
concerns that arise in conflict. These
problems range from interpersonal
relationships, depression, poor grades,
lack of self esteem, to feeling like an
inadequate parent or spouse.
“Counselors provide an atmosphere
in a supportive manner to students
experiencing personal difficulties so that
they can discuss their problems openly
and confidentially. If a group of students
have a common situation or problem, for
instance a single parent or a two parent
home, we will work with them to set up a
support group to work together with each
other towards eliminating the problem,”
stated Jones.
The Counseling Center also serves as
a base for non-traditional and day
students to receive messages. “We have
access to the SIS (Student Information
System) for all students on campus and
each counselor has access to students
class schedules with the course number,
the section, building, room number, and
mstructors. We can go to any building
and give a student a message or get them
for whatever reason,” said Jones. "Non-
traditional and day students must
remember to keep their personal
information ( class and work
schedule) up-to-date so they can
receive messages."
Mrs. Jones would like students
to know that the center’s staff is
very knowledgeable . The three
professional counselors have a total
of 35 years of aggregate expcricncc
in such diverse areas as clinical
psychology, rehabilitation
psychology and counselor
education. The center also offers
community outreach programs
where individuals can come onto
campus or the students can go out
into the community.
Currently, Jones is working
on bringing a full time substance
abuse counselor to develop and
implement an Institution-wide
Substance Abuse Education and
Prevention Program, which will
utilize peer educators and
consultants to reach Freshmen,
Student Leaders, Boarding Students,
Fraternities/Sororities, Faculty/Staff,
Professional Staff, Community Residents,
and Public School Students.
The center’s staff strongly encourages
WSSU students to utilize counseling
services and other support services on
campus to help develop effective
problem-solving and college survival
skills. The Counseling Center is locatcd
on the third floor of the Hauser Student
Union Building. To schedule an
appointment, visit the center between 8
a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday or call 750
- 3270. Extended hours may be arranged
by appointment if necessary.
Johnson To Work For VOA
BY RHONDA REYNOLDS
Suff Wnler
Kia Johnson, a senior Mass
Communications major, was named the
student with the Highest Cumulative
Average in the department for the second
consecutive year at the annual Spring
Honors Convocation.
One would think this recognition
would go to her head, but Johnson is very
modest. It also seems as if a lot of
studying lime would be involved in being
a Hi„h Honors sudem. According to
Johnson, she really does not have any type
of set studying schedule she follows for
school work.
“ I always tried to get good grades
because of my parents. I guess ii’s just
something I picked up through the years.”
When she first arrived at Winston-Salem
Stale University her major was Business
Music; but her love of writing made her
switch her major to Mass
Communications.
Studying is not the only thing on
Johnson’s agenda. She has been very
involved in extracurricular activities since
arriving on campus.
Currently, her extracurricular
activities include: News Director at
WSNC 90.5, the National Broadcasting
Society, Alpha Epsilon Rho, and the
Gamma Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc.
For two seasons, she was in the
Marching Band and a Student
Government representative.
All of Johnson’s perseverance and
hard work has paid off in the end. She has
been offered a job in the industry after
May graduation. She will be relocating
to Washmgton, D.C., where she will join
the staff at Voice of America, an
International- U.S.
Broadcasting Agency.
Government
Kia Johnson