FAll 2022 OA

institutions. Wiseley’s office will be on the campus of DePauw, but he and his staff will regularly visit Rose-Hulman and SMWC throughout the school year. He will oversee the three-institution consortium and its psychiatric nurse. Plans include hiring program coordinators who will provide preventative education to students and additional counselors to help offset the already heavy loads at each institution. Clark added, “Mental health education and preventative programming can help students not reach a crisis.” The grant will also help SMWC expand its partnership with TimelyMD, a 24/7 independent telehealth program for students implemented in fall 2020. TimelyMD allows students to receive no-cost medical care, counseling, health coaching and other health services. Janssen-Robinson said, “All of this combined will provide greater access to mental health resources for all SMWC students including Woods Online and graduate.” The ultimate goal is to grow the consortium by including other small institutions unable to expand services independently.

MINDful College Connections consortium established to empower and support students.

“Life goes on…even when you are a college student,” states Aimee Janssen- Robinson, associate vice president for student affairs. SMWC is helping to address the added pressures of college for students this fall through the implementation of a unique consortium. In March 2021, Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded $8 million to SMWC, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and DePauw

size, yet can be accomplished through this type of consortium.” She added, “This is a great example of how higher education partnerships fostered by the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) can work together to benefit each other.”

“It is very innovative. The expansion of services would be impossible for institutions our size, yet can be accomplished through this type of consortium.”

University to establish MINDful College Connections. This not- for-profit consortium is designed to expand mental health resources for students. “This effort will allow us to share clinical services, peer

— Janet Clark, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

education and preventative care. This will enable us to better respond to student mental health needs early and empower students to utilize psychoeducation and self-care strategies. The ultimate goal is to support students, retain them and help them graduate successfully,” said Janssen- Robinson. Clark said of the partnership, “It is very innovative. The expansion of services is typically impossible for institutions our

The MINDful College Connections board consists of project directors and presidents from SMWC, DePauw and Rose-Hulman. Curtis A. Wiseley, Ph.D., was named as consortium executive director in August. Wiseley’s experience as a director of mental health service operations and establishing treatment centers across multiple higher education institutions will be beneficial as the consortium begins servicing the three

Left - Students studying in the current Learning Resource Center of the Rooney Center.

Right - Renovations are underway to create a new Student Success Center on the second floor of the Rooney Center.