developing your student health advisory committee: a
TRANSCRIPT
Developing Your Student Health Advisory Committee:
A Resource for College Health Centers
Tristan FordFormer Chair, Student Health Advisory Committee
University of Rochester
1973: Student Assembly of ACHA
1974: ACHA Section on Student Participation
1977: Student Section Chairs join ACHA E-Board
1970’s & 80’s
A student group dedicated to improving the health of
their college community.
Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)
Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB)
Student Health Consumer Board (SHCB)
Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
Organizational Structures
Directly affiliated with health service
Branch of student government
Club/Student Organization with support from
health service & student government
Formal University Committee
Examples of Policy
Internal Mandatory Health Fee
Appointment process
Comfort Animals
External Tobacco-Free Campus
Healthy dining options
Snow days
Examples of Projects
Pet therapy programs
Tobacco cessation programs
Free/discounted fruits and vegetables
Free tampons & pads in restrooms
Sleep deprivation awareness
Free condom delivery
Professional Opportunities
Student Leadership Positions (E-Board)
Informal networking
Health center tours
Medical lectures
Research
Examples of Flexibility
Address complaints
Review patient satisfaction survey data
Respond to outbreaks (i.e. norovirus)
Tips to start a SHAC
If you’re a health center representative:1. Know your students
2. Network with established student groups
3. Define goals with students
4. Build meetings around goals
5. Reassess and constantly improve
6. Identify student leaders
Tips to start a SHAC
If you’re a student:1. Connect with your health center staff
2. Connect staff with relevant student groups
3. Define goals with students
4. Build meetings around goals
5. Reassess and constantly improve
Recruitment
General
Listservs
Email intro class Professors
Targeted
Policy Student Government
Project Health-related clubs
Professional pre-health advisers, undergrad councils
Applications vs volunteers
Staff Advisers
A representative for college health sections: Administrative
Clinical Medicine
Advanced Practice Clinicians
Nursing
Health Promotion
Mental Health
Pharmacy
Health Service Director
Medical Chief
Health Promotion Dir.
Counseling Center Dir.
Health center staff, be mindful of:
Resistance towards students
Allow students some autonomy
Realistic time constraints of students
Time commitment to encourage student
participation
Featured SHAC
Name: UMD Student Health Advisory Committee
# Members: 40
Staff Representatives: Dir. Health Promotion, UHC Director
Meetings: Weekly
Organizational Structure: Student Organization/Club w/ subcommittees
Projects: Campus pantry, health education events, sex health panel
Policies: International student immunization records
Pre-professional:
Other:
Featured SHAC
Name: Alex Reichsfeld
# Members: ~40
Staff Representatives: Yes, advisor
Meetings: once a week
Organizational Structure: committees within SHAC
Projects: Catvax, Iron Cats, hope notes
Policies: smoke-free campus, sexual assault awareness
Pre-professional: leadership positions
Other:
Featured SHAC
Name: Mosun Oyenuga – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Campus
# Members: 20
Staff Representatives: Chief Medical Director, Director of Finance,
Director of Communications & Public Health (SHAC Advisor)
Meetings: Once a week
Organizational Structure: Student-run
Projects: Tobacco- free campus, SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of
Education ), PAWS
Policies: Student Service Fees
Pre-professional:
Other:
Featured SHAC
Name: Shayda Soraya – Michigan State University – Executive Director
# Members: 50
Staff Representatives: Olin Health Center Marketing Manager is our
SHAC Advisor
Meetings: Twice a month, 90 minutes
Organizational Structure: Student-run; Physical, Mental, and
Stress/Anxiety Committees
Projects: Embrace The Rain, Love SHAC, Sleep Event, Love
EveryBODY
Featured SHACName: Karina Keus, Vice Chair – University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA)
# Members: 8
Staff Representatives: Director of Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness
Center, Ashe Outreach Manager, Ashe Insurance Manager, Ashe primary care
physician, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services
Meetings: Twice a month, 2 hours; EOB meetings once a month
Organizational Structure: 4 undergraduate, 4 graduate students. Student-run,
with advising from administrators; insurance board (EOB – 2 reps)
Projects: Free STI Testing Campaign, Contraceptive Access (SB 493 and
emergency contraceptive vending machine), mental health integration of
counseling center and psychiatric hospital, insurance benefits for transgender
surgery options
Featured SHACName: Brenna O’Malley, Chair – University of Tennessee at Knoxville
(UTK)
# Members: 10
Staff Representatives: SHC Associate Director and Business Manager,
Division of Student Life CFO, Director of Graduate Studies, Risk
Management Director, Center of International Education Assistant Director
Meetings: Once a month, 1 hour
Organizational Structure: Administrative committee with student
representation
Projects: Insurance, surveys
Acknowledgements
University Health Service at University of
Rochester
New York State College Health Association
(NYSCHA)
ACHA Student/Consumer Section & Volunteers
Linda Dudman, Adviser to URSHAC
Thank You
Email: [email protected]
Send me your questions & Comments!
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