By Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor

After three years of planning and preparation, ACU has a new counseling center and an expanded medical center.

Both the medical and counseling centers have doubled in size since last spring. The counseling center has moved into the lower level of McKinzie Hall, and the medical center has taken over the counseling center’s old space on the first floor.

“It was a domino effect,” said Dr. Tony Rector, director of the medical center.

First, the Music Department moved out of McKinzie Hall and into the new Williams Performing Arts Center about two years ago. After much planning and reconstruction, the counseling center moved downstairs. Now the medical center has been able to expand its space by adding four new exam rooms, an overflow room and an enlarged reception area.

“Now we have a place to put everybody,” Rector said. “Our hope and expectation is to increase capacity and to see more patients and students in a timely fashion.”

The office also purchased new exam tables and hired two part-time nurse practitioners last semester. Now a total of four nurses and one doctor will be on hand to see students throughout the year.

“Our goal is to see students in 48 hours or less for acute illnesses,” Rector said, adding that the wait for appointments will fluctuate throughout the different illness seasons.

The improvements and additions to the medical center cost about $16,000, Rector said, and benefits will last for a while.

“We still have room to grow in our services,” he said.

The office will also provide surveys for patients as a regular assessment of care.

The renovation of the counseling center is slightly more dramatic than that of the medical center. By moving down one level, the center doubled in size and now provides offices for its entire staff.

“We used to play musical offices,” said Steve Rowlands, director of the center. “Now everyone has their own office space.”

In addition to offices, a resource room and group counseling room have expanded the space.

“It’s a better atmosphere for a counseling center,” Rowlands said. “It’s a calm, restful, peaceful and tranquil place.”

Rowlands said students will find the center more easily than before. The reception area was in the back of the medical center, sometimes behind a maze of people and commotion.

The renovation and move cost about $150,000, Rowlands said. Money has been earmarked for the project for several years.

The six permanent staff members at the counseling center serve 350 to 500 students a year. The roomier center will help them do
their job, Rowlands said.

“It gives us a lot more freedom,” he said.