Student Services

1. Health Services
   
   1. During Fall and Spring Semesters, Student Health Services is staffed by a registered nurse and an office assistant. A physician assistant or nurse practitioner sees students by appointment during posted hours.
      
      Students are required to submit a physical exam and immunization record prior to their initial registration at the College. Students who fail to submit a completed Health Record with a physical exam will be barred from attending classes until a physical exam and record of required immunizations is submitted.
      
      Students are encouraged to visit Student Health Services if they are ill or injured. The cost for routine care provided there is covered in the Comprehensive Fee. Student accounts are charged for any medication, injections, lab work, and certain supplies that are dispensed.Students who are referred to off-campus medical care are billed directly by the provider agency.
      
      Students should make and keep a copy of their college physical exam and immunizations prior to submitting them to Student Health Service. Copies of student immunization records are available at Student Health Service for a fee. Student physical exams and immunization records may be mailed to the Student Health Service, or faxed to (518) 327-6309. Students will be charged for physical examinations performed by Medical Associates.
      
      Students enrolled in the Crown Plaza internship who wish to see a health care provider should contact their PSC mentor. The mentor can make arrangements for the student to see the on-call provider at the Medical Associates office building in Saranac Lake. All student appointments at Medical Associates must be made through the designated PSC staff. Students who choose to make their own appointments will be treated by Medical Associates as private patients and their individual medical insurance coverage will be primary. Appointments at Medical Associates should be honored. If you are unable to keep your appointment, notify Student Health Services to cancel or reschedule so that other patients can be seen.
      
      Medication and Medication Pick-up
      Medications and prescriptions for students are delivered to Student Health Services from Post Office Pharmacy in Saranac Lake by the College's courier service, and any cost is charged to the student's account. Students are responsible to pick up their medications at Student Health Service on a timely basis, as medication cannot be returned to the pharmacy for credit. Any medication not picked up within a month will be destroyed; the charge for such medication will remain on the student's account. Students are responsible for keeping controlled medications in a secure place.
   2. Syringe Disposal and Storage
      Approved sharps containers must be used by all students who take injected medications. These containers can be picked up at Student Health Service and returned there for proper medical waste disposal. New containers will be exchanged for the used containers. Do not overfill these containers. Containers should be stored safely away from others in a secure location.
      
      Students having questions about syringe safety or storage of medication should contact Student Health Services at 327-6319.
   3. Medical Emergencies/Emergency Transportation
      Ambulance service to PSC is provided by the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department. Any time the ambulance is called, Campus Safety will be contacted to assist and to direct the ambulance and local first responders to the correct location. Transports by the ambulance are to the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.
      
      Students may contact the Office of Campus Safety who will transport on-campus students to the Student Health Office. No transportation will be provided off-campus by Campus Safety.
      
      Students are expected to arrange their own transportation for dental appointments, doctor appointments, mental health clinic appointments, physical therapy, and any other scheduled appointments. Students who can not provide or arrange for this transportation should notify Student Health Service. Assistance can be given in rescheduling as well as other possible options.
      
      Students who are injured in college sports or on campus should report these injuries to Student Health Services as soon as possible and complete an accident/incident report.
   4. Class Excuses
      Excused absences are issued only by instructors, not by Student Health Services. Students who are ill should go to Student Health Services, where they will be seen by professional staff, and provided with a pass for their instructor showing the time and date of the office visit. It is the student's responsibility to report the reason for absence to the instructor, present his/her health service pass, and discuss make-up classes. Student Health Service will assist the student in notifying instructors if the student will be out of class for more than 2 days. On occasion a residence hall rest pass is issued by Student Health Service if the student has a contagious condition and needs to limit contact with others, or if the student's condition is such that it will be disruptive in a class.
   5. Health Insurance
      All full-time students are required to have health insurance coverage. Health insurance is automatically billed yearly to all student accounts. Students who have other coverage and elect not to purchase the College-sponsored insurance, College Blue, must send a completed waiver form to the Student Financial Services Office by the posted deadline to receive a credit for that charge. Incomplete waiver forms or forms received after the deadline date will not result in a credit to the student's account. It is the student's responsibility to read the insurance brochure, and to direct questions to Student Health Services or to College Blue.
      
      Students who are part time, or on externship and 19 years or older may be no longer eligible for coverage under a parents' insurance, and should consider securing the college insurance. Please contact the insurance company, Student Financial Services or Student Health Services.
      
      Students insured with College Blue will be mailed their insurance card at their home addresses. This card is necessary for prescription medications.
      
      Students who waive the college insurance and have their own insurance are responsible for knowing what their policy covers, initiating their own claims, and following the requirements of their HMO or insurance carrier. If the student has pharmacy coverage, he or she must present the pharmacy card to Student Health Service when requesting a medication pick-up, and should retain all pharmacy receipts to submit to his/her insurance company if the student's insurance is not accepted by the pharmacy.
   6. Health Risks of Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
      All drugs are chemical substances that affect both psychological and physical functioning. Health risks that may result from the use of illegal drugs include: addiction, increased susceptibility to illness due to a less efficient immune system, increased likelihood of accidents, increased likelihood of sexual assault and violence, impaired cognitive functioning (e.g., impaired memory, distortion of reality) , and death. Most drugs are associated with risks specific to that drug, and additional information about the effects of individual drugs may be obtained from Student Development Center, Office of Student Affairsor the Student Health Service.
      
      Alcohol is an addictive drug that acts to depress central nervous system functioning. Although its effects vary among individuals, alcohol generally decreases alertness, impairs judgment, and reduces physical coordination and muscle control. People who consume larger quantities of alcohol can experience blackouts and severely impaired mental functioning, including memory loss. Unconsciousness, respiratory arrest, coma, and death are possible consequences of high levels of alcohol consumption.
      
      Drinking is strongly associated with other high-risk conditions including being involved in car accidents and becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Heavy drinking often increases the likelihood of violent behavior including sexual assault, date rape, and fighting. Long-term drinking can result in addiction and physical damage such as heart disease, liver disease, and ulcers.
2. Student Development/ Counseling
   1. The Student Development Center, located in Joan Weill Student Center #017, provides students with counseling, personal development, and Health Education at Paul Smith's. All services are free to students of the College. The Counseling activities of the office are designed to help students better understand themselves, deal with important decisions, and resolve personal, social, career and study problems that can interfere with their educational goals. Services include counseling (for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships, family concerns, grief, academic concerns, harassment, etc.), crisis intervention, referrals, choosing majors, setting career goals, and making career changes. Support and educational counseling for alcohol and other drug issues is available. Additional services include workshops on issues such as stress management, freshman transition issues, support groups (for issues such as eating disorders, gay/lesbian/bisexual awareness, and personal growth) prevention campaigns, a newsletter, and residence hall programming. The office provides a reporting source, advocacy, and support for rape and sexual harassment, and will help students to file charges if they wish to do so.
      
      The Student Development Center also coordinates non-academic services to students with special needs. It aids in obtaining documentation and accommodations for psychiatric concerns, working closely with the Office of Accommodative Services to provide counseling and/or any non-academic accommodations that might be required. It is the point of contact for requests for medical accommodations for housing.
      
      The office provides health education information and programs on issues such as substances, safer sex, mental health issues, and stress, as well as facilitating the College's chapter of Bacchus and Gamma peer educators. This group conducts workshops on issues such as harassment, rape, substances, relationships and communication, etc. They also encourage wellness and healthy activities, and work to build community at the college. Peer Educators receive special training which enables them to become Nationally Certified Bacchus and Gamma Peer Educators.
      
      The SAFE Program (Substance Assessment for Education) is a program of individual assessment and education for students who have had at least one alcohol or other drug violation. The purpose of the program is to keep the student enrolled, and to prevent substances from interfering with the student's academic and life goals. It is neither an AA program, a punishment, nor an assumption that the student has a serious problem with drugs and/or alcohol. It enables a student to assess his/her use, look for possible problems, and receive some information about substances. SAFE is an assessment which helps students to look at their decisions to use either alcohol or drugs, with a counselor, evaluate that use, make informed decisions, recognize abusive behavior, and give the student more information about alcohol and/or marijuana. The program may individually or in a group setting help a student work on his/her personal needs around substance use. It may involve outside evaluation. Outside evaluation and treatment may be required, and the student is usually deals with this concern at home.
      
      Options for the program are at the discretion of the counselor and may include: (Students generally are allowed 4 weeks to complete these requirements.)
      • An initial assessment and online education
      • An initial assessment and 2 hours of personalized education
      • A referral for off campus evaluation and treatment if necessary (A list of our local agency resources is available through the Student Development Center)
      
      
      The Center is located in the Joan Weill Student Center
3. Center for Accommodative Services
   Introduction
   1. Make sure that your psychological and educational testing are up-to-date. IDEA mandates testing for students who have an IEP, but triennial testing is no longer required. Don't let your testing lapse because you are a senior and will be graduating or because you are fully mainstreamed for your senior year. Please be aware that most colleges require evaluations based on adult norms. That means that your testing should be done sometime after you turn 16 years old. If you choose to put this off, a comprehensive evaluation done at your expense could cost over $3,000.00Having a current comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is a critical tool for college success. Obtain a copy of all your special testing records before you graduate from high school. Colleges, as well as VESID, will request these records to assist you in designing your support services. Once again, having a current comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is a critical tool for college success.
      
      Make contact with your local VESID office before graduation. VESID offers variety of educational and vocational services. A vocational assessment will aid you in choosing the best career options for yourself. Choosing an appropriate field of study is a critical step for college success.
      
      Make sure your academic skills are adequate for the rigors of college. Attend remedial or developmental education programs, if needed, prior to enrolling in a degree program. Being prepared academically for college-level work is a critical tool for college success.
      
      Talk to your high school support personnel to get a clear picture of how much support you need and in which areas. This information will aid you in evaluating the services at the colleges you are considering. Matching your needs and the services available is a critical skill for college success.
      
      Consider making an appointment with a qualified optometrist, audiologist, or therapist if you have concerns about how these areas may be interfering with your learning. An early start on visual, auditory, or personal therapy makes transitioning to college easier.
      
      Taking care of health-related concerns before you begin college is a critical step for success.
      
      Make sure that it is your choice to attend college. You will need to be highly motivated to continue your education and work towards a degree. You will be spending more time and putting in more effort that you have in the past doing something that has always given you trouble. You will need to be committed to extra studying, requesting accommodations, and following through with support services in order to be successful. This is a critical skill for college.
      
      Increase your independent living skills before you leave home. You should be able to manage a checking accounting, budget your money, do your own laundry, clean your room and other areas of a house, cook simple meals, and so on. Having independence skills is critical for college success.
      
      Take a part-time job or do volunteer work in your area of interest. This will help you improve your social skills, build an understanding of work ethics, and give you basic knowledge of skills needed in your field. You will be able to explore how your disability may affect you on a job and offer a chance to explore compensatory strategies to overcome weaknesses. Knowing yourself is a critical skill for college success.
      
      Make sure that you have a clear understanding of your disability and the academic areas that it affects. You should be able to articulate your strengths and weaknesses and to tell what accommodations work best for you. The ability to talk with others about your needs is a critical skill for college success.
      
      Be your own advocate as much as possible.Practice discussing your disability and need for accommodations with family members and high school personnel to become comfortable with what you say. Knowing yourself and being able to express your needs to others is a critical skill for college success.
      
      Learn all you can about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as these are the civil rights laws that indicate what types of accommodations must be allowed if you request them. It is your responsibility to initiate needed services. No one has to come looking for you and offer you help. You must seek out the office for students with disabilities, identify yourself and your needs, and follow their policies and procedures for acquiring accommodations. This is a critical skill for college success.
      
      Join local, state, and national organizations that have your disability as a focus. These groups will keep you informed about new research, resources, and legislation. This is a tool for college and life success.
      
      Make sure your study skills are adequate for college level work. Take advantage of study skills training programs. Learn and use strategies that assist you in using your strengths to overcome your weaknesses.
4. Campus Ministries
   1. Campus Ministry supports the spiritual and emotional lives of members of the campus community. The Office of Campus Ministry offers inter-denominational services and programs, provides personal, spiritual, and religious counseling, supplies information concerning off-campus religious and service groups, and forms spiritual and religious clubs and student groups. The Campus Ministry Office is located in the Student Development Center.