What is SHAC?

The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is a group of students interested in health-related concerns on Wesleyan’s campus.  The group was revitalized during the 2002 fall semester after soliciting membership from the student body at large.  Members are selected by an application process and represent a diverse cross section of students at Wesleyan.  The committee is instrumental in providing Health Services with information on how to better serve the health needs of students, but has no administrative authority and was not created to assume the authority of University administrative staffs.

SHAC includes staff representatives from the Health Center, WesWELL and the Office of Behavioral Health for Students.  Student and staff co-chairs facilitate SHAC meetings, which are held monthly during the academic year.

SHAC Membership/Contact Information:

Students who would like to participate in SHAC or provide members with thoughts on health services should contact the SHAC co-chairs at SHAC@wesleyan.edu.  Please feel free to call Joyce Walter, Health Center Director if you need additional information at 685-2656.  To apply for membership, complete the application form and submit to Joyce Walter, 327 High Street, or attach to email and send to jwalter@wesleyan.edu

SHAC Mission Statement:

“WesleyanUniversity's Davison Health Center seeks to provide optimal health care to all students.  The needs and opinions of the students we serve are an integral component of our continuous efforts at improvement.  To this end, the Student Health Advisory Committee will play a central role in collecting and interpreting student feedback and converting it into meaningful change with regard to the form and function of the Health Center and WesWELL.”

 
SHAC Goals:

• actively participate in the publicity and marketing of health services to all students at Wesleyan

• facilitate student feedback

• act as “consumer representatives” in an advocacy role for quality student health care at Wesleyan

SHAC Sub-Committee Work:

For 2007-2008, the committee will be actively promoting an infection control/hand washing campaign at all computer labs on campus (see infection control @ Wes).  The group will also undertake a role assisting the University Business Continuity Planning Committee's work with pandemic planning. Other subcommittee work will be developed throughout the year.

The following sub committee work are examples of past projects:

1.  Health Center Services Sub-Committee

• alternative medicine flyer of local services available to students with discounts offered; also responsible for advertising discounts or new resources within the Davison Health Center (i.e. HPV Vaccine, Rapid HIV testing)
• privacy/confidentiality handout about health services
• meditation workshop (one time event)
• Responsible for outreach campaigns regarding infection control that focus on modifying daily routine behaviors that can contribute to decreased spread of infection.

2.  Sexual Health Sub-Committee

• Health outreach campaign -  "The Toilet Paper" flyer with health facts, information and suggestions that is placed in bathroom stalls.
• Coordinated free HIV testing dates on campus; direct students (through flyers in Davison) to STD/HIV testing locations and further STD/HIV information and resources.

3.  Eating Disorders/Nutrition Sub-Committee

• poster development outlining 5 top places on campus or within walking distance to get fruits and vegetables.
• collaborate with dining services to mark menus with symbol indicating lower-fat or "healthy option" food as a guide to students when choosing meals.
• develop quiz/questionnaire poster listing symptoms of eating disorder and on-campus resources for bathroom stalls.
• Develop a version of the "Toilet Paper" flyer with facts about foods that are both good for you and good tasting to be posted in different areas around campus.

SHAC Opinion Survey:

SHAC developed a Student Health Services general health and sexual health opinion survey and distributed at the WellBeing Fair held in May 2003.  The surveys provided Health Services with valuable information about the health care needs of Wesleyan students.  To view the survey results please click here.

Edited on January 22, 2008