The Counseling Center recognizes the supportive role families play for students. We strive to help students make the transition to adulthood and independence. We provide an opportunity for students to develop skills and identify resources necessary for addressing emotional or disability related issues after graduation. This transition is nurtured and encouraged when the student receives consistent messages that she has the ability to negotiate obstacles by utilizing available resources.

Counseling Center
Occasionally a student’s family will attempt to assist her by contacting the Counseling Center for her. While we welcome questions and can provide general information, confidentiality laws protect the privacy of all communications between a client and a therapist. In an effort to protect your student’s confidentiality, we may not be able to provide you with information about your student without her written authorization. If you contact us with concerns, we will make every effort to contact your student to follow up with her.

Our focus is on the student. We work to help her address her concerns as well as improve her communication with her family, faculty and peers. This process empowers the student and allows her to take responsibility for her own well being and success. We recognize that it can be frustrating for a family to be told that we must work directly with the student. However, by encouraging your student to access resources on campus, you are helping her grow toward independence and adulthood.

Disability Services
With regard to Disability Services in post-secondary settings, it is the student’s responsibility to request disability accommodations, if she desires them. While this is a legal requirement, it is consistent with our philosophy to empower students to advocate for themselves as they prepare for the transition to life after graduation. Being able to request accommodations and play an interactive role in addressing disability-related issues is a valuable skill in self-advocacy. For this reason, we must work directly with students to arrange accommodations and other disability-related services.

Additionally, faculty and staff are only able to provide accommodations after they have received written notification from our office. If your student has disability-related concerns about a particular class, please encourage her to contact the professor or our office so that we may assist her in resolving the situation.

The Disability Services website has a wealth of information available to assist you.

For Additional information
For information about Meredith College's expectations for parents and families, please visit: Meredith and Families - A Partnership for Success

For more information about the unique expectations of students requesting disability services, or for more information about any of the policies of the Meredith College Disability Services office, visit http://www.meredith.edu/students/counsel/disability/.