Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wellness Center? The Wellness Center is a campus wide education and prevention program. Services include sponsoring campus wide events, offering workshops and speakers on many wellness topics, supporting a peer education program including academic credit and certification options, and supporting student learning by serving as a resource for wellness information.

How can I find out more about its services? Come by The Wellness Center, located in the University Center Underground, Room 35, or call 713/743-5455. You can also review many of its services at this web site.

Why would I want to visit The Wellness Center website? It is our goal to bring as much of our programming on line as possible. Many students either commute from long distances, or have multiple responsibilities. We want to provide wellness to you as well as those who enjoy our services on campus.

You may want to visit any of the following on our website-The wellness wheel (that has wellness information and resource links), the mission statement, the photo gallery, or the "Meet the Staff" section. You may also want to look at the many programs outlined on the site under such headings as Ask Healthful Shasta, On Line Workshops, Programs and Events, Peer Education, Newsletters, and On Line Assessments.

How do I use the Wellness Wheel on this web site? You can click on any of the six dimensions of wellness on the wellness wheel. When you do, it will show you a definition for that dimension of wellness. Additionally, there will be more links on each wellness dimension located under the definition. These links are "campus and community resources," which will tell you about some of the resources on campus and in the community related to that area of wellness; "wellness tips" with tips and information related to that dimension of wellness; and "internet resources," which provides some links to internet sites as well a description of some of those sites.

What is Ask Healthful Shasta? Healthful Shasta is a forum for asking questions related to any number for health and wellness issues including stress, alcohol and other drugs, relationships, communication, etc. Just click on the "Ask Healthful Shasta" icon and it will take you directly to this forum. You may review questions that have been asked, or post a question yourself. Simply follow the directions at that site. This forum is intended to provide information. It is not intended to replace consultation with a physician or mental health provider.

What are WELL-U and WELL-NET? These are the newsletters for The Wellness Center. WELL-U is the campus newsletters and is published monthly from September through May. WELL-NET is the newsletter for the Houston-Galveston Consortium of Colleges and Universities who want to promote health and wellness on our campuses and in our community. It is published quarterly. You may review previous issues of each newsletter by clicking on that icon and selecting the issue that interests you. You may also register to receive either or both of these newsletters electronically, free of charge. Simply follow the directions for registration.

What are on line assessments? We have provided links to a number of websites that provide some type of health and wellness assessments. We do not operate these links or assessments, nor do we regulate them in any way, but simply provide a link as an opportunity for you to peruse them.

Does the WC offer workshops and training? WC staff offers regular workshops listed on our calendar of events. WC also has a Speakers Bureau, listing topics that may be of interest to you. We will send staff or peer educators to speak to your group on any number of topics such as relaxation, stress management, alcohol and other drugs, communication and conflict, and much more. Simply call the center and make a request. There are also some CD Rom programs that can be accessed in the WC, including Alcohol 101 and Sex in the CD.

Are any of these workshops offered on line? We are in the process of offering more of our workshops in on line formats. As we do, you will see this under the "on-line workshops."

What campus wide, major programs are sponsored by The Wellness Center? The WC either sponsors or co-sponsors many national events, including World AIDS Day, Alcohol Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness, Great American Smoke Out, Healthy Heart Month, and Safe Spring Break. In addition, the WC supports campus events such as Sober Halloween Party, Learning to Learn Day, Occupational Wellness Fair, and Unity at the UC. Look on our "calendar of events" to determine when these events are held.

What ongoing programs on wellness are available? The WC invites you to come by any time for Free Relaxation (or Blue Monday). You can also engage in our NOON-Walkers program. We meet in front of the UC administrative offices at noon on Tuesdays and Thursday to walk our way to health! It is approximately 1/8 of a mile around the inside of the UC. Call to find out more. A Yoga class offered every Tuesday and Friday (call to find out more). We continue to offer our WOW program (Wellness On Wednesdays), where we play videos at the Wellness Center every Wednesday from noon until 4:00. Come in and watch; discuss them with your peers. Finally, we have interactive computer programs, including Alcohol 101 and Sex in the CD available any time the center if open. You do need to call for an appointment as each takes approximately one hour.

What is Cougar PEP? The Wellness Center has peer educators, Cougar PEP, who will speak to groups on any number of topics. They also assist the center in health promotion through campus wide events. The Cougar PEP hotline is 713/743-5496. Students can also take a four-hour credit course to be trained as a peer educator, HLT 4397. Upon completing this course, you can test to be a Certified Peer Educator (CPE) and you can take the one-hour lab the following semester. The one-hour lab is HLT 4197. HLT 4397 is a pre-requisite for the lab.

How do I get academic credit for being a peer educator? You can take HLT 4397. It is an academic course for which you get 3 hours of general credit. You will receive training on wellness topics, wellness programming, and presentations skills, as well as training on communication and how to be a helper. You can test for peer certification at the end of the course. Be a Certified Peer Educator (CPE). You may also take HLT 4197, a one-hour lab course for those who have taken the peer educator training course and wish to be peer educators.

What is alcohol 101? Alcohol 101 is a computer based, interactive program that will teach you about alcohol, its effects, the impact of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and what affects it, outcomes of drinking, etc. It allows you to go at your own pace and investigate the areas that interest you. It includes several of "Norm's questions" as well as a virtual bar (where you can study your drinking habits) and several scenarios in which you make the decisions on how to proceed. You can sign up for a time slot to go through the program on your own. Early in the semester you may be able to use it as a "walk in," but as the semester moves on, you will find it necessary to make an appointment. You can also request Alcohol 101 be offered in a presentation format for your group as a whole. Simply call in your request to the director.

What is marijuana 101? Marijuana 101 is a workshop offered approximately four times a year to students who wish to learn more about marijuana, its effects, its legal implications, and other topics. It is open to all students. It is also used as a referral by the Dean of Students Office. For those who must have documentation, this will be provided upon request.

What is the Alcohol Education Program for Minors In Possession (MIP)? The Wellness Center offers a TCADA (Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse) approved alcohol education program for those receiving an MIP violation. It is a six-hour course and there is a required exit exam and exit interview. There is a small cost for this service. Call Sandra at 713/743-5432 to register.