Texas Border Business
McALLEN, TEXAS – Now more than ever, the stress of college courses makes mental health awareness a necessity as students manage life in the midst of a pandemic.
Through it all, South Texas College’s Counseling and Student Accessibility Services remains a valuable resource, providing a vast array of services designed to help students attain their goals.
“I think it’s very important for all of us right now to realize that all of us are going through a lot of changes and a lot of adjustments, and we try to emphasize to students that we are still here for them, we are just meeting with them now in a different way,” said Mayra Avila, Senior Coordinator of Counseling. “That’s something we would like for students and their families to know. If they have any students who are currently enrolled and they need mental health support, that we are here for them.”
CSAS reflects the college’s commitment to provide access to higher education and support the educational goals of students from diverse backgrounds. A staff comprised primarily of fully licensed counselors helps students succeed through academic counseling, career and mental health counseling, and assistance to vulnerable populations.
CSAS offers students and the campus community a variety of professional services. Most services are pre-paid through student service fees. These services are offered in a confidential atmosphere where the student may discuss concerns that are important to their educational and personal success.
Adapting to the current COVID pandemic, the Counseling Department has created a way for students to reach out to counselors for support at all times through Microsoft Teams on Windows and Mac desktops, iOS, and Android platforms. Students connect using their South Texas College email.
“We want to students to know that they are not alone, that we have support for them here in various ways,” Avila said. “If a student feels like they cannot voice what they are going through, we have an app where they can talk to us via chat so we can help them resolve their situation. The students I see on my caseload, this is how I catch up with them. We offer a secure platform where we can connect with the students.
Counselors are available for students at Pecan Campus, Nursing and Allied Health Campus, Technology Campus, Mid-Valley Campus, and Starr County Campus locations.
“We’d like to let students know that even if we are not in our traditional environment, we are still available. We are adjusting to the changes based on what is going on around us,” Avila said.
Students who are seeking support can send an email to counseling@southtexascollege.edu. They can also contact via Teams through chat, or call the department at its main line at 956-872-2172.
