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The Counseling and Student Development Center is an integral part of Alfred University. Our mission evolves from that of the University and the Division of Student Affairs. It is based on a commitment to respond to students' needs in reaching their personal and academic potential as individuals. Students' development as citizens of the immediate and larger community will be promoted through professional, ethical, and high quality counseling and educational services.

We are here for you! If you have questions, email us.

Our Goals

CSDC Staff

About our services:

The Counseling and Student Development Center is located in the Crandall Center for Counseling and Health Services. We are open weekdays from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm and 1:15 to 4:30 pm. We provide students with emergency numbers to reach our staff during the times the center is closed.

Who should use our services and when?

The college years are known to be extraordinarily stressful for many. Most students cope adequately with stresses, at least without becoming overwhelmed. But in the contemporary climate of competition and pressure, increasing numbers of students find that stress becomes unmanageable and interferes with learning.

Most of the students who use our services come in because of personal problems. The most common complaints are anxiety and depression, poor self-image, relationship problems, and family difficulties. Most students are either self-referred or referred by a friend, and need only five or six appointments to address their problems. Thus, our counseling service is largely a short-term treatment facility because that is what most students need.

Personal counseling

The University experience creates many opportunities for challenges and growth. At times, students may have some difficulty coping with these changes and feel stressed, lonely, depressed, or overwhelmed. The Counseling and Student Development Center staff can assist students to master these tasks successfully.

Nationally certified counselors work with students experiencing a wide range of crises, developmental concerns, personal problems, and relationship conflicts. Such difficulties are characterized by stress, depression, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy, and problems relating to others. These services are completely confidential in accordance with the standards set by the American Counseling Association.

Group counseling

In addition to personal counseling, each year the Counseling & Student Development Center offers various therapeutic groups (the non-traditional student, eating disorders, relationships, etc.). For more information, call 607.871.2300.

Our promise about confidentiality

The Counseling and Student Development Center is a "safe place" for Alfred University students. Students have a right to privacy that means confidentiality.

Unless it is a matter of saving a human life, or students specifically give us permission, or we have been ordered by a court, or we are required by law (as with child abuse): We promise that whatever is shared with us stays with us.

Outside of the rare circumstances listed above, we will tell no one why students came here or what was shared with us – not with friends, parents, professors, Residence Life staff, or other University offices, not even the President.

Other than in the conditions noted above or when students have been required to come here by some authority such as a dean or an official university committee, no one is ever told a student has been here. That means we don’t tell friends, family member, professors or University officials.

The Counseling & Student Development Center will make every attempt to provide prompt service. Initial appointments with a counselor are made as soon as possible, usually within a week. Emergencies, of course, are seen immediately.

The staff of the Counseling & Student Development Center is expected to treat all clients with respect regardless of race, age, sex, sexual orientation, or religion. Counselors convey this respect by keeping appointments or contacting clients if a change in time is necessary, by giving clients complete attention during sessions, by avoiding interruptions during sessions, and by providing effective counseling.

These promises are not just from counselors, but from each staff member at the Counseling & Student Development Center. We are all personally, professionally and legally committed to students’ right to privacy.

We do, of course, record general and statistical information such as why people come to us, and combine this into reports on our service. These reports are available for review. But individuals who come here in privacy are never identified nor are they identifiable. This we promise.

Regardless of the issues that bring students to us, from relationship issues to drug and alcohol use and personal questions, we promise we will do our best to provide students with warm, friendly and competent services.

Counseling services are available at no additional charge beyond tuition and fees to all Alfred University students during the academic year. If counseling services are desired during the summer a referral can be made.

Consultation and outreach

Educational programs and workshops for residence halls, classes, clubs and organizations on a variety of topics are requested each year. Programs on stress management, eating disorders, and acquaintance rape are examples of programs that have recently been offered.

In addition, we are available to consult with faculty, staff, parents, or students who may be concerned about a student. Assistance in crisis management and guidelines for referral are available. Persons who are concerned about a student are urged to contact the Counseling & Student Development Center for consultation.