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Quinnipiac University has recently changed its on-campus health center hours, transitioning from a 24-hour facility to only being open 12 hours a day during the week.

This change resulted from the university’s determination to appease their students.

“The change in services and operational hours was the result of our desire to best meet the increasing needs of our students,” said Associate Director of Student Health Services, Nancy Hunter. “Additionally, we have received significant feedback from students and their families requesting an increase in provider (MD, PA, APRN) hours on campus.”

Unlike other universities, Quinnipiac chose to extend the hours of the health center beyond traditional business hours, electing to remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.

“Across the country, most health centers are open only during business hours, but we felt it was important to not only extend beyond business hours, but also to be open seven days a week for our students,” Hunter said.

Though the reason behind the changes appears to be because the university wants to meet the desires of students, some are not satisfied with the adjustments made.

“It seems dangerous not to have it open all night because if somebody needs medical attention they will have no choice but to be transported instead of being taken care of on campus,” said sophomore, Maeve Hennigan.

Students also believe the health center should be open 24/7 to provide a safe place for students to learn from their mistakes.

Senior Lauren McGrath took to Facebook to voice her displeasure about the change.

“I was always proud of the 24/7 service, it showed a commitment to keeping students safe and healthy,” said McGrath. “Many students learn in the beginning their alcohol limitations and need the health center to sleep it off. This is a better decision than having to pay hundreds of dollars for an ambulance or hospital.”

Parents also took to Twitter to voice their concerns.

As the parent of an incoming freshman, this does *not* sit well with me. Has a reason been given for this change? Is it a funding issue?

— Andy R. (@thymewaister) August 19, 2018

Student Health Services sent out an email to the Quinnipiac community last week to explain the changes students should expect for this year.

In a survey created by the Q30 Newscast via Twitter, 78% of students believe the email sent out by Quinnipiac University regarding the changes in the hours of the health center was not enough information.

Though parents and students alike are concerned about the changes made to the health center, Quinnipiac University believes this is the best decision for its students.

“We feel that moving toward the national best practice and providing a more wellness focused model will be beneficial to the students,” Hunter said. “We have enhanced the wellness services by increasing the medical professional staff that is able to diagnose and treat, as well as provide other wellness services such as a nutritionist and a prevention and wellness educator.”

The health center has also changed their weekend hours, opening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. instead of being open 24/7.

Quinnipiac University recognizes the shorter hours on the weekend but has revamped their health center by adding additional services that will benefit students.

“We are proud to say that we will now have medical providers (MD, PA, APRN) on the weekend, which is a new addition,” Hunter said. “Students will be able to call the telephone triage service when the health center is closed for guidance. Additionally, we will have EMTs on site several nights a week.”

Some students do believe these changes are for the better.

“I definitely think it is a positive change because students will be able to be diagnosed and treated far more quickly than they were before,” senior Joe Iasso said. “I also love the concept of a ‘wellness model,’ I think the addition of a part-time nutritionist and full-time prevention and wellness coordinator along with the additional providers will be a fantastic addition to health services that will make our students feel more supported during their time here.”

For the upcoming semester, the changes to the health center will be an adjustment for some students, but the university believes it will be a beneficial change for the entire student population.

“We realize that this is a change. However, by placing student needs at the center of what we do, we believe this is an opportunity that speaks directly to our university core value while improving our services for the entire student body,” Hunter said.