STUDENT COUNSELING CENTRE

INTRODUCTION

Students are the most important part of educational system; hence it is very important to provide them a safe, secure and stress free environment in the university to develop their competencies and skills in their efforts to achieve goals. The objective of higher education system is not only to prepare students academic sound, but also students’ personal and social development to promote all spheres of life. FRIDU is committed to take initiatives to improve the university environment regularly to achieve excellence in academics. In this attempt FRIDU has framed draft for establishment of Student Counselling Centre (SCC) to effectively streamlining the student’s grievances and reduce the communication gap between students and University. The service is free and available to all students and research scholars of the FRIDU. SCC will also be available to students and scholars at any emergency.  SCC will protect the confidentiality and share the records and data only as per policies of University. The SCC in FRI University is related with the safety and security of students with following objectives:

• To ensure safety and security inside the university campus, during the field trips and study tours
• To address emotional as well as intellectual needs of students and scholars
• To provide students safe learning classroom environment to develop their creativity and innovations
• Harness the intellect of students via effective communication between students and university
• Encourage students to give and get help

Needs for counselling

Emotional needs:

• Threats/Assaults: Physical, Social, Emotional, Physiological
• Unpleasing classroom environment
• Obsessive behaviour,  Inferiority complex
• Anxiety/Stress, Depression, Loneliness,  Discrimination
• Ragging
• Home Sickness
• Parental and teacher pressure
• Family tensions, relationship problems
• Lack of motivation
• Addiction, Alcohol/Drug abuse
• Suicidal thoughts
• Sexual Harassment

 Intellectual needs:

• Academic worries
• Lack of interest
• Problem in particular course or set of courses
• Problem with teaching pedagogy or academic tasks
• Career Phobia
• Career plan: What is next?

COMPOSITION OF STUDENT COUNSELING COMMITTEE

The SCC shall be principal body of the University and will work within the provisions of the Memorandum of Association. SCC will be responsible for the safe, secure and comfortable environment for the students and scholars through proper counselling and guidance. The constitution of main body of SCC is as follows :-

SCC :-

            Vice Chancellor, FRI (Deemed) University               –          Chairperson
            Dean (Academics), FRI (Deemed) University           -           Member Secretary
            Dr. Neelu Gera                       
            Dr. N.S.K. Harsh  
            Dr. H.S. Ginwal 
            Dr. Mridula Negi 
           
Depending on the kind of need for which counseling is required, the SCC will have four cells consisting of the following counselors namely:

1.) SCC Women’s cell

2.) SCC Emergency Cell

3.)  SCC Cell for Emotional need

4.) SCC Cell for Intellectual needs

Concerned issues brought forward by students before these SCC cells, if needed should be discussed with other members of the cell for providing a workable solution to the student. Major issues need to be flagged for wider consultation in SCC meeting.
 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SCC

(a)   To exercise general supervision as per the roles and responsibilities assigned to SCC and       to give directions regarding its proper function

• To promote interaction of students with SCC
• To know the perception of parent/guardians and students regarding their development and aspirations
• Focus to design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive SCC
• To arrange workshops, seminars, trainings for Counselors as well as for students and  scholars

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Counsellor: Counsellor should understand students coming from diverse backgrounds and holding unique individualities and should focus on the following issues:

• Availability to the students/scholars
• Understand students, acknowledge feelings and change negative thoughts
• Identify learning disabilities of the students
• Early identification of problem behaviours and takes suitable steps to prevent the onset of psychosocial / adjustment problems
• Minimize social comparisons and public evaluations
• Include positive before negative comments
•   Consider options and make choices
• Consultation for staff/psychologist  who are concerned about how to deal with      students in distress
•   Provide emergency numbers to the students and scholars
•   To bring the best out of each student/scholar for overall development of the students

MECHANISM TO APPROACH SCC

Guidance and counselling in FRIDU should be offered using different approaches depending upon the kind of needs of student/scholar. In view of the services offered, these approaches may be grouped as: Approach in Emergency, Approach for Emotional needs and Approach for Intellectual needs. The student(s) in need will approach the Dean (Academics) for help and support, who will forward his/her application/complaints/issues to the concerned committee.

Approach in Emergency

Student/scholar can communicate to their counsellors in emergency by email, telephone, cell phone and text messages. If counsellor is not available, emergency can be communicated to any member of SCC. The student/scholar in need can approach any member of the concerned committee.

Approach for Emotional needs

Student/scholar can telephonically contact to counsellor regarding any emotional need. If counsellor is not available, students/scholars can approach any of the members of SCC. If affected student/scholar is not in a condition to communicate to SCC, any student/scholar/classmate/ roommate can approach on his/her behalf in any time.

Approach for Intellectual needs

Students/scholars can approach the counsellor with their concern about any intellectual need directly or telephonically. If the matter is related to academic assignments or any particular course, counsellor first will have to consult the respective course coordinator or faculty members for providing the assistance within the laid down framework of academics.

MEETING OF THE MAIN BODY OF SCC

The SCC shall meet at least two times a year. Not less than 15 days   notice shall be given of a meeting of the SCC and a copy of the proceeding of each meeting of the concerned cells as declared above shall be furnished to the chairperson of the SCC as soon as possible after the meeting.