“We do have counsellors on staff, but they’re not for ongoing treatment,” Dr. Lorenz clarifies. “For ongoing treatment, we have contracts with partners in the community that can provide students either telehealth or in-person mental health support.” The campus food pantry operates with no questions asked, stocked with personal hygiene items alongside groceries. Community partnerships bring resources directly to students. “Seminole County Legal Aid is here every Tuesday on our Sanford Lake Mary campus,” says Dr. Lorenz. “Rather than trying to replicate all of those services and resources for students, we establish strong partnerships with those who are already doing it in the community.” Academic planning takes equal priority. The college developed detailed pathway maps showing every Education students begin even sooner. “Right from their very first class, they have 15 hours in the school system.” Major employers actively recruit before students graduate. Universal Studios, AdventHealth, Orlando Health, HCA Healthcare, and Wharton Smith maintain ongoing relationships with the college. Construction company Wharton Smith, which committed $2 million to renovate the trades building, regularly hires graduates who sometimes work on campus projects while completing their degrees. COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT SUPPORT Post-COVID anxiety among students demanded a new approach. Seminole State responded by establishing an Office of Holistic Student Support, recognizing that academic success requires more than just good instruction. 5 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx