Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: February 6, 2020 at 1:00p
In Attendance: Matthew Nicholl, Darla Hanley, Jay Kennedy, Larry Simpson,Jeff Klug, Elizabeth Alvarez,Andrew Murphy, Melinda Thomas, Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Denise Pons-Leone, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris

Call to order 1:05p.

1. Counseling Center Update

SILVIO summarized Union concerns regarding access to Counseling Services. SIMPSON affirmed desire of administration to provide and promote access. KLUG seconded SIMPSON’s remarks, summarizing move to central campus location (161 Mass Ave., 4th Floor) for all Health and Wellness Activities and revised in-take procedures. KLUG noted 57% year-over-year increase in Fall 2019 in requests for services. KLUG attributed increase, in part, to greater visibility and efforts to reach-out in the community. ALVAREZ recently reviewed procedures and processes, implemented Rapid Access Counselor to prioritize emergency situations and same-day access. ALVAREZ further discussed issues at Berklee in comparison to other institutions, reasons for hospitalization of students, exceptionally long wait times, services for students struggling with addiction, and communication with faculty. MURPHY emphasized need to contact Public Safety in times of crisis.

2. Corona Virus Update

MURPHY said risk of spreading in U.S., including Boston, is extremely low. Currently, no Berklee students affect. In U.S., flu is a far greater concern.

Meeting adjourned 1:55p.