Warwick’s Student Support Services become ‘Wellbeing Support’

Warwick’s Student Support Services have been renamed and changed to Wellbeing Support for the start of this academic year, it has been revealed.

This is to encompass the service no longer being just for students, but to cover the welfare of staff, too. It is unknown at this time whether the budget for Wellbeing Support has increased to reflect the change in scope.

The name change was quietly done, with the @WarwickSupport account on Twitter being the main update, it now having the name Wellbeing Support in replace of Student Support Services.

Even the Welcome Booklets for new undergraduate and postgraduate students have the incorrect former name in, and were not updated in time to reflect the change.

The Warwick website also still bears the name Student Support Services, highlighting a lack of consistency in university information sources at the time of writing.

This change comes alongside a considerable increase in students accessing counselling and support services whilst at university in recent years.

I would prefer, and have suggested to the University, that they wait until Term 2 to launch the name change. Term 1 is already a time of upheaval and transition, so this name change is unneeded – particularly among the students who need to access these services.

Chloe Wynne, Warwick SU’s Welfare Officer

The University commented: “The name change reflects the University’s strategy of developing wellbeing support across the whole of our community and also reflects the recent appointment of a Director of Wellbeing.”

However, Warwick Students’ Union Welfare Officer, Chloe Wynne, has highlighted her concerns with the process of the change. She commented: “In principle, the name change from ‘Student’ to ‘Wellbeing’ is not a problem. So long as the University is going to provide the department with the resources to cope with a rise in capacity by putting Warwick staff under the department’s remit, and students don’t lose out, it’s fine.

“The delivery, however, is fairly concerning. For, the University – and indeed the SU – have already produced and printed a wealth of materials for the academic year ahead each signposting to ‘Student Support Services’ rather than ‘Wellbeing’. It may seem a minor detail, but seeing as signposting is such a crucial part of dealing with poor mental health, it can make a difference and install yet another barrier to accessing crucial services.

Chloe added: “I would prefer, and have suggested to the University, that they wait until Term 2 to launch the name change. Term 1 is already a time of upheaval and transition, so this name change is unneeded – particularly among the students who need to access these services.”