The Counseling Center has implemented an appointment, cancellation and no-show policy because of the frequent number of students who did not show up for appointments. Students who do not show up for their appointment or call to cancel at least an hour in advanced will be charged a $25 administrative fee.

Pam Midgett, director of counseling center said, “the fee is painful to pay so students seem to remember to cancel.”

Officials at the center based the fee on similar fees at other Texas universities and a similar fee at the Vinson Health Center fee.

Midgett said, “We began our no show policy in order to give as many students as possible quick access to a counselor.”

The center, in the policy document, asks that students be courteous and cancel their appointments at least one hour in advance of their scheduled time.

Midgett said, “ If the student doesn’t cancel but ‘no-shows,’ we are unable to give that appointment time to another student [who needs it].”

Vikki Chaviers, professional counselor at the counseling center, said she believes the policy has been effective.

However, at least one student disagreed with the implementation of the policy.

“We pay for everything in our tuition. Why do we have to pay more money because we missed an appointment?” asked Khalil Inniss- King a sophomore in management information systems. Inniss- King said the penalties should not be monetary. Rather, students should be blocked from using the center for a while.