Davidson College relocated its counseling office across Main Street during the fall 2026 semester, and students say the new location creates barriers for those with mobility issues.
The college moved counselors from the Student Health Center to the second floor of the Well Cat Center, as the Davidsonian first reported. The shift is a temporary fix while Davidson builds a new, integrated Health Center combining nutrition, health education, clinic and counseling services. That construction is expected to span three years.
There is no elevator. The Well Cat Center's second floor is accessible only by stairs, meaning students who cannot use stairs cannot reach the counseling offices.
Sports dietitian Elizabeth Allred, who works out of the Well Cat Center, told the Davidsonian that staff are doing their best to meet student needs without the right physical space fully in place. She called it "an ongoing challenge."
Student Adrian Delgado, Class of 2029, raised a different concern. He told the Davidsonian the added distance across Main Street is just enough to make a student second-guess whether to show up at all. For students already hesitant about seeking mental health support, even a small barrier can matter.
Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Davidsonian the college never sent written notice about the move. The student said they were told verbally after a triage appointment but never received confirmation through email or the Davidson Health Portal.
Director of Counseling David Graham acknowledged the communication gap. "We saw something minor, but it's minor because we were just thinking operationally, but we weren't thinking big picture like how will the campus know where we're at," Graham told the Davidsonian.
To address accessibility, Graham said the Health Center added questions to its intake and triage forms asking students about mobility needs. The goal is to place students with counselors in spaces they can reach during the three-year transition.
The counseling move also triggered a shuffle elsewhere on campus. The Health Education Department, including its fellows and programming, relocated to the Student Health Center. Health Education Fellow Amelia Solum, Class of 2025, told the Davidsonian her new basement office in the Health Center offers more privacy, with a separate entrance students can use without passing through the main building.
Davidson's Center for Student Health and Well-Being says it offers in-person and virtual appointments, with same-day availability in most cases for urgent needs. The new Health Center, once complete, is expected to bring all services back under one roof.
