Being well in the modern age

Kristin Scheidt Dailey ’98 remembers when times were simpler and a quick trip to the health center in Gosiger Hall could solve most of your ailments.

With three college-aged children, she sees young adults their age today struggling with doubt and anxiety; they are forming relationships and friendships while exploring and searching for their identity; and they are working to manage their time and expectations on social media.

Her love for future generations has led Dailey to co-chair, along with former board of trustees chair Mary Boosalis, the fundraising initiative for a new state-of-the-art health and counseling center. The expansion to the existing RecPlex recreation facility will start in December and will open in fall 2026.

“We will provide [students with] what they deserve to thrive spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and academically in a healthy environment,” Dailey said.

No tuition dollars will be used for the project. The fundraising initiative and a yet-to-be-determined student fee, which will be implemented in the 2026-27 academic year and shared upfront in students’ financial aid offers, will support the expansion and significant increase in services.

The new initiative will be a long-term investment in the University’s infrastructure and student success, replacing outdated facilities and expanding programs and services, said President Eric F. Spina. “This project is essential to enriching the undergraduate experience, and it underscores our commitment to student wellbeing and its foundational role in academic and personal success,” he said.

The board of trustees-approved plan calls for a new 15,400-square-foot student health center that will allow for the addition of two physicians and two registered nurses for the academic year, and increase the capacity to see students by 80%. The number of exam rooms will expand from nine to 16, and the building will provide two additional procedure rooms, an allergy/injection room and a nurse telehealth room. 

A 13,200-square-foot counseling center will allow for the addition of three therapists for the academic year plus a year-round, full-time psychiatric provider, and four part-time, master’s-level clinicians, increasing clinical hours by 46%. Group therapy and multipurpose spaces will increase from one to four.

There will be 5,300 square feet of additional and renovated space in RecPlex, which will include connectivity between buildings. RecPlex also will employ a full-time clinical dietitian for individuals with disordered eating behaviors, food allergies or restrictions due to other health issues.

The new facilities will be LEED version 4.0 certified.

Once the fee is implemented, undergraduate students will no longer pay for UD Campus Recreation memberships; group fitness classes; intramural sports; testing in the student health center for strep, flu, mono and COVID; or flu shots. 

“This is what we need to best serve our students on campus,” Dailey said.

At the UD Volunteer Summit in October, Dailey asked those in attendance to commit to fundraising for the initiative. Dailey, who serves on the campagin cabinet for the We Soar campaign, explained that her reasons for saying “yes” to UD come from her heart, which is also where the fervor for the health and wellbeing of students resides.

“Serving others is the highest form of love,” she said.