History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 56

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The Counseling Center also partnered with the DOHRE through the creation
of the Residence Life Liaison Program (RLLP) that provides a collaborative
working relationship through consultation and educational services to enhance
the learning and community life experiences for students living within the
university’s residence life environments. Annually, Counseling Center faculty
and interns volunteer to collaborate with staff in single student and graduate
and family residence life areas on campus. Today faculty meet with their
assigned colleagues on the housing staff to develop a covenant of understanding
and schedule of activity (e.g., workshops, training of staff, and situational
consultation) appropriate to the distinct needs of that living community and
availability of faculty resources.
In 1991, the Counseling Center returned to Peabody Hall. By this time, Peabody
Hall was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and was newly renovated
to accommodate various Student Affairs units as part of the long-planned and
eagerly awaited Criser-Peabody Student Services complex. By the time of the
move, the Counseling Center had outgrown the Little Hall space; some offices
had to be shared; and group meeting rooms had become insufficient. Following
the move, the Counseling Center staff enjoyed beautiful offices on the third and
fourth floors of Peabody, assuring clients confidential space away from the busy
foot traffic on the lower floors. The Counseling Center was conveniently close
to the Office of the Dean of Students and Student Financial Affairs, permitting
excellent referrals back and forth, and abutted the popular student green space,
the Plaza of the Americas, and several library buildings. Offices were outfitted
with the latest technology, wired for computers and videotaping. The fourth
floor held several large rooms to accommodate the expanded group counseling
program so that several group offerings could be offered concurrently.
Financially, the Counseling Center budget was largely moved from state funding
onto the Student Health Fee. This had a significant impact as it provided more
substantial support allowing the Counseling Center to grow and add much
needed resources to serve the ever growing student body.
The multicultural counseling movement was an important influence for
counseling in the 1990s, and several UF Counseling Center faculty were nationally
acknowledged leaders. The Counseling Center became known for contributions
in this area, which in turn permitted the successful recruitment of new faculty,
interns and residents who themselves represented incredible diversity among

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