Our Counseling Office is committed to the mission and objectives of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, providing students with the necessary tools to maximize their academic, social, personal and professional potentials. This office is assigned to the Vice Presidency of Innovation and Student Services. Its purpose is to assist students in the transition from high school to a university institution, and help them through personal and academic issues, decision making skills and other situations that interfere in the realization of their academic and professional goals. Counseling is an educational service that allows individual and collective follow up in the formative process of students at all levels. Our counseling team works in coordination with faculty and other institutional services to develop procedures that will help students achieve academic success.
Objectives
A professional counselor works with the process of providing professional help. This process happens by means of a professional and direct relationship with students. Its purpose is to foster students’ development and integral wellbeing. By being a student at PUPR, you could benefit from these services at any moment during the time you are studying with us. We invite you to think of us as a tool available to help you achieve your goals. Our counselors also offer you security and confidence. They are regulated by the Health Practitioners Examining Board of Puerto Rico, which requires professionals to have a license to provide services. This guarantees that they are led by the profession’s code of ethics and a strict confidentiality when providing services.
Referral for Counseling Services
The purpose of this service is to provide equal opportunities to people with physical, mental, neuropsychological, sensory and emotional disabilities that may limit their daily activities in an academic environment. It is our responsibility to process and carry out the necessary adjustments so that disabled students can successfully request our service.
For more information, you can contact the Guidance and Counseling Office at 787-622-8000, ext. 248/352, or send an email to counseling@pupr.edu. You can also visit the office, located on the first floor of the main building (M).
The Wellness & Prevention Program of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico aims to provide an opportunity to develop positive attitudes towards life by discouraging the use or abuse of alcohol or controlled substances, as well as to work to prevent ETS, tobacco use, violence and suicide.
It offers information and countless alternatives to create awareness in the general academic community so they will learn to recognize their limits and establish control over them.
Polytechnic University is part of Consorcio de Recursos Universitarios Sembrando Alianza de Alerta a las Drogas, el Alcohol y la Violencia (CRUSADA). This consortium seeks to Foster university environments free of the use and abuse of alcohol, drugs and violence, and to promote positive and healthy lifestyles in academic community.
Services and Activities
Poli-FIESTA is a program destined to raise awareness against drunk driving in our community, especially among college students. The Counseling and Guidance Office gained these program through a proposal with the Traffic Safety Commission of the Government of Puerto Rico during the 2017-2018 year. The acronym FIESTA means Facilitators and Educators of Traffic Safety and Alcohol. The main goal is for students to serve as facilitators, and through informative stands, talks and trainings raise awareness to prevent and reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities of drunk drivers between the ages of 16 to 24 years. Also, the educational activities include awareness campaigns, distribution of educational material, workshops and presentations about drunk driving, promotion of the message through social networks and studies on the behavior of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Psychological services are available to students of the Polytechnic University for academic, personal, family or couple situations, in order to contribute to the mental health necessary to complete their academic preparation successfully.
Some of the reasons why you can benefit from psychological services:
Cases that do not qualify to receive the service:
Schedule of services by appointment
787-622-8000 Ext. 465
serviciospsicologicos@pupr.edu
Faculty and staff members are often the first to notice a student experiencing distress. To support our students in maintaining their mental health and maximizing their intellectual growth, it’s important to identify difficulties as early as possible. If you observe a student who is showing signs of difficulty, please realize Early Alerts.
What to look for
Responding to students in distress
When you have identified a student in distress, you have the option of choosing to:
Counselor | Title | Extension | |
---|---|---|---|
Office Director | 787-622-8000 ext.478 | svazquez@pupr.edu | |
Secretary | 787-622-8000 ext. 248 | ihernandez@pupr.edu | |
Dra. Jessica Torres Clinical Psychologist | Psychologist | 787-622-8000 ext. 465 | spsicologicos@pupr.edu |
Institutional Counselors | Assign Departments | Extension | Emails |
---|---|---|---|
Vilmariam Olivo Counselor in Rehabilitation |
|
787-622-8000 ext.422 | violivo@pupr.edu |
María del C. Pérez Psychological Counselor |
|
787-622-8000 ext. 376 | mperez@pupr.edu |
Stefanie Santiago Counselor in Rehabilitation |
|
787-622-8000 ext. 337 | ssantiago@pupr.edu |
Karla M. Torres Licensed Professional Counselor |
|
787-622-8000 ext. 246 | ktorres@pupr.edu |
Monday to Thursday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday: 8:00am – 3:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Sunday: Closed