Students on campus who may find themselves sick during the weekend now have the option of visiting the Student Health Center during its extended Saturday hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 Typically, the center did not include weekend service, operating only Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
 Aug. 21 marked the first Saturday the clinic began receiving patients.
 Lynette Lewis, Assistant Director for Administration of the health clinic, said the extended hours were a result of an increased interest from students.
 “Dr. Hiatt, director of the Student Health Center, developed a plan and worked with the health center staff to implement the Saturday hours,” Lewis said. “President Schloss and Vice President for Student Affairs, Russ Mast, strongly supported the plan.”
 Many students think it is a great idea and find it beneficial, especially with such busy schedules.
 “They close early on Fridays so you can’t get an appointment,” Kai Powell, junior international business and marketing major, said.  “It takes two weeks to get in and get seen so I think that the extended hours will definitely be a little more helpful towards students’ schedules.”
 Other students thought it would be a better alternative for the weekend, as opposed to the hospital.
 “A lot of people get sick during the weekend and they’re unable to go to the hospital, so that would be a good advantage for the students,” Jalesa Williams, junior biology major, said.
 Jerome Nelson, junior pre-nursing major, said he thought having the health center open on Saturdays was a good idea since the number of students on campus is growing.
 “They’d probably rather do that than go to the hospital and spend some money,” he said.
 Lewis said the health center tends to have a full schedule on Saturdays, seeing anywhere from seven to 14 patients.
 For the most part, students can expect to receive the same services that are available during the week.  A few of the lab tests cannot be resulted during the weekend, but Lewis said this does not interfere with care.