Monmouth University has extended its collaboration with Uwill, a 24/7 virtual counseling service through the 2025–2026 academic year, providing students with free, unlimited access to licensed mental health support outside of the Counseling and Prevention Services (CPS) office. CPS is located on the third floor of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center.
Uwill is an online platform that provides additional crisis counseling services and mental health counseling to students in college and universities. Teletherapy services are available at all times of the day. Students can schedule their own sessions at any time, including holidays, as well as during the winter and summer sessions, via video or phone. Students have access to choose a therapist who best fits their needs. Students can use the Uwill platform to select a therapist based on criteria such as language, gender identity, or areas of specialization.
Christopher McKittrick, the Director of Counseling and Prevention Services at Monmouth for the past three years, said, “We wanted to make sure we can provide this safe, free, and confidential service to all students.”
Uwill services are available for all students, including undergraduate, graduate, and international students, signing into Uwill with their MU ID.
McKittrick said, “We set it up to be completely unrestricted; students can use it as often or as little as they like.”
Uwill provides access to licensed therapists from all 50 states, allowing students to connect, not only with professionals licensed in New Jersey, but also with those authorized in their home state.
This enables care for MU’s out-of-state students, especially when they return home during holidays and extended breaks throughout the academic year.
“Going to college can mean being away from home for the first time for many students, so this is a great way to aid mental and emotional health whenever a student needs it. Resources at home may not be readily available 24/7. Having a resource that is free whenever a student needs it can definitely benefit a student’s overall well-being and mental health,” said Anna Dioguardi, a senior psychology major.
Uwill has been approved by the Secretary of Higher Education and is fully covered by a State Grant through June 2026, with no cost to the university, McKittrick said. Monmouth has had an agreement with Uwill for the past two years, and recently was able to extend its contract.
McKittrick said, that the CPS office operates with a “small, but mighty staff, that does amazing things, of four. The Uwill collaboration will further ensure all students have access to the mental health care they need at all times. Uwill furthermore help the office begin to expand its scope. McKittrick also praises his team for maintaining a system for students without a waitlist, something that sets Monmouth apart from many larger universities, where students often face delays in receiving support. Uwill services are offered at a number of universities in the tristate area including, Rutgers University, Montclair State University, Villanova University, and Fairfield University.
McKittrick said, “Since we secured Uwill, there have been 148 active students on Uwill; CPS averages between 400-550 students each year in our office.”
James Pillar, Vice President for Student Life, said, “Uwill has been a helpful addition to student life at Monmouth, expanding access to care in ways that truly meet students where they are. At the same time, it is clear that our students gravitate towards in-person meetings with our CPS team, which was ranked last year as one of the best counseling and student support services in the nation.”
Following a Uwill session, students were able to submit their thoughts through an anonymous feedback survey. McKittrick is able to evaluate Uwill’s service with MU students and its effectiveness within the campus community. McKittrick added that the only person who will see if a student uses Uwill is him and explained, “I’m the Director of Counseling and am bound by confidentiality.”
Lia Willaim, a senior in the psychology program, said, “I really admire my university for implementing this!”
McKittrick said students have reported using the Uwill service to be helpful in times of not being physically on campus. He said that students studying abroad were able to log in and connect with a counselor quickly, which the students found very helpful. “We want to ensure students feel the personal connection to CPS so we can support help-seeking behavior and remove any barriers to their success,” McKittrick said.
Beyond 2026, McKittrick said CPS’s long-term goal remains to deliver effective care to students that makes the most sense and meets the greatest needs of Monmouth students while operating in a resource-restricted environment. McKittrick is eager to spread the word of Uwill services for students. CPS is sending messages to all students during days like move-in, Student Orientation, Hawks Advising Days, First Year classes, and many other ways. These other ways include, flyers around campus and even on the backs of frisbees.
These methods of access are “to ensure students feel the personal connection to CPS so we can support help-seeking behavior and remove any barriers to their success,” McKittrick said. CPS’s overarching goal of this partnership is to “to make it clear that reaching out for support, whether online or in person, is a positive and empowering step.”
