Monmouth University’s Student Government Association (SGA) passed Resolution S26-01 on Feb. 4, a legislative measure titled “UWill Grant Renewal,” with the aim of raising awareness and initiating legislative action to protect student mental health services. With this resolution, SGA is positioning itself as a statewide leader in student mental health advocacy, urging New Jersey officials to renew funding for a virtual counseling platform before state support expires this summer.
SGA President Brendan Sheehan says Monmouth is the only student government in New Jersey to have formally passed legislation calling for the renewal of UWill.
UWill is a teletherapy service providing free, 24/7 access to licensed mental health professionals via video, phone, chat, and text. The platform is currently supported by a state grant originally funded through federal American Rescue Plan pandemic relief, but that funding stream is set to expire in June 2026.
On Feb. 11, the SGA sent copies of its resolution, along with a co-signed letter from 18 New Jersey SGA presidents to Gov. Mikie Sherrill and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The letter was also sent to members of key legislative budget and higher education committees, including Sen. Vin Gopal, who represents Monmouth County.
“As far as I know, the Monmouth University SGA is the only SGA in New Jersey to pass legislation regarding UWill,” SGA President Brendan Sheehan said. “That positions us as a statewide leader for mental health advocacy for our students.”
The push for virtual services comes as Monmouth’s on-campus resources operate under heavy demand. Eric Kaighn, Assistant Director of Counseling and Prevention Services (CPS), confirmed that the university’s in-person counseling center is currently operating “very close” to capacity.
“No waitlist at the moment,” Kaighn said. “At the same time, appointment slots can be limited given the hours.”
Kaighn noted that while students often prefer in-person therapy, UWill provides a critical safety net by allowing students to access care during nights and weekends when the CPS office is closed.
“The biggest benefit UWill gives is the ability for students to access CPS outside of traditional hours,” he said.
The push comes as state grant funding supporting UWill, originally funded through the federal American Rescue Plan pandemic relief, is set to expire in June 2026. This, in turn, creates a funding deadline that student leaders say could jeopardize access to care if the program is not renewed in the next state budget cycle. The resolution, adopted by the SGA Senate on Feb. 4, calls on state officials to extend funding for the platform, citing rising demand for counseling services and growing concern over student mental health capacity.
According to the resolution data, Monmouth students have logged 578 sessions through UWill, with 194 individual registrations and 31crisis calls recorded as of December. Student leaders say those figures represent the highest levels of usage since the platform launched in April 2023.
“As representatives of the student body, it is our job to support the well-being and health of all students,” Sheehan said. “Once we learned that usage has only risen, that reaffirmed our commitment to retaining this crucial service for the future.”
Sheyla Caly, the SGA senator who authored the resolution, said the crisis call data was a turning point.
“Upon seeing the numbers, I knew this was something that needed to become a priority,” Caly said. “As of last semester, there were 31 crisis calls made. That’s 31 of our students who were in need of immediate support.”
The funding debate is unfolding as New Jersey officials confront broader fiscal pressure while preparing the next state budget. According to fiscal projections cited by the Office of the State Treasurer, the administration is facing a structural deficit of roughly $1.5 billion, necessitating difficult decisions about which programs to continue investing in.
Despite the shortfall, Gov. Sherrill has said that behavioral health is a policy priority. She emphasized that increasing access to affordable, reliable mental health care, particularly in schools, remains a priority for her administration. However, in her official budget message delivered in January, the governor cautioned that responsible budgeting would require sufficient revenue, signaling that the state may need to rely on cash reserves to close the current deficit.
When asked whether CPS has a contingency plan if state funding were to disappear, Kaighn indicated that the future is uncertain.
“No concrete plans that I’m aware of,” Kaighn said, though he noted there has been “some discussion” about the issue. “We’d have to see how it goes,” he added.
The state’s role in higher education mental health services could expand further under proposed legislation. Senate Bill S3286, introduced in the state legislature in February, would establish a permanent grant program to support teletherapy platforms and campus counseling services, but it includes new accountability provisions requiring universities to publicly report student-to-counselor ratios and suicide-related statistics.
Despite the legislative complexity, Sheehan emphasized that the priority must remain on securing resources for students.
“The state holds an obligation to provide affordable, equitable mental health care,” he said.
Student leaders also pointed to volatility in federal mental health funding as justification for stronger state support. In January, federal agencies briefly announced the termination of $2 billion in mental health grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, then reversed the decision within 24 hours.
Acting Secretary of Higher Education Margo Chaly echoed concerns about federal instability during her January nomination.
On Jan. 8, Chaly said that “while the [federal] administration continues to cut funding that makes college affordable… It’s critical we support the thousands of New Jerseyans who want to pursue a college degree,” according to NJ.gov.
SGA leaders cited the episode as evidence that federal funding streams remain unstable, increasing the need for state-level safety nets. University counseling officials were praised in the resolution for their work, but student leaders acknowledged that traditional services alone may not meet demand.
“Mental health emergencies do not stop when their office closes at 5 p.m.,” Sheehan said. “UWill provides free 24/7 access for all students in New Jersey to speak with a licensed mental health provider whenever they need to.”
Caly said the platform plays a critical role for commuter and first-generation students whose schedules may not align with in-person office hours.
“By removing scheduling and physical barriers, it makes all the difference when it comes to getting help and not getting any at all,” she said.
Students interviewed said demand for mental health services has become increasingly visible on campus.
“It feels like I have so much more on my plate this semester compared to previous ones,” sophomore communications major Abby Kosch said. “Having a virtual option allows mental health services to be more accessible.”
Others pointed to strain within the university’s existing counseling infrastructure.
“I’ve heard from friends that they sometimes find it difficult to get a counseling appointment because counselors are already booked,” sophomore communication major Giavanna Chillemi said.
Chillemi added that funding concerns are difficult to separate from the rising cost of attendance. According to the university’s 2025-26 tuition and fees schedule, the cost of attendance at Monmouth totals $48,140 for the academic year, a 3.8% increase from the previous year.
“This university continues to raise tuition each school year, yet little change is seen on campus,” she said, arguing that accessible mental health services should remain a priority investment.
Not all students supported expanding funding for virtual counseling. Freshman business administration major Sammy Desiano said he prefers in-person therapy and questioned whether public funds should support telehealth services.
“I feel like therapy is way better in person,” he said. “If it’s a waste of money, they shouldn’t.”
If state funding is renewed, student leaders say it would provide long-term stability for campus mental health infrastructure and reduce uncertainty surrounding access to care.
“Having stability when it comes to mental health resources changes everything,” Caly said. “Students should never feel unsure about receiving care due to monetary circumstances.”
For now, the university remains in a holding pattern until Gov. Sherrill releases her final budget proposal in late February, leaving thousands of students relying on a digital safety net that may soon go offline.
