Students gather round Izzy the Goldendoodle in Lovejoy Library. (L-R) Fairen Woolard and Aleah Glodich and Austin Uhls, of West Frankfort; Brooke Snyder, of Alton; and Christa Becherer, of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

EDWARDSVILLE - Finals week in college often brings increased stress as students strive to finish the academic semester strong. Bringing relaxed reassurance and a little lightness to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students during the pressure-filled time of year are therapy dogs.

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Studies show interacting with therapy animals increases oxytocin and reduces stress. On Monday, Dec. 10, students petted, hugged and visited with a couple sweet pups from CHAMP Assistance Dogs in the Morris University Center’s Goshen Lounge.

Four-legged friends with Got Your Six Support Dogs are also bringing stress relief to students Monday-Thursday, Dec. 10-13 in Lovejoy Library’s Friends Corner.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose to shape a changing world. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of more than 13,000.

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