Student Health Services

Parents of OSU Students, and especially those of incoming freshman, often have questions or concerns about the health care services available on campus.

These are some common questions or topics that arise for parents:

All new students are required to submit a health history form including dates of complete immunizations. If dates of immunization are not available, the student will be required to have a MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination. More information about this requirement can be found Immunization Requirements.

All students are strongly encouraged to have some form of health insurance. Proof of health insurance is required for international students. SHS offers student health insurance and this information can be found by visiting our Insurance & Billing page.

Student Health Services staff includes six licensed, board certified physicians, six nurse practitioners as well as staff Registered Nurses. SHS offers laboratory, x-ray, pharmacy, physical therapy, sports medicine, travel medicine, allergy and asthma, nutritional counseling, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy.

The health fee paid by students as part of their tuition package provides: Most primary care clinician office visits, including psychiatrist, at no charge; two free nutritional consultations per year; 24-hour nurse advice line;and all web-based services such as anonymous Question and Answers AnswerSpot) and Self-Care assessment. Fees for additional services such as lab or x-ray are posted under Costs for Services. 

Many OSU students are at a point in their lives where they are learning how to access and receive health care on their own, without the help of family members. During this learning process, students often communicate less fully with family about illnesses than in the past.

The first year of college can often be a time of difficult transition for many students. If you observe signs of depression or anxiety, encourage your student to call Student Health Services to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider or psychiatrist or to call the Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CAPS). At CAPS the student is entitled to 5 free counseling sessions per year and additional counseling sessions are at a very reasonable cost. The CAPS website is http://oregonstate.edu/dept/counsel.

For more general information about your student's experience at OSU, please visit OSU Parents Website website.