Please review this information with your student, as well as the additional details outlined in President Fr. Mark’s July 17 update, and encourage them to adhere to outlined practices to help us ensure the health and safety of all students returning to campus. We’re all in this together!

• Health and Safety Practices
  • As a condition of returning to campus, all Pilots agree to adhere to several health and safety practices in light of COVID-19, including daily self-screening, mask wearing, and physical distancing.

• Screening and Testing
  • Information for students is available online regarding screening, testing, quarantine, isolation, and contact tracing. Some additional details were also shared in Fr. Mark’s update on July 17.

• Potential Care Costs
  • Visits at the Health and Counseling Center remain free of cost. The CARES Act requires comprehensive private health insurance plans to cover testing needed to detect or diagnose COVID-19 and the administration of that testing.
  • Additional point of care tests (strep, flu) and medications offered in clinic will continued to be offered at an out-of-pocket cost. Lab work, imaging, prescriptions, and off-campus evaluation costs are subject to insurance coverage.
  • Learn more about Health and Counseling Center costs.

• Health Insurance Requirements
  • The University believes that a solid health plan is vital to the wellbeing of our students. As such, all full-time undergraduate students are required to carry medical insurance and are automatically enrolled in a PacificSource Health Plan. Students with comparable existing health insurance coverage may complete an online Health Insurance Waiver, which is due by Friday, August 28, 2020. Please know that all students, regardless of health insurance, can use the Health and Counseling Center. It is important that your student takes special note of insurance requirements and Health and Counseling Center costs.

• Health and Counseling Center Resources
  • Beyond COVID-19, please remember the helpful services and resources provided through the Health and Counseling Center:
    • Primary Care
    • Counseling
    • Wellness Education and Prevention
    • Resources and Emergency Numbers

• Ways that Students can Prepare for Managing their Health Care
  • Have a copy or picture of their up-to-date health insurance card.
  • Students should research and familiarize themselves with nearby health care options and pharmacies within their health insurance network in the event that they need care in the Portland area.
  • Check that vaccinations are complete and up to date.
  • Know how to contact their primary care physician’s office in case they need any information or records for care while at school, such as by a phone number or through a clinic’s health app.
  • Renew or refill any prescription medications and talk with their provider about how to refill any prescriptions while at school.
  • Create a list of wellness resource contacts to have on hand when needed, including:
    • Student’s mental health provider
    • Primary care office
    • UP Health and Counseling Center during business hours: 503.943.7134
    • After-hours mental health counselors: ProtoCall, 503.943.7134, Option 3
    • After-hours Advice Nurse Line: 503.574.9606
    • Parent, family or other support persons
  • Set overall health and wellness goals before coming to campus and list some actionable items for how to maintain or accomplish these goals.
  • Students who regularly see providers for chronic health reasons, and who will not be able to continue seeing these providers via tele-health during the fall should arrange for new support locally before arriving on campus. Please note that the Health and Counseling Center’s therapy is considered “short-term.” In cases when specialized or long-term care for more persistent mental health concerns is more appropriate (or when based on clinician discretion), HCC staff can assist with a referral to an off-campus resource. They do not keep a referral list, but students who are looking to begin care with an outside provider are encouraged to visit the Psychology Today webpage and select the ‘Find a Therapist’ tab. 

• Additional Items to Pack:
  • Cloth face covering 
  • Personal hand sanitizer 
  • First Aid/home health kit with basic self-care items, such as: 
    • Bandages and antibiotic ointment 
    • Cold/sinus relief medication, cough drops, and nasal spray 
    • Digital thermometer 
    • Over-the-counter pain reliever 
    • Reusable cold pack 
  • Cleaner/disinfectant for personal spaces 
  • Toiletries bag for backpack with basic hygiene items (i.e., hand sanitizer, tissues, face mask) 

Questions regarding Health and Counseling Center services can be sent via e-mail to hcc@up.edu. You can also call the Healthy and Counseling Center at 503.943.7134. If you call during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), simply press 1 when prompted to be forwarded to a staff member or leave a voicemail for someone to return your call.