Dear T-Bird Parents & Families,
If you haven't gotten the "I'm sick, what should I do?" call from your student yet, you can likely expect it soon. Walking through the library I could hear a symphony of sniffles and coughs. It's hard to have your student not feeling well, especially when they are away from home. Here are some things families can do to help when their student isn't feeling well:
HEALTH CARE
If your student has health insurance, please make sure they have a copy of the health insurance card. You could also check ahead of time to see if your insurance has a preferred provider in our area, and write the name and phone number of the health care provider on your student's insurance card so they know where to go if they need care.
Many insurance companies now offer telemed or dial-a-doc type services, allowing students to video chat with a health care provider without leaving their dorm room and still be covered in-network. Intermountain offers
Connect Care
, which provides similar care for $49 per visit. We will soon have a Connect Care kiosk on campus for our students.
HEALTH HISTORY
Review your student's health history with them. Do they have allergies to medications they should be aware of? (We have a funny family story about this that involved hives, lots of hives.) Are there illnesses that run in your family they should watch for?
HIPAA
Just as
FERPA
grants your student privacy of their academic records,
HIPAA
protects the privacy of a student's medical records after they turn 18. You can find HIPAA authorization forms online, and it would be wise to have both you and your student scan and save a copy on your phones and computers, just in case they are needed. A good article for parents about FERPA and HIPAA is available
here
, and the SUU FERPA release of information form is available online
here
.
STAY HEALTHY
SUU Health and Wellness Coordinator Riley Reynolds reminds students that "College life gets really busy and your health helps you take care of yourself so you are able to succeed in your studies. Don't forget to eat healthy, make sure you are getting good sleep (just like your mom always told you), and find something you love that helps you to stay active. Please stop by our office any time you are feeling alone, stressed out, or in need of some encouragement. We are here to help, and our door is always open."
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
I have included some additional resources below to help your student stay well mentally, physically, and socially.
As a mother, I know it's hard to see your student struggle, and especially hard to feel far away when they aren't feeling well. Never underestimate the power of an encouraging text, a thoughtful care package, or a call from home. We appreciate the opportunity we have to be a partner in your student's education. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you feel you or your student could use some additional support.
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Often our greatest health concern may be related to mental health. Our campus
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
offers short-term emotional support for students. They have wonderful staff who offer support groups and therapy for students. Students can find more information online
here
.
CAPS also offers The
Let's Talk
program, which provides free, drop-in counseling to students. This is a great option for students who aren't sure if counseling is right for them, allowing them to try a counseling session for free, in a safe setting, with no topic off limits.
Students who require regular mental health care may benefit most from private off-campus counseling. There are a number of great providers in our area who love working with our students. Check with your health insurance to see if there are covered providers in our area, or check with your student's current mental health professional for help in selecting a provider who will best meet your student's needs.
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The SUU
Health and Wellness Center
is a great resource for helping our students learn and develop healthy habits. They are located in the Student Center room 175. The Health and Wellness center offers support, student clubs, and campus activities that support student wellness.
This week, our Health and Wellness staff will be teaming up with SUU Outdoor Recreation, our local Health Department, and our SUU Nursing and Kinesiology Departments for a Student Health Fair to help students stay healthy. The health fair will include flu shots and information about healthy behaviors and support on campus.
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Service can be a great way to feel better, to meet new people, and to find connection.
Students can join the Community Engagement Center for
Bread & Soup Nite tonight
- which supports our campus food pantry for students. Bread and Soup Nite takes place the first Monday of each month, from 5- 7 pm in the Ballroom. Everyone is invited for all-you-can-eat bread, soups, and desserts for only $2 with a non perishable food donation. All food donations go to the student pantry located on campus. If your student is in need of food, have them check out the Hope Pantry located downstairs in the Community Engagement Center.
Students call also join the Community Engagement Center this week in their
20 for 20 Service Week.
Event details and more info available
@SUUSERVE
.
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Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for Parent and Family Weekend! It was a beautiful weekend on campus, and we loved seeing families enjoying time together. An album of pictures has been added to our
SUU Parent and Family Services page on Facebook
, be sure to tag your family if you see them in one of our pictures.
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If your student plans to graduate during the
2019-2020 academic year, graduation applications need to be submitted (and $15 diploma fee paid) by the dates below:
Fall 2019 graduates- October 15, 2019
Spring 2020 graduates- December 1, 2019
Summer 2020 graduates- December 15, 2019
The graduation application can be completed online and is found in the
mySUU portal
.
Commencement will be April 24, 2020.
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