Dear USC Students,
Welcome to USC! We look forward to supporting your health and well-being over the next few years as the “home” for all your primary care, mental health support, healthy relationships guidance, sexual health, preventive care, and specialty referral coordination needs.
All these services are through USC Student Health, are provided for through the Student Health Fee*, and do not require co-pays at visits. USC Student Health services may be accessed through the MySHR patient portal, or by calling the 24/7 phone number, 213-740-9355 (WELL).
* The Student Health Fee is a required program fee and is applied to accounts for all students taking 6 credits or more in campus-based degree programs; it is not applied for online degree program students, who may opt in if they reside in California. Online degree program students who do not take classes in person are not required to meet immunization and insurance requirements.
As you get ready for the academic year, we would like to share with you some materials that will help you adjust to campus life and meet some health and safety requirements.
–> –> –> Please review the new student materials as you make plans to start the academic year, and share with parents, guardians, and other members of your support network. <– <– <–
Materials translated into Chinese are also available online.
We would also like to remind you to learn about health and immunization requirements for new students, including insurance and immunizations.
?️ LEARN MORE: Onboarding Sessions
Student Health has virtual onboarding sessions for an overview of services and requirements. Access the videorecordings and presentation slides!
?COVID-19 VACCINATION
COVID-19 vaccination*: USC policy requires all students to be vaccinated (and boosted, if eligible) for COVID-19 or submit a request for a medical or religious exemption.
–> –> –> Students are strongly recommended to complete uploading vaccination documentation prior to arrival on campus. <– <– <–
If you are an international student unable to obtain vaccination by this date due to shortages in your location, you may arrange to receive vaccination through USC Student Health upon arrival to the United States.
Online degree program students are exempt from the COVID-19 immunization requirement.
?COVID-19 TESTING
All students arriving to campus in the new semester are strongly recommended to arrange a COVID-19 test (1-2 days) before traveling, and to arrange COVID-19 Pop Testing at USC within 3-5 days of arrival on campus.
If you test positive, delay your plans and begin isolation. Log in to the student health portal, MySHR, to upload your positive test result and complete the contact tracing form.
You do not need to upload negative test results.
? Recommended packing list items: 1) ?️ a thermometer; 2) ? high quality masks; 3) home antigen tests ? obtainable through pharmacies (8 per person, per month, covered through insurance).
✍️ CONSENT FOR TREATMENT
After reviewing the new student requirements, please follow the instructions to log in to usc.edu/myshr, complete your consent for treatment (if you are under the age of 18, you must have a parent or guardian complete a third-party consent form), and upload your immunizations history, including completion of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students.
? IMMUNIZATIONS
If you do not have complete records of immunizations, or have questions about accepted documents (including lab results), you may schedule a one-on-one question and answer session with immunizations after reviewing these materials. Please have your current documents uploaded to MySHR before your appointment visit. The immunizations nurse team can order lab tests, or help schedule immunization appointments at USC Student Health, so that you complete your immunizations upon arrival.
It is strongly recommended that you complete as much of your immunizations, documentation uploads (or lab tests) as possible this summer, before arrival for the fall semester. For international students unable to complete vaccination in their current locations, USC Student Health immunizations office will complete any in-person requirements that are outstanding when you arrive to campus.
Which Vaccines are Required? See the list.
Measles • Mumps • (Rubella) • Varicella (“Chicken Pox”) • Menigococcal Disease (for those under age 21) • COVID-19 (primary series and booster)
For international students unable to complete vaccination in their current locations, USC Student Health immunizations office will complete any in-person requirements that are outstanding when you arrive to campus. You will receive an email for the Immunizations Fair (“Immuchella”) that takes place at the beginning of the new semester, prior to the start of classes.
If you are arriving to campus from outside of the U.S., you may be required to have a TB test (tuberculosis test, only blood draw tests are accepted). It is recommended that you get your TB test, followed by COVID-19 vaccine on the same day (if you are not already fully vaccinated).
Please note you must be 28 days past any recent immunization (MMR, varicella, COVID-19) in order to have a TB test. Your TB test and COVID-19 vaccine will be available at any time that you arrive in the U.S. Contact studenthealth@usc.edu to make arrangements.
[ Note: Students in the health professions graduate programs should complete the requirements for their clinical placements.]
If you have questions about you immunization history or records, please book at 10-minute “appointlet” session to discuss your health care needs https://uscstudenthealth.appointlet.com; or send questions by email to studenthealth@usc.edu (please include your USC ID #, name, and date of birth in the email.)
Immunization requirements apply only to students taking 6 credits or more in campus-based degree programs; does not apply to online degree program students.
⚕️ACCESSING SERVICES
Extensive information about student health operations, and mental health support, the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP, provided by Aetna) and the Student Health Fee is available through our online videos. Please review the information in these videos, and feel free to sign up for one-on-one question and answer sessions for insurance or general services after reviewing these materials.
If you are on long-term psychiatric medications, including stimulant medication for ADHD, please plan with your current provider to have a sufficient supply of medication(s) until you can arrange to continue your care with USC Student Health. It may take 2-4 weeks to secure an appointment so it is important to come with access to at least one month’s supply of medication.
If you need to arrange continuity of care for medication management or other specialist care, please book at 10-minute “appointlet” session to discuss your health care needs https://uscstudenthealth.appointlet.com; or send questions by email to studenthealth@usc.edu (please include your USC ID #, name, and date of birth in the email.)
☂️ INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
All USC students are required to have insurance. The USC Student Health Insurance Plan, provided through Aetna, (SHIP/Aetna) is by default added to your tuition bill and you are automatically enrolled. If you have an insurance plan that meets university requirements, you may submit documentation to request a waiver out of this plan, this waiver must be submitted annually. We encourage all students and their families to compare plans and choose one that has 1) strong coverage in Southern California and 2) strong coverage for extended mental health services.
The USC SHIP/Aetna plan is reviewed annually by Student Health to ensure these criteria are met, and that exceptional value is delivered to participants in the plan. Learn more on the Fees and Deadlines page.
–> –> –> Note the deadline for Student Health insurance waivers and immunizations is Jan. 27, 2023. <– <– <–
If you have questions about insurance, please book at 10-minute summer “appointlet” session to discuss your needs, https://uscstudenthealth.appointlet.com; or send questions by email to studenthealth@usc.edu (please include your USC ID #, name, and date of birth in the email.)
Insurance requirements apply only to students taking 6 credits or more in campus-based degree programs; does not apply to online degree program students.
? REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL MODULES: Consent and Healthy Relationships
As part of required prevention educational modules for students, undergraduates must complete:
“CHRSH 01: Trojans Respect Consent” — All new undergraduate students are required to attend a live session activity, “CHRSH 01 Trojans Respect Consent.” These sessions live virtual sessions conducted by the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services office.
The schedule for booking sessions will be available in late August, and students will be notified in the my.usc.edu student portal of the correct module to schedule in Trojan Learn.
? CONTACT US
As always, our teams are ready to answer your questions and help you get started for a successful and healthy academic year. Please contact covid19@usc.edu with any general questions related to COVID-19 safety and university vaccine policy questions; phone lines are available at 213-740-6291.
Email studenthealth@usc.edu with any questions related to your health records, including immunizations, Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP, provided through Aetna), and campus health services of USC Student Health provided through the Student Health Fee. The Student Health telephone number is 213-740-9355 (WELL).
We look forward to your presence on campus as part of The Trojan Family!
Your health care providers in
USC Student Health | Keck Medicine of USC
