The Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) aims to provide quality physical and mental health care under one roof. Our health professionals recognize that good health is more than the absence of illness, but rather a robust state of well-being that acknowledges the importance of the mind-body relationship. Together we work with you to promote healthy lifestyle choices, encourage a holistic philosophy and balance to life for healthy living and academic success.
If you are a newly admitted student, please review very thoroughly the Student Health Requirements and Forms and Documents expandable sections below (especially the Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) aka PPD requirements and CDC guidelines and definitions) to avoid any confusion and/or delays with being compliant, which could potentially impact your ability to register for classes and/or clinical placements process.
The Student Health Portal manages student's health requirement compliance for Samuel Merritt University. The system allows students to view their health requirements for their academic program. If there is a discrepancy, students should contact the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) immediately.
Log in using your SMU username and password. If you are a faculty member, check with your department chair for access. Student Health Portal instruction guide.
Please be sure to check your messages in the Student Health Portal to be updated with your missing health requirements. Student health messages will not be directly sent to your SMU email address and we will not send notifications or reminders to your personal email.
To schedule a clinical appointment, including PPD placements and readings, please call 510-879-9288
Staff members at the SHAC utilize a short-term model of therapy for individual and couple sessions in order to use its resources most effectively and assist students in addressing issues common in a college setting. Short-term personal psychotherapy is available at no charge to currently enrolled students, up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
As part of Samuel Merritt University’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the health and well-being of the campus community, students now have free and immediate access to medical and mental health support through TimelyCare,the leading telehealth company specializing in higher education.
TimelyCare developed technology to offer students a 24/7 extension of campus health and counseling center resources that is as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Through the TimelyCare app on their phone or other device, Samuel Merritt University students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states – at no cost to them and without the hassle of traditional insurance – including:
BeWell SMU supports the health and wellbeing of the SMU community by providing wellness events, resources, and community. Watch for the weekly newsletters or visit the BeWell SMU hub in Canvas.
All students are required to complete student health requirements as soon as you have been accepted to the program, but no later than 30 days before your program start date in order to avoid a registration hold. All required health information and supporting documents must be uploaded and date(s) entered for all submissions in the Student Health Portal (SHP) or they will not be verified. Also, please make sure date(s) entered for either immunizations and/or collection dates for titers and IGRA blood tests match exactly with what is indicated on the documents that are being uploaded. Documents submitted by mail, email, fax, or hand-delivered will not be accepted and documents will not be returned. And lastly, please make sure your name (your last name needs to match for those who have had a name change since receiving your immunizations) is listed on all your submissions and not just your date and results or they will not be verified.
Contact: SHAC phone number 510.879.9288 regarding student health compliance. Also, please do not send personal health information (PHI) via email because it violates HIPAA laws. We will only accept submissions via the Student Health Portal.
Student Health Record and Consent to Release Record. Please enter date in the SHP in which the documents are signed and dated, not the date of when you are uploading.
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis): Verification of Tdap vaccine within the last 10 years. Td will not satisfy this requirement unless you can provide documentation that you've previously already received a TDaP.
Hepatitis B: Three doses required. Dose 1 to dose 2: minimum four weeks apart. Dose 2 to dose 3: minimum eight weeks apart AND at least 16 weeks after 1st dose OR Positive Hepatitis B sAb Titer (surface antibody). Please do not submit both options. Either the series of doses or positive titers will suffice. If you are submitting a 2 dose vaccine, be sure to submit documentation that indicates that you have received the Heplisav-B for both doses. According to the CDC guidelines, when a titer is negative or equivocal, you need to repeat the entire series not just a booster.
MMR: Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, and Rubella: 2 doses required (no age exception due to our health science institution.) Minimum four weeks apart between Dose 1 to Dose 2 OR Positive Rubeola IgG Titer, positive Rubella IgG Titer, and positive Mumps IgG Titer. Please do not submit both options. Either the 2 doses or positive titers for ALL 3 will suffice. According to the CDC guidelines, when a titer is negative or equivocal, you need to repeat the entire series not just a booster.
Varicella: Documentation of positive varicella titer or 2 doses of varicella vaccines received minimum 4 weeks apart, regardless of prior history of chickenpox. Please do not submit both options. Either the 2 doses or positive titers will suffice. According to the CDC guidelines, when a titer is negative or equivocal, you need to repeat the entire series not just a booster.
Flu Vaccine: An annual flu vaccine or declination waiver (found under forms and documents) signed by your clinical coordinator or program director prior to submitting into the SHP. Students who decline flu vaccine must wear a mask when they are in clinicals.
Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) aka PPD: All newly admitted SMU students are required to receive either a negative 2-step TB skin test or Quantiferon TB Gold blood test (IGRA) upon being admitted to SMU, followed by a 1-step TB skin test (or a Quantiferon) annually until graduation. The PPD skin test will expire each year on the date of your second PPD reading of your 2-step PPD. If you have a history of positive PPD, you will need to complete the Tuberculosis Screening Survey annually. Routine chest x-rays are not required unless the TB survey shows evidence of TB.
Please note: 2-step PPD requires 4 trips to a healthcare provider's office: 1st step placement, 1st step reading, 2nd step placement, 2nd step reading. Please plan accordingly to submit this requirement on time.
Per University Policy: "Vaccinations are recommended as a safety measure to help prevent serious illnesses, but SMU students and employees will no longer be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Students and employees are required to continue to comply with all other health and safety measures established by the University and the clinical/hospital settings as well as federal/state/local laws and regulations, as appropriate."
If you are switching from the Quantiferon TB Gold blood test (IGRA) to the TB skin test, you will need to complete a 2-step TB skin test, followed by a 1-step TB skin test annually until graduation regardless if you are new or a continuing student at SMU.
When entering your PPD/Quantiferon date(s), please make sure you are selecting the correct options. If you are submitting a 2-step PPD, then select "1st of 2-step" and "2nd of 2-step." If you are submitting your annual 1-step PPD, then select "Annual PPD." If you are submitting a quantiferon test, then select "IGRA (Quantiferon or T-SPOT)."
2-step PPD must be done within 6 months before your program start day. 2-step as defined by the CDC: 1st-step test placed and read within 48-72 hours. Retest in 1 to 3 weeks after first TB skin test result is read. Subsequently a 1-step PPD will need to be completed annually until graduation.
OR
A negative Quantiferon TB Gold blood test (IGRA) must be done within six months before program start day and can be submitted annually in lieu of the PPD skin test.
Individuals with a history of Positive TST (PPD) will need to submit:
AND
There may be additional requirements from your academic program or clinical placement, please check with your clinical coordinator.
Mandatory Student Health Insurance Enrollment must be completed online. All SMU students are required to have acceptable medical health insurance coverage in effect by their program’s first day of classes. Please note that the SHAC does not handle health insurance and it is managed by HSA Consulting. For more information, please visit the insurance website or you can contact Dee Witte directly at 888-978-8355 or via email at dee@hsac.com.
Students who do not comply with the above immunization policy will be put on registration hold- unable to register for classes and prohibited from clinical experience and class attendance until they are in compliance. Registration for succeeding terms may be held until students provide the above documentation.
All required health information and supporting documents must be uploaded and date(s) entered for every submission in the Student Health Portal (SHP) or they will not be verified. Please make sure date(s) entered match exactly with what is indicated on the documents that are being uploaded.
Please do not upload multiple pages under any random or incorrect upload option and be sure to use the corresponding upload option when you are submitting individual pages for your immunization records.
Student Health Services Forms
Physical Exam Form—Only needed if physical exam is a requirement from your academic program or clinical placement.
If you are having any technical issues uploading your documents, please try switching browsers first. If that still does not work, we then ask that you try uploading using your mobile device's browser.
TimelyMD developed its proprietary TimelyCare technology to offer students a 24/7 extension of campus health and counseling center resources that is as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Through the TimelyCare app on their phone or other device, Samuel Merritt University students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states – at no cost to them and without the hassle of traditional insurance – including:
Health Services
Maintaining good physical health is an essential part of education and the SMU Health and Counseling Center staff are committed to partnering with students to make informed choices and provide a holistic approach to student health, education, wellness, and outreach services on a confidential, inclusive, and respectful environment.
As part of Samuel Merritt University’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the health and well-being of the campus community, students now have free and immediate access to medical and mental health support through TimelyMD, the leading telehealth company specializing in higher education.
TimelyMD developed its proprietary TimelyCare technology to offer students a 24/7 extension of campus health and counseling center resources that is as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Through the TimelyCare app on their phone or other device, Samuel Merritt University students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states – at no cost to them and without the hassle of traditional insurance – including:
Health Services
Maintaining good physical health is an essential part of education and the SMU Health and Counseling Center staff are committed to partnering with students to make informed choices and provide a holistic approach to student health, education, wellness, and outreach services on a confidential, inclusive, and respectful environment.
As part of Samuel Merritt University’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the health and well-being of the campus community, students now have free and immediate access to medical and mental health support through TimelyMD, the leading telehealth company specializing in higher education.
TimelyMD developed its proprietary TimelyCare technology to offer students a 24/7 extension of campus health and counseling center resources that is as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Through the TimelyCare app on their phone or other device, Samuel Merritt University students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states – at no cost to them and without the hassle of traditional insurance – including:
Health Services
Maintaining good physical health is an essential part of education and the SMU Health and Counseling Center staff are committed to partnering with students to make informed choices and provide a holistic approach to student health, education, wellness, and outreach services on a confidential, inclusive, and respectful environment.
As part of Samuel Merritt University’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the health and well-being of the campus community, students now have free and immediate access to medical and mental health support through TimelyMD, the leading telehealth company specializing in higher education.
TimelyMD developed its proprietary TimelyCare technology to offer students a 24/7 extension of campus health and counseling center resources that is as easy and convenient as making a video or phone call. Through the TimelyCare app on their phone or other device, Samuel Merritt University students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states – at no cost to them and without the hassle of traditional insurance – including:
Questions regarding health insurance please contact HSAC at 888-978-8355 or dee@hsac.com for assistance.
All insurance forms can now be completed and submitted online here.
Academic mastery, social relationships, and participation in the University community can provide fulfilling experiences that contribute to personal and professional growth and wellness. However, at times these positive experiences can be interspersed with feelings of distress and self-doubt when students are confronted with the many demanding pressures in your lives, both academic and personal.
If you believe that there is room for improvement in your personal effectiveness and resilience in some areas of your life, a psychological consultation may help you work toward such improvements. You may notice that you have certain patterns of thinking and behavior that interfere with your success with and the enjoyment of certain endeavors. If so, you should consider making an appointment. The counseling staff at the SHAC understand these challenges and are here to support your growth and development, help you restore balance, build strength, gain emotional resiliency and increase your personal well-being.
Unsure if you might need counseling?
Take this online Mental Health Screening and see if speaking with a counselor might be beneficial for you. Also see Counseling FAQs
The Scope of Our Services
Staff members at the SHAC utilize a short-term model of therapy for individual and couple sessions in order to use its resources most effectively and assist students in addressing issues common in a college setting. Short-term personal psychotherapy is available at no charge to currently enrolled students, up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
The SHAC invites students to schedule an initial intake appointment with a staff therapist. During this initial intake, the therapist will assist students in obtaining the appropriate services to address the concerns by recommending services on and off campus. Student concerns that can be addressed within a brief model of therapy are usually referred to the SHAC while more comprehensive concerns or medication issues requiring longer-term therapy are best addressed in the community.
Some of the issues that are commonly addressed in short-term counseling at the SHAC include:
Scheduling an Appointment:
Students at the OAKLAND campus can make initial intake appointments by contacting the SHAC at (510) 879-9288.
Faculty and Staff
Counseling staff are available to provide faculty and staff with a variety of services including consultations about students you may be concerned about, classroom presentations and other mental health outreach needs. The counseling staff are not able to see Staff and Faculty members for personal counseling services. Staff and Faculty can obtain personal counseling services through the Office of People and Culture as part of their employee benefits or directly through their private health insurance benefits.
Service Limitations
Students whose mental health needs cannot be accommodated within short-term counseling, or who require a particular type of expertise, need to meet with a clinician more than once a week, or are in need of a psychotropic medication, are referred to community resources. Students may be referred out to the community after the initial intake or during the course of treatment at the SHAC as factors become apparent during or after the intake assessment.
Some of the issues that are commonly and more appropriately addressed by services in the community include:
Please note, SHAC clinical staff members are unable to provide documentation for emotional support animals.
The Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) is generally open Monday through Friday between 9:00 and 5:00pm. The Center is closed on weekends, holidays and during University breaks.
SHAC staff members do not provide after-hours crisis intervention. If you experience a mental health crisis or emergency when the SHAC is closed, you may choose from the following options:
In any of these situations, you are encouraged to also call the Student Health and Counseling Center at (510) 879-9288 as soon as possible to alert the counseling staff that you are in need of help.
The Samuel Merritt University Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) values and protects the privacy of all students. Counseling often involves the discussion of sensitive personal information. It is important that you feel safe in your discussions with a SHAC clinician, and that you understand that your privacy is respected and protected, consistent with the parameters of CA state and federal laws. Providing confidential services means that Counseling Center staff members do not release your information outside the SHAC without your verbal and/or written permission. Counseling records are maintained separately from any other records of the University.
There are some exceptions to confidentiality as allowed by law in the following situations:
In any of the above instances, SHAC professional staff will make every attempt to inform you before any confidential information is released. If the disclosure of information does become necessary, we will only release the minimum information needed to protect you or others.
Information regarding students is routinely shared internally among Counseling Center staff, primarily for case consultation and therapist supervision. Clinicians may obtain necessary and confidential consultation or supervision with other mental health professionals to ensure the quality of your care. The Counseling Center may exchange information regarding your treatment with other health care professionals within the SHAC for the purposes of coordinating care without your written consent, as specified by law.
Student counseling information may be used in aggregate form for some purposes such as maintaining accurate statistics and conducting research. In these instances, any information uniquely identifying an individual is removed.
