Welcome new students!
What You Need to Know
Health Services is here to provide quality care during your time as a CMU undergraduate or graduate student.
As a new student, there are several health requirements you must fulfill prior to the start of classes. Please review the following details regarding health records, health insurance, and online courses.
HEALTH FORMS & IMMUNIZATIONS
All new students to the Pittsburgh & Silicon Valley campuses must submit required health forms and immunization information, including uploading a CMU Immunization Record Form signed by their healthcare provider before arriving on campus.
Students should log into and select Clearances to review and submit all required health information. New fall students can access HealthConnect after commencement, in mid-May.
To be seen at University Health Services, you must meet the requirements for vaccine compliance and TB screening.
Failure to comply with the below requirements will result in a class registration block and removal from university housing.
Your records must verify the following immunizations:
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
- 2 doses after age 1 or
- combination of 2 measles vaccines, 2 mumps vaccines and 1 rubella vaccine, or
- positive immunoglobin (IgG) antibody blood test to each (proves immunity)
Varicella (Chickenpox)
- 2 doses after age 1 or
- birth in the U.S. before 1980, or
- Date of disease, or
- positive Immunoglobin (IgG) antibody blood test (proves immunity)
Meningococcal AYWC (applies to students living in university housing)
- single dose of Quadrivalent or Pentavalent at or after age 16
- Pennsylvania requires the completed Meningitis AYWC vaccine.
- We also strongly recommend the Meningitis B vaccine.
Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Form
- Followed by TB testing, if indicated with Blood IGRA test. If you recently received a live vaccine (like MMR, Varicella, Yellow Fever, oral Typhoid, or nasal Flu), you should wait 4 weeks before testing. This testing MUST be completed before traveling to campus.
Need a required vaccine?
The following nearby pharmacies offer Varicella, Meningitis, and MMR vaccines on a walk-in basis and are in-network for CMU SHIP (so the vaccines are fully covered for students with CMU SHIP):
is another local option for vaccines.
UNIVERSITY HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
All full-time students who are physically located in the U.S. must have medical insurance that meets university requirements; certain programs also require this of their part-time students. Students must fullfil CMU's insurance mandate during their Open Enrollment period.
Prior to a student's Open Enrollment period, a placeholder fee for the CMU Medical SHIP is posted on their student account. This charge is credited back for students who apply for and receive an approved waiver during open enrollment.
The CMU Student Health Insurance Medical Plan (CMU SHIP) is available to CMU undergraduate and graduate students, and their eligible dependents, during their Open Enrollment period. Optional vision and dental plans are also available.
- The SHIP coverage period is August 1 - July 31, each academic year.
During Your Open Enrollment Period
The insurance premium fees will remain on your student account. If you enroll in the vision or dental plans, or add dependents, the additional charges will be posted to your account once the enrollments have been processed.
- You may also enroll and/or add dependents outside of your Open Enrollment period due a Qualifying Life Event.
If your current insurance meets university requirements you may apply for a SHIP waiver. If approved, the student insurance charge will be credited back to the your student account.
If You Take No Action (not recommended)
If you do not enroll in SHIP, or apply for a waiver, during your Open Enrollment period, you will be auto-enrolled in the CMU Medical SHIP, and the insurance premium fee will remain on your student account. And starting in Fall 25, auto-enrollments will also incur a $50 processing fee.
Waiting for this default-enrollment will delay access to your insurance details, so it is not recommended. If you intend to enroll in the student health insurance plan, please complete the steps to enroll during your Open Enrollment period.
MANAGING ONGOING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
Transitioning to university is a big step, and ensuring your health needs are met is our top priority. If you take ongoing medications for a chronic physical or mental health condition, please follow the guidelines below to ensure a seamless continuation of your care.
Pre-Arrival Checklist
To avoid any gaps in your treatment, please prepare the following before you arrive on campus:
- 90-Day Supply: Ensure you arrive with a minimum of a 30-day supply but ideally a 90-day supply of your current medications. This provides a necessary buffer while you establish care with our team or a local specialist.
- Medical Records: Obtain a copy of your recent medical records or a Summary of Care letter from your current prescribing physician. This documentation should include your diagnosis, current dosage, and most recent lab results (if applicable). Please ensure that your documentation is translated into English.
- Documentation Review: All incoming records are reviewed by the UHS Medical Director to determine the most appropriate clinical path for your specific needs.
Scheduling Your Appointment
Timing is everything. To ensure your care is established before your medication runs out:
- The 30-Day Goal: Plan to be seen at the University Health Services within the first 30 days of the semester starting. We will assist you in scheduling this appointment once our Medical Director has reviewed your records.
- Referrals: Depending on the complexity of your condition or the specific type of medication required, we may recommend a referral to a specialist in the local community. Our team will assist you in finding a provider who fits your insurance and healthcare needs.
Important Note on Psychiatric and Mental Health Services
If you would like assistance in establishing mental health treatment (therapy or medication management) in Pittsburgh, contact CaPS at 412-268-2922. They will provide assistance with accessing care, either at CaPS or in the Pittsburgh community, depending on your specific history and treatment needs. .
Pro Tip: Please plan ahead for your next medication refill. If you wait until you are almost out of medication, there may be a delay in care. Early coordination is the best way to prevent unnecessary stress during midterms.
SAFER SCOTTIES COURSES
Health and safety are critically important to the student experience, both in and out of the classroom. All new undergraduate students must complete online courses about substance use safety and sexual violence prevention. Incoming undergraduate students will receive access on Canvas on July 15th to two courses: Safer Scotties- Navigating Substance Use and Safer Scotties- Healthy Relationships. Incoming students should complete these courses by August 16th.
Having issues with the course? Questions? contact healthpromotion@andrew.cmu.edu
HEALTHCONNECT
HealthConnect is our secure online portal, where students can complete health history and immunizations forms, schedule certain appointments, order prescription refills, request medical records and more.
Before receiving care at University Health Services, all students should:
- Log into with your Andrew ID and password.
- Update their HealthConnect profile and enable text messaging from UHS
- To enable text messaging:
- Select Profile in the left menu
- In the Text Messaging row, click Edit
- Enter mobile number, check "I would like to receive text messages", and select mobile carrier
- To enable text messaging:
- Complete the health history form in HealthConnect
- Read and acknowledge the UHS treatment agreement in HealthConnect
- Read and acknowledge our Statement of Privacy Practices
New Student Frequently Asked Questions
What additional vaccines are recommended?
Recommended for all students:
- Hepatitis A - especially for those traveling internationally
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV9)
- Polio
- Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)
- COVID-19
- Flu
Recommended for members of high risk groups (consult with your medical provider regarding need):
- Meningococcal B
- Pneumococcal
What medical forms do I have to complete before coming to CMU?
I need to complete tuberculosis (TB) testing based on my responses to the TB Screening Questionnaire. What testing do you accept?
Do I need to do any other testing before coming to CMU?
Can I wait till after I have my CMU SHIP to get my vaccines/testing?
Where do I access the online forms and upload my records?
After commencement, new students can access all of our online forms and upload records in HealthConnect, under Clearances in the left menu.
Please note: in order to access , your birthdate in the Student Information System (SIO) must be correct. If you are unable to access HealthConnect, check your birthdate in SIO. If it is incorrect, correct it at the HUB. The following day, it should be updated in HealthConnect. If you still have problems, email us for help.
Do I have to translate my records if they are not in English?
Do I need a physical exam?
What if I do not have all of the required immunizations by the due date?
Can I request an exemption from a vaccine requirement?
Yes, if vaccination is not advised for medical reasons or conflicts with your religious belief/strong moral or ethical conviction. You can find and submit a vaccine exemption form in HealthConnect, under Downloadable Forms, or find them below:
Application for Personal or Religious Belief Exemption
Application for Medical Exemption
If a contagious disease outbreak occurs, the University reserves the right to ask students who have not been vaccinated against that disease to leave campus until the outbreak is over.