Wellness Center

In USF’s Wellness Center, a registered nurse provides basic medical services for students and makes referrals to other health care providers/agencies when necessary. Visit the center in Tower Hall to see the nurse. When the Wellness Center is closed, you can go to a local quick care facility:

What To Do in the Event of Illness or Injury

• Student athletes, click here.
• Students returning to campus following a mental health or medical evaluation/hospitalization, click here.
• USF Accidental Insurance is available for Joliet on-campus, commuter and international students and student athletes registered for 12 or more credit hours. (Exclusions: online students, graduate students and part-time students.) For additional information or to schedule an appointment call 815-740-3399.

Forms & Requirements

Click here to download the Student Health History/Physical Exam form.

Both commuters and residents must complete ALL of the following, per student health services requirements:

• Profile Form/Health History
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (within last ten years). International students require 3 doses.
• MMR (2 doses) of Measles, Mumps and Rubella
• Meningitis (1 dose after 16 years of age)

Submit Health Records

We make it easy to submit your medical health records! You can either use your phone’s camera scanner application or your own scanner. Here are the steps to submit your records:

1. Take a picture of the document(s) and save it—please make sure the image is clear.
2. Log in to the MyUSF Portal and type “Submit Medical Records” in the Search bar. Click “Choose Files,” and select your document(s).
3. Upload your file(s). It must be JPG, PNG, TIF or PDF format.

Please allow two business days for a copy of your health records. In compliance with privacy regulations, health records can only be given to students. Contact Phyllis Peterson at ppeterson@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-3864 regarding Health Records

Counseling Services

The University of St. Francis encourages the establishment of lifestyle behaviors that promote healthy living patterns consistent with our Franciscan values of respect, service, integrity and compassion. College students experience major transitional challenges in their lives upon enrolling into university. These issues may include, but are not limited to: adjustment to college life, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, difficulty in family and social relationships, life challenges and transitions, stress/time management, grief and loss, and more.

Counseling services are provided free of charge to currently enrolled USF students. These services may be provided in person or via telehealth, as well as in an individual or group format depending on need and/or preference.

Counseling Center staff members are also available to provide consultation services, psycho-educational classroom presentations, and crisis management training workshops upon request throughout the academic year. All services offered by USF Mental Health Counselors are confidential, and release of confidential information may only be made with the written consent of the student.

Considering Counseling?

The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of what to expect and what not to expect when you decide to make the courageous decision to give counseling a try. 

It only works if you want to be here!  At times, students referred to our office feel as if they have been forced to come to counseling by parents or other concerned parties and are “unwilling participants.” Although we believe counseling can help anyone, you cannot grow or heal if you do not come in on your own accord. If you feel coerced into attending counseling, express your discomfort to your counselor and we can talk about it—please do not hold in your reluctance!

Counseling will not fix you.  YOU will fix you. Our job is to help you help yourself. The goal of counseling is to empower you with ways to deal with life issues, learn about triggers, unhelpful patterns, and build resiliency, so you can thrive rather than survive—and become your best you.

It’s not always rainbows and sunshine.  It’s likely you will feel much better after meeting with a counselor, but the journey requires you to be brave and fearless. Depending on what brought you in to counseling, it may be important to recall memories and experiences or change a behavioral style which can be trying, upsetting, even overwhelming. Being in counseling helps you feel better, but it’s beneficial to know that the journey can sometimes be bumpy. If you stick with and embrace the process, it’s likely you will be amazed with the end results!

Unrealistic expectations are unrealistic!  Change does not happen overnight. Nor does the development of insight or replacing old behaviors with new ones. It takes time and collaboration with your counselor to develop and work towards practical and realistic goals that are specific to your needs. As time progresses, you can review these targeted goals and redefine them if necessary.

It is (and is not) like talking to a friend.  Like a friend or family member, a counselor is a friendly, caring, interested person to talk to when you are experiencing life’s difficulties. Unlike a friend or family member, your counselor has been extensively trained to listen not only with the intent to understand and provide empathic support, but also with the goal to identify, explore, and clarify the experiences that negatively affect your wellbeing. Active listening and follow up questions assist your counselor in applying appropriate theory and techniques specific to your needs and goals. In addition, your counselor’s clinical objectivity, allows you to receive a balanced, unbiased frame of reference— something that often is blurred in other relationships.

Being comfortable with your counselor is REALLY important.  It takes time to get to know and trust your counselor, but sometimes personality differences, lack of connection, or other factors may be an indication of a “mismatch.” If this happens, it may be difficult for you to feel comfortable talking about personal issues and to feel safe letting go of fears or trying out new behaviors. If you don’t feel comfortable, it’s perfectly fine to request a different counselor. You will NOT be hurting your counselor’s feelings—we want the best for you and realize we cannot be everyone’s “cup of java.” We have a variety of counselors with unique styles available to meet with you and assist you in your positive growth and development.

Groups & Workshops

• DBT Skills Group 
• Grief/Loss Group 
• Students of Color Group 
• Coping with COVID group
• Mindfulness Workshop
• Masculinity Workshop
• Healthy Relationships
• Test Anxiety Workshop

Additional Resources

• The National Helpline: 822-662-HELP (4357)
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800- 273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Textline: Text “ITSOK” to 74174

Emergency & Hospital Policies

At times during the academic year individuals may need emergency services. These resources will help in times of need. Remember for immediate emergency care, dial 9-1-1. Both Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet and Silver Cross Hospital are accredited trauma centers and the closest 24-hour emergency service.

For Medical Emergencies:

For Mental Health Emergencies:

The University of St. Francis has specific policies regard returning to campus following a hospitalization. This is for the safety of the individual and the campus. Returning to campus following a mental health or medical evaluation or hospitalization off-campus is contingent upon the mental health/medical condition being sufficiently resolved or managed successfully. 

While off-campus, students are expected to seek necessary or appropriate medical attention and to document the steps taken and progress made toward resolving or managing the mental health/medical condition. Students returning to campus will be required to provide written documentation that verifies they are ready to return to a rigorous academic environment and describe treatment and/or discharge plans signed by the medical clinician who provided services to the student. Decisions about returning to campus are made by the Dean of Students. 

At any time, the Dean of Students may contact parents/family of the student and any appropriate university officials about the student’s status. If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the University of St. Francis, the student must comply with these requirements before resuming enrollment. For more details, see the student Code of Conduct here.

The University of St. Francis promotes student wellness and, to the extent possible, prevention of sickness and injury while students are here at the university. We want to ensure students receive the medical care and treatment they need, and moreover, have the ability to pay for these services.

USF requires all full-time (12 credit hours or more) undergraduate students and athletes have health insurance coverage. The University of St. Francis uses a highly regarded health insurance company to provide student health insurance coverage, and the cost of this plan is automatically added to your tuition statement. It is being provided at a very reasonable cost, with rates comparable or less expensive than what most employers offer. 

If you have comparable coverage and/or prefer to use your own insurance, you must complete a health insurance waiver process in the online portal. Completion of the waiver process will eliminate the insurance cost from your tuition statement. The online waiver MUST be completed by September 7, or you WILL be charged for USF’s student health insurance. Simply submitting an insurance card to the Wellness Center or the Athletic Trainer does not constitute completion of the waiver process.

The current cost for insurance can be found here, under “Student Fees.” Half of the premium is paid in the fall, and the other half is paid in the spring.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INSURANCE

STUDENT INSURANCE FAQs

Is the parent’s plan an HMO or PPO?

Health insurance under an HMO or PPO program often limits benefits for out of network medical treatment. Please verify with your health plan provider what is covered while your student is away at school. Benefits may be limited!

Is this plan ACA Compliant?

Yes, this plan is compliant with the Affordable Care Act. We do not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and there are no monetary limits in coverage.

What if I find a cheaper plan through the healthcare.gov exchange?

If you find a plan that comes to less than $100 per month for the student, then, yes, it might be a good idea to use the exchange. However, we feel our plan is a quality one for a very reasonable cost in today’s health care market.

Can I keep the student on a parent’s plan?

Yes, you can. Most plans, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, allows parents to keep children on their plans until they reach the age of 26. However, if placing a child on the student insurance plan allows the parent to move from a family plan to a single or a single plus 1 plan, the savings might be more than the per-year rate that you would pay.

Why do athletes pay more?

Athletes are at a greater risk for injury. We have supplemental insurance for athletes when out of pocket expenses exist. Athletes are 100% covered for all injuries that occur in games or at practices. No money comes out of pocket for any athlete that is injured under these conditions. Because of this, even athletes who waive the student health insurance still pay a $400 administrative fee to help defer the cost of the intercollegiate sports coverage.

Is there any other additional coverage you provide?

Yes, all full-time undergraduate students are covered for any injury that may occur while on campus grounds or at a university event. It is a blanket accidental coverage plan that the university provides each student. Non-athletic injuries are covered up to $15,000, and athletic injuries are covered up to $5,000 before the intercollegiate sports coverage covers the difference. Athletes who are injured and on a parent’s plan have the parent’s plan as the primary insurance with the accidental coverage paying the difference.

How does the student apply?

Coverage is automatically billed to full time undergraduate students and is included on the tuition billing statement unless you submit insurance waiver information online HERE.

How does the student get his ID card?

The student can access their printable ID card on the Wellfleet website.