Student Support Services

The Learning Center. The Learning Center is located on the lower level of the Mallinckrodt Center, and it is the hub of academic support at Washington University in St. Louis. We provide undergraduate students with assistance in a variety of forms. Most services are free, and each year more than 2,000 students participate in one or more of our programs. For more information, visit the Learning Center website or call 314-935-5970. There are three types of services housed within the Learning Center:

• Academic Mentoring Programs offer academic support in partnership with the academic departments in a variety of forms. Academic mentoring programs are designed to support students in their course work by helping them develop the lifelong skill of "learning how to learn" and by stimulating their independent thinking. Programs include course-specific weekly structured study groups facilitated by highly trained peer leaders as well as course-specific weekly walk-in sessions facilitated by academic mentors in locations, at times and in formats convenient for the students. The Learning Center also offers individual consulting/coaching for academic skills such as time management, study skills, note taking, accessing resources and so on. Other services include fee-based graduate and professional school entrance preparation courses.
• Disability Resources supports students with disabilities by fostering and facilitating an equal access environment for the Washington University community of learners. Disability Resources partners with faculty and staff to facilitate academic and housing accommodations for students with disabilities on the Danforth Campus. Students enrolled in the School of Medicine should contact their program's director. Please visit the Disability Resources website or contact the Learning Center at 314-935-5970 for more information.
• TRIO: Student Support Services is a federally funded program that provides customized services for undergraduate students who are low income, who are the first in their family to go to college, and/or who have a documented disability. Services include academic coaching, academic peer mentoring, cultural and leadership programs, summer internship assistance and post-graduation advising. First-year and transfer students are considered for selection during the summer before they enter their first semester. Eligible students are encouraged to apply when they are notified, because space in this program is limited. For more information, visit the TRIO Program website.

Medical Student Support Services. For information about Medical Student Support Services, please visit the School of Medicine website.

Office for International Students and Scholars. If a student is joining the university from a country other than the United States, this office can assist that individual through their orientation programs, issue certificates of eligibility (visa documents), and provide visa and immigration information. In addition, the office provides personal and cross-cultural counseling and arranges social, cultural and recreational activities that foster international understanding on campus.

The Office for International Students and Scholars is located on the Danforth Campus in the Danforth University Center at 6475 Forsyth Boulevard, Room 330. The office can be found on the Medical Campus in the Mid Campus Center (MCC Building) at 4590 Children's Place, Room 2043. For more information, visit the Office for International Students and Scholars website or call 314-935-5910.

Office of Military and Veteran Services. This office serves as the university’s focal point for military and veteran matters, including transitioning military-connected students into higher education, providing and connecting students with programs and services, and partnering across campus and in the community. Services include advising current and prospective students on how to navigate the university and maximize Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits, transition support, Veteran Ally training for faculty and staff, veteran-unique programming, and connecting students to campus and community resources. Military-connected students include veterans, military service members, spouses, dependent children, caregivers, survivors and Reserve Officer Training Corp cadets. There are two university policies that apply to students who still serve in the Armed Forces and students who use VA educational benefits:

• The Policy on Military Absences, Refunds and Readmissions applies to students serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members when military service forces them to be absent or withdraw from a course of study.
• The Policy on Protections for VA Educational Benefit Users applies to students using VA education benefits when payments to the institution and the individual are delayed through no fault of the student.

The Office of Military and Veteran Services is located in Umrath Hall on the Danforth Campus. Please visit the Military and Veteran Services website or send an email to veterans@wustl.edu for more information.

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center. The RSVP Center offers free and confidential services including 24/7 crisis intervention, counseling services, resources, support and prevention education for all students on the Danforth Campus. The RSVP Center operates from a public health model and uses trauma-informed practices to address the prevalent issues of relationship and sexual violence. By providing support for affected students, it is our goal to foster post-traumatic growth and resilience and to help ensure academic retention and success. Our prevention efforts call for community engagement to engender an intolerance of violence and an active stance toward challenging cultural injustices that perpetuate such issues. Learn more at the RSVP Center website.

WashU Cares. WashU Cares assists the university with handling situations involving the safety and well-being of Danforth Campus students. WashU Cares is committed to fostering student success and campus safety through a proactive, collaborative and systematic approach to the identification of, intervention with and support of students of concern while empowering all university community members to create a culture of caring. If there is a concern about the physical or mental well-being of a student, please visit the WashU Cares website to file a report.

The Writing Center. The Writing Center — a free service — offers writing support to all Washington University undergraduate and graduate students. Tutors will read and discuss any kind of work in progress, including student papers, senior theses, application materials, dissertations and oral presentations. The Writing Center staff is trained to work with students at any stage of the writing process, including brainstorming, developing and clarifying an argument, organizing evidence, and improving style. Rather than editing or proofreading, tutors will emphasize the process of revision and teach students how to edit their own work.

The Writing Center is located in Mallinckrodt Center on the lower level. Appointments are preferred and can be made online, but walk-ins will be accepted if tutors are available.

Student Health and Well-Being Services, Danforth Campus

The Habif Health and Wellness Center provides medical, psychiatric, and health promotion services for undergraduate and graduate students on the Danforth Campus. Please visit the Habif Health and Wellness Center website for more information about Habif's services and staff members.

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, and university holidays: Closed

For after-hours care, students should access TimelyCare.

Medical Services

Medical Services staff members provide care for the evaluation and treatment of an illness or injury, preventive health care and health education, immunizations, nutrition counseling, and travel medicine and sexual health services. Psychiatry Services staff provide ongoing medication management for students to address their mental health concerns. Habif Health and Wellness Center providers are participating members of the Washington University in St. Louis Physician's Network. Any condition requiring specialized medical services will be referred to an appropriate specialist. Habif accepts health insurance plans that have met waiver criteria for the student health insurance plan and will be able to bill the plan according to plan benefits. The student health insurance plan requires a referral for medical care any time care is not provided at Habif (except in an emergency). Call 314-935-6666 or visit the Habif website to schedule an appointment.

Appointments are also available for the assessment and referral of students who are struggling with substance abuse.

Quadrangle Pharmacy, located in the Habif Health and Wellness Center, is available to all Washington University students and their dependents. The pharmacy accepts most prescription insurance plans; students should check with the pharmacist to see if their prescription plan is accepted at the pharmacy.

The Habif Health and Wellness Center lab provides full laboratory services. Some tests can be performed in house. The remainder of all testing that is ordered by Habif is completed by LabCorp. LabCorp serves as Habif's reference lab, and it is a preferred provider on the student health insurance plan. This lab can perform any test ordered by Habif providers or outside providers.

All incoming students must provide proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella (i.e., two vaccinations after the age of one year old; a titer may be provided in lieu of the immunizations). Proof of receiving a meningococcal vaccine is required for all incoming undergraduate students. A TB test in the past six months is required for students entering the university who screen positive on the TB questionnaire found on the student portal. It is also recommended that, during the five years before beginning their studies at Washington University, all students will have received the tetanus diphtheria immunization, the hepatitis A vaccine series, the hepatitis B vaccine series, the HPV vaccine series, the meningitis B vaccine, and the varicella vaccine. Medical history forms are available online. Failure to complete the required forms will delay a student's registration and prevent their entrance into housing assignments. Please visit the Habif website for complete information about immunization requirements and deadlines.

Health Promotion Services

Health Promotion Services staff and Peer Health Educators provide free programs and risk reduction information related to mental health, sexual health, alcohol/other drugs, and community care. For more information, visit the Zenker Wellness Suite in Sumers Recreation Center and the Health and Wellness Digital Library, follow Habif on Instagram (@washu_habif), and/or email wellness@wustl.edu. In 2018, this department launched the WashU Recovery Group to provide an opportunity for students in recovery from substance use to connect with other students with similar experiences. The group provides local resources, support, meetings, and activities. Members have 24/7 access to a private facility to study, meet, and socialize. The group is not a recovery program; it is a confidential resource that students can add to their support system. For more information, email recovery@wustl.edu.

Mental Health Services

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, and university holidays: Closed

For after-hours mental health support, students should access TimelyCare.

Licensed professional staff members work with students to resolve personal and interpersonal difficulties, including conflicts with or worry about friends or family, concerns about eating or drinking patterns, and feelings of anxiety and depression. Services include individual, group, and couples counseling; crisis counseling; and referral for off-campus counseling when students' needs can be better met outside of Mental Health Services. Providers also offer self-help programs including Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) as well as quick consultations called "Let's Talk." All full-time students who pay the university health and wellness fee as part of their tuition are eligible for services. Visit the Mental Health Services website or call 314-935-6695 to schedule an appointment during business hours. For additional information, visit the Mental Health Services website or send an email to mhscoordinator@wustl.edu.

Important Information About Health Insurance and Fees for Danforth Campus Students

All full-time, degree-seeking Washington University students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan upon completion of registration. Students may opt out of this coverage and receive a refund of the health insurance fee if they provide proof of existing comprehensive insurance coverage that meets all university requirements. Information concerning opting out of the student health insurance plan can be found online after June 1 of each year. All students must request to opt out by September 5 of every year in which they wish to be removed from the Student Health Insurance Plan. Habif provides billing services to many of the major insurance companies in the United States. Specific fees and copays apply to students using Medical Services and Mental Health Services; these fees may be billable to the students' insurance plans. More information is available on the Habif Health and Wellness Center website. In addition, WashU has a health and wellness fee designed to improve the health and well-being of the campus community. It is assessed by the university, and it is entirely separate from health insurance. It covers a membership to the Sumers Recreation Center, health education, prevention efforts, and other benefits, including no-cost counseling visits.

Student Health Services, Medical Campus

For information about student health services on the Medical Campus, please visit the Student & Occupational Health Services page of the School of Medicine website.

Campus Security

The Washington University campus is among the most attractive in the nation, and it enjoys a safe and relaxed atmosphere. Personal safety and the security of personal property while on campus is a shared responsibility. Washington University has made safety and security a priority through our commitment to a full-time professional police department, the use of closed-circuit television, card access, extensive lighting initiatives based on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) practices, shuttle services, emergency telephones, and ongoing educational safety awareness programs. The vast majority of crimes that occur on college campuses are crimes of opportunity, which can be prevented.

The best protection against crime is an informed and alert campus community. Washington University has developed several programs to help make everyone's experiences here safe and secure. An extensive network of emergency telephones — including more than 200 "blue light" telephones — is connected directly to the University Police Department and can alert the police to a person's exact location. In addition to the regular shuttle service, an evening student walking/mobile escort service known as "Bear Patrol" and a mobile Campus Circulator shuttle are available on the Danforth Campus.

The Campus2Home shuttle will provide a safe ride home for those living in four designated areas off campus — Skinker-DeBaliviere, Loop South, north of the Loop, and just south of the campus — from 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. seven days a week. The shuttle leaves from the Mallinckrodt Bus Plaza and Forsyth/Goldfarb Hall Center every 15 minutes from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and at the top (:00) and bottom (:30) of the hour from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. The shuttle takes passengers directly to the front doors of their buildings. Shuttle drivers will then wait and watch to make sure passengers get into their buildings safely. Community members can track the shuttle in real time using the WUSTL Mobile App. The app can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple iTunes Store or the Google Play Store.

The University Police Department is a full-service organization staffed by certified police officers who patrol the campus 24 hours a day throughout the entire year. The department offers a variety of crime prevention programs, including a high-security bicycle lock program, free personal-safety whistles, computer security tags, personal safety classes, and security surveys. Community members are encouraged to download and install the WashU Safe personal safety app on their phones; this app allows users to call for help during emergencies, to use Friend Walk to track their walks on and off campus, and to access many additional safety features. For more information about these programs, visit the Washington University Police Department website.

In compliance with the Campus Crime Awareness and Security Act of 1990, Washington University publishes an annual report entitled Safety & Security: Guide for Students, Faculty, and Staff — Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Reports and Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program. This report is available to all current and prospective students on the Danforth Campus and to university employees on the Danforth, North and West campuses. To request a hard copy, contact the Washington University Police Department, CB 1038, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, 314-935-9011.

For information regarding protective services at the School of Medicine, please visit the Campus Safety page of the Washington University Operations & Facilities Management Department.

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