The Center for Health and Wellbeing holds your care in strict confidence.

As professionals, our staff are expected to consult with one another, as necessary, to insure that your care is of high quality.

However, by both law and by the ethical standards embraced by our staff in the counseling and medical professions, we are not permitted to release any information about your care to anyone outside of the Center for Health and Wellbeing without your explicit permission. 

We will not release information about the facts or nature of your care to family, friends, roommates, University officials, faculty, or staff without this permission; a copy of medical or counseling records is available only after we receive a written request signed by you.

There are rare circumstances when we break this seal of confidentiality: when you have a very serious mental or physical health problem and are unable to assume responsibility for notifying others, when your life or that of another is in danger, or when we are presented with a valid court order requiring us to release records.

If you have any questions about how we respect the privacy of your health and counseling information, do not hesitate to ask your provider. 

University of Vermont undergraduate students must comply with vaccine requirements set forth by UVM in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Health. Students who do meet compliance requirements will have a hold placed on their next semester's course registration. 

Immunization requirements and submission process

All full-time UVM students must have an insurance plan to help cover additional healthcare costs. This includes:

• Undergraduate/Continuing Education students registered for 9 or more credits
• Graduate students registered for 9 or more credits
• Graduate students enrolled in "Grad 903" credits
• All International Students with F-1 or J-1 visas
• All Medical Students

Students must complete the insurance decision/waiver each year to declare whether they are enrolling in the UVM Student Health Insurance Plan or if they will waive it for an equivalent insurance plan.

Insurance requirements and health fee

Patient Rights and Responsibilities  

University of Vermont Center for Health and Wellbeing (CHWB)  

Every relationship with a health care provider includes certain rights and responsibilities. We view your relationship with the Center for Health and Wellbeing (CHWB) as a partnership. We are committed to protecting your rights and providing high-quality, respectful care. In turn, we ask that you understand and meet your responsibilities as a patient.  

Quality care depends on open communication, mutual respect, and active participation. The following rights and responsibilities define our shared commitment to your care.  

 Your Rights 

 You have the right: 

• To be treated with dignity, respect, compassion, and consideration.  

• To have your cultural background, identities, beliefs, and traditions meaningfully   respected in your care.  

• To receive services that recognize and respond to you as a whole person with unique experiences and needs.  

• To receive care in a secure, clean, and accessible environment.  

• To privacy in conversations, examinations, counseling, testing, and treatment.  

• To confidentiality of your medical and counseling records, consistent with applicable laws and professional standards.  

• To consent to or decline involvement of supervised trainees (such as interns or residents) in your care.  

• To receive information about the scope, availability, and cost of CHWB services, including what is and is not covered by the UVM Health Fee..  

• When applicable, to review and receive an explanation of your medical bill, regardless of who is responsible for payment.  

• To designate an authorized individual to receive medical information on your behalf when appropriate.  

• To express your wishes regarding future care, including designating a health care proxy or completing advance directive documents, consistent with state law.  

Your Responsibilities 

 As a patient, you are responsible for:  

• Arriving on time for appointments or providing timely notice of cancellation.  

• Providing accurate and complete information about your current and past health, medications, and concerns.  

• Informing your clinician promptly of changes in your symptoms, health status, or concerns.  

• Safeguarding your personal identification and not allowing others to use it for health services.  

• Actively participating in developing and following your agreed-upon treatment plan.  

• Sharing relevant beliefs, preferences, and concerns that may affect your care.  

• Discussing your ability and plans to follow recommended tests, treatments, or health behavior changes.  

• Using medications as prescribed and not sharing medications with others.  

• Following up with your clinician as recommended and informing CHWB if you choose to seek care from another provider.  

• Asking questions if you do not understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, or expectations.  

• Informing your clinician if you believe you cannot follow the recommended plan of care.  

• Recognizing that daily health decisions—including use of tobacco, alcohol, or other substances; nutrition; sleep; and physical activity—affect your overall health.  

• Following instructions for treatment, making recommended follow-up appointments, and using medications or contraceptives as directed.  

• Understanding the UVM Health Fee and our health insurance coverage, including network participation, referral requirements, reimbursement procedures, and any limitations that may affect payment for services. 

• Providing accurate and current insurance information and notifying CHWB of any changes in coverage. 

• Paying the UVM Health Fee and applicable personal insurance fees, co-pays, deductibles, and outstanding balances in a timely manner, including any amounts not covered by insurance or not included in the UVM Health Fee. 

• Treating health care professionals, staff, and other patients with courtesy and respect.  

• Providing feedback to help improve the quality of care and educational services at CHWB.  

State of Vermont law dictates that any individual under the age of 18 is considered a minor and that in many circumstances is not capable of giving informed consent to their own medical care. In simple terms, this means that we need parent/guardian permission before we can treat a student until they turn 18. Once they are 18, permission is no longer needed. There are several important exceptions to this, as noted below.

• Minors of any age will be cared for in emergency situations which necessitate immediate treatment.
• Minors 12 years of age and older may give informed consent for treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, drug dependence, and alcohol abuse. If a minor requires hospitalization for treatment of any of these conditions, the parents must be notified of the hospitalization.
• Minors of any age may provide their own informed consent for the termination of pregnancy, or to receive medical treatment necessary to obtain contraceptive devices and medications.
• Minors of any age may provide their own informed consent for medical treatment related to rape, incest, or sexual abuse. Health care providers are required to report such incidents to the Department of Children and Families within 24 hours.
• Minors 14 years of age and older may voluntarily admit themselves to a hospital for mental health care if they provide informed consent in writing.
• Minors under the age of 14 years may voluntarily admit themselves to a hospital for mental health treatment if they provide their own written informed consent and a written application from a parent or guardian.
• Minors who are married or have ever been married; minors on active U.S military duty; and minors emancipated by court order may give informed consent to their own health care.

If you’re a parent or guardian and wish to give permission for us to treat your minor student, you may contact any of our offices and give permission over the phone or download and complete the minor consent form (PDF), then send it to us.

For more information, review the full Treatment of a Minor policy (PDF).

Students with a hospitalization, severe illness, or injury should communicate directly with their instructors as soon as they are able to explain the amount of time that they may need support around attendance or completion of coursework. The Dean's office may support outreach or initiate contact with instructors on a student's behalf with their permission; a student may reach out to their Dean's office directly to request this support. Students are responsible for determining what flexibility is possible with their instructors, preferably before missing a class/assignment. Depending on how you are feeling, you may still be able to complete coursework, so discuss with your faculty about what a plan may look like for you to continue academic progress. Instructors have final authority to excuse absences.

If students would like support from the Center for Health and Wellbeing around notifying their Dean’s Office about hospitalization, severe illness or injury, CHWB can notify your Dean’s Office as long as you give us explicit permission. Email health@uvm.edu to ask for a Dean’s Note and providing permission for us to share your health information with your Dean’s Office. The Dean's Office will then contact your faculty. We will not provide any information (including verifying that a student has been seen or date of visit) without the permission of the student. 

Note that any long-term medical absences must be approved through the short-term medical accommodation process outlined below

UVM offers medical withdrawals from in-progress courses if issues related to your health interfere with your ability to meet your course requirements. These can be either for individual courses or for all your courses. The medical withdrawal policy (PDF) also allows the University to remove a student via an Involuntary Medical Withdrawal in circumstances where a student’s health causes a student to pose a threat to others or significantly disrupt the life of the community. 

If you need to speak with someone about a need to medically withdraw from coursework start by discussing it with the Student Services Office in your School or College.

At the University of Vermont, all student records are governed and protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Center for Health and Wellbeing requires that all requests for release of health records be submitted in writing. 

If you are a current student, you can request a release of your records at MyWellbeing. Select “Additional Forms” from the menu and download the “Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information” form.  Print, complete and sign the form (we must have your signature on the form) and then upload a picture of the form in the same place you downloaded it on MyWellbeing.

If you are a former student, complete the Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information (PDF) and send it to:

CHWB - Medical Records
425 Pearl Street
Burlington, VT 05401
FAX: 802-656-8001

Fees may be assessed for a copy of protected health information provided to you directly.

If you have any questions about the release of CHWB health records contact our Medical Records Office at 802-656-3303. Depending on the nature of the request, records release can take up to 30 days from the time we receive a records request.

If you are in need of a short-term mobility support that is not covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), this policy outlines the processes for getting support. 

• Parking: It can be difficult to get around campus with a broken leg. For this or other temporary mobility issues, there are several resources that can make it a little easier. The UVM Campus Area Transportation System is accessible. Many people with a temporary mobility condition often think that getting a handicapped parking permit is most helpful. In reality, the bus system is usually faster and can get people closer to the building or location they are trying to access. Bus drivers are friendly and willing to help, so just ask!
• The role of Student Health Services is to understand the student's health condition and to make a recommendation to UVM Transportation and Parking Services regarding a temporary parking permit. To request a temporary parking permit based on a documented medical condition, the student is required to submit a temporary parking permit request (PDF).
• Housing: If you think you need a housing modification based on a non-ADA short-term mobility need, a student needs to contact University Housing at universityhousing@uvm.edu . For more complex cases, Student Accessibility Services may be involved in making a determination.
• Dining: The Sick Meal Plan Access Authorization can also be used for Short-Term Mobility Support. This allows someone else to pick-up meals for you from the dining halls.

Student Health Services sends opted-in subscribers appointment reminders and other updates. Message frequency will vary. Reply HELP for more information or contact 802-656-3350. Below is our SMS Privacy Policy. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Reply STOP to opt out.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.