Dear USC Students,
As you get ready for the academic year, we would like to share with you some materials that will help you adjust to campus life and meet some health and safety requirements.
Please review the new student materials as you make plans to start the academic year, and share with parents, guardians, and other members of your support network. (Materials translated into Chinese are available online.) We would also like to remind you to learn about health and immunization requirements for new students, including insurance and immunizations.
COVID-19 VACCINATION
COVID-19 vaccination: USC policy requires all students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit a personal declination. Students are required to complete uploading vaccination documentation by July 15. Students with a declination will be required to complete regular surveillance testing. If you are an international student unable to obtain vaccination by this date due to shortages in your location, you may arrange to receive vaccination through USC Student Health upon arrival to the United States.
- Meeting this COVID-19 safety requirement is mandatory in order to start attending classes on campus this fall semester. Online degree program students are exempt from this requirement.
CONSENT FOR TREATMENT
After reviewing the new student requirements, please follow the instructions to log in to usc.edu/myshr, complete your consent for treatment (if you are under the age of 18, you must have a parent or guardian complete a third-party consent form), and upload your immunizations history, including completion of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students.
IMMUNIZATIONS
If you do not have complete records of immunizations, or have questions about accepted documents (including lab results), you may schedule a one-on-one question and answer session with immunizations (“Virtuchella”) after reviewing these materials. Please have your current documents uploaded to MySHR before your Virtuchella video visit with the immunizations nurse. The immunizations nurse team can order lab tests, or help schedule immunization appointments at USC Student Health, so that you complete your immunizations upon arrival. It is strongly recommended that you complete as much of your immunizations, documentation uploads (or lab tests) as possible this summer, before arrival for the fall semester. From August 16-27, Student Health will host an immunizations event on campus (“Immuchella”) to help you complete any in-person requirements that are outstanding.
If you are arriving to campus from outside of the U.S., you may be required to have a TB test (tuberculosis test, only blood draw tests are accepted). It is recommended that you get your TB test, followed by COVID-19 vaccine on the same day (if you are not already fully vaccinated). Your TB test and COVID-19 vaccine will be available at any time that you arrive in the U.S. this summer. Contact studenthealth@usc.edu to make arrangements.
ACCESSING SERVICES
Extensive information about student health operations, and mental health support, the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP, provided by Aetna) and the Student Health Fee is available through our online videos. Please review the information in these videos, and feel free to sign up for one-on-one question and answer sessions for insurance or general services after reviewing these materials.
If you are on long-term psychiatric medications, including stimulant medication for ADHD, please plan with your current provider to have a sufficient supply of medication(s) until you can arrange to continue your care with USC Student Health. It may take 2-4 weeks to secure an appointment so it is important to come with access to at least one month’s supply of medication.
Note the deadline for Student Health insurance waivers and immunizations is Friday, Sept. 10, 2021.
REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL MODULES
As part of the USC COVID-19 Safety Requirements, all USC students must complete:
- “Health, Hygiene and Safety for Students” — This module will be available beginning on August 1, 2021 at trojanlearn.usc.edu. The module takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and provide an overview of COVID-19 safety.
All students are expected to comply with COVID-19 safety requirements; non-compliance is a violation of USC’s community standards that may result in student conduct disciplinary measures.
As part of required educational modules for students, undergraduates must complete:
- “CHRSH 01: Trojans Respect Consent” — All new undergraduate students are required to attend a live session activity, “CHRSH 01 Trojans Respect Consent.” These sessions are conducted via Zoom beginning in July. Virtual and in-person sessions will continue throughout the fall. The schedule for booking sessions will be available under the “Workshops” tab through usc.edu/myshr.
CONTACT US
As always, our teams are ready to answer your questions and help you get started for a successful and healthy academic year. Please contact covid19@usc.edu with any general questions related to COVID-19 safety and university vaccine policy questions; phone lines are available daily from 8 am until 7 pm PST at 213-740-6291.
Email studenthealth@usc.edu with any questions related to your health records, including immunizations, Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP, provided through Aetna), and campus health services of USC Student Health provided through the Student Health Fee. The Student Health telephone number is 213-740-9355 (WELL).
We look forward to your presence on campus as part of The Trojan Family this fall!
USC Student Health
Did you know? June is the Month of Action for COVID-19 vaccination. Let’s get to Immunity in our Community.