Issue 8 of 11 | June 15, 2024

Hello Longhorn Family!

We hope your family had a wonderful graduation season and is getting excited for your Longhorn to begin their college journey. While you have been learning a lot about UT through these newsletters and Family Orientation, if you have had a chance to join us already, there is still valuable information coming your way in the upcoming issues of Next Steps that will surely aid in your student's transition to UT Austin.

As you make preparations for your student's arrival to the Forty Acres, it is important to familiarize yourself with the services offered by the University to ensure their well-being. Acquainting yourself with these services will provide reassurance that your student has access to resources that will support them throughout their time at UT Austin. In this issue, we highlight HealthyHorns and how they support your Longhorn's overall well-being.

In our next issue, we will tell you about several opportunities for your student to get involved early in their time on campus, how the Sanger Learning Center provides academic support for all UT students, and how to obtain the right parking permit.



Hook 'em!

Healthyhorns

Action Items:

Immunization and Medical Clearance Requirement Reminder

If they haven't already, ensure your student submits their immunization records to University Health Services (UHS). All incoming students are required to comply with UT Austin's immunization and medical clearance requirements. These requirements must be met before students can register for classes. They play an important role in maintaining a healthy campus environment. Learn more at healthyhorns.utexas.edu.

For questions, call 512-475-8301.

University Health Services (UHS)

UHS is a fully accredited on‐campus medical facility serving the students, faculty and staff of UT Austin. Staff provide healthcare, public health leadership, and other services designed to protect and advance the health of students and support the well-being of the campus community. 

Contact:

The University of Texas at Austin

Student Services Building

University Health Services

100 West Dean Keeton Street, 1^st-3^rd Floors

Austin, Texas 78712

Business Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Closed on Saturdays and Sundays and for all holidays honored by UT Austin (view holidays at hr.utexas.edu)

Phone:

Main Line: 512-471-4955

24/7 Nurse Advice Line: 512-475-6877

healthyhorns.utexas.edu

Counseling and Mental Health Center

The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) is an AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) accredited mental health center providing support through assessment and referral, group and individual counseling, psychiatry and well-being services to the students of UT Austin.

Contact:

The University of Texas at Austin

Student Services Building

University Health Services

100 West Dean Keeton Street, 5^th Floor

Austin, Texas 78712

Business Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Closed on Saturdays and Sundays and for all holidays honored by UT Austin (view holidays at hr.utexas.edu)

Phone:

Main Line: 512-471-3515

24/7 Crisis Line: 512-471-2255

cmhc.utexas.edu

Longhorn Wellness Center

A student's health and their ability to thrive academically are closely linked. The Longhorn Wellness Center (LWC) addresses priority college health issues by using multi-level, evidence-based prevention strategies such as peer education, social marketing, social norm campaigns, environmental changes, and strategic campus partnerships.

Contact:

The University of Texas at Austin

Student Services Building

University Health Services

100 West Dean Keeton Street, 1.106

Austin, Texas 78712

Business Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Closed on Saturdays and Sundays and for all holidays honored by UT Austin (view holidays at hr.utexas.edu)

healthyhorns.utexas.edu/lwc

Visit healthyhorns.utexas.edu to learn more about these departments as well as other services offered to your Longhorn!

Visit with Healthyhorns during Family Orientation

Additionally, Healthyhorns staff will be in attendance at all of the Family Orientation sessions. Sign up to attend their presentation on student health and well-being to learn more about the services provided by University Health Services, the Counseling and Mental Health Center and the Longhorn Wellness Center.

Important Information for Parents of Incoming Longhorns from Healthyhorns

Medical Privacy and HIPAA

We cannot share medical information with family members of students who are legal adults (at least 18 years old). We recommend that you have a conversation with your student if you believe you should have access to their medical records. 

For UHS medical records, if both of you agree that you should have access, visit our medical records page, healthyhorns.utexas.edu/medicalrecords.html.

For mental health records, the client and their mental health provider will engage in a conversation before a release is signed. Contact CMHC at 512-471-3515 for additional information. 

Minor Consent

If your child is still a minor (under 18 years old), access our Minor Consent for Treatment form.

UHS Minor Consent Form can be found at healthyhorns.utexas.edu.

AlcoholEdu and SAPU (Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates)

Learn about AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates (SAPU) at healthyhorns.utexas.edu/AlcoholEdu, the mandatory online educational programming for incoming students provides information on how to make informed decisions

about alcohol consumption and how to respond to the effects of drinking

and substance use. SAPU covers topics related to consent, preventing sexual violence and promoting healthy relationships. Students who fail to complete either Part 1 or Part 2 of the AlcoholEdu or SAPU program by the deadlines will be unable to see their grades online for that semester.

• Incoming students will receive an introductory email with a link to Part 1 of the program on August 19.
• Part 1 takes approximately two hours to complete. The deadline to complete Part 1 is September 6.
• Part 2 becomes available 45 days (approximately six weeks) after completion of Part 1. The deadline to complete Part 2 is November 15.

Billing and Insurance

UHS accepts most major U.S. insurance plans, but insurance is not required to utilize UHS services. To learn more about billing and insurance, visit healthyhorns.utexas.edu/charges. It's important to verify if your student's specific plan is in-network by visiting healthyhorns.utexas.edu/insurance . Consider enrolling in the optional student health insurance plan called AcademicBlue if your student is currently underinsured or uninsured. Learn more about AcademicBlue at utsystem.myahpcare.com. CMHC services are free except for psychiatry services, which are $10/visit – insurance is not billed.

Insurance Management

Ensure your student has access to their insurance cards and relevant information. Teach them how to contact their insurance company online and by phone. Help them understand important insurance terms and procedures such as coverage details, in-network and out-of-network care, co-pays, deductibles, pre-approval requirements, and post-hospitalization or emergency room care notification.

Completing Health History Forms

Help your Longhorn in completing their health history forms, which are necessary for utilizing our services. Guide them through the process by logging into the MyUHS/CMHC portal (portal.uhs.utexas.edu) and accessing the Health History tab in the left navigation.

Develop a Plan: Prescription Management and Pharmacy

Assist your student in developing a plan to manage their prescription medications. Help them understand the difference between prescription refills and renewals and guide them on obtaining them in a timely manner. Provide them with contact information for their healthcare providers and help them locate a pharmacy if they are from out of town. Learn more at healthyhorns.utexas.edu/pharmacy.

Prepare and Bring a Custom First-Aid Kit

Ensure their residence or room is equipped with a well-stocked first-aid kit. This will be helpful for self-care and addressing minor injuries or illnesses. It can also assist you in providing necessary care and support when your student reaches out to you for assistance.

Hand Hygiene

Promote good hand hygiene by providing your student with hand sanitizer. Regular hand washing or sanitizing helps prevent common illnesses and reduces the risk of missed classes due to colds, flu, sore throats, and stomach upsets.

Important Phone Numbers:

Ask your student to put these phone numbers in their phones:

• UHS – General Information and Appointments – 512-471-4955
• 24/7 Nurse Advice Line – 512-475-6877
• CMHC – General Information and Brief Assessments – 512-471-3515
• CMHC 24/7 Crisis Line – 512-471-2255

Transitioning Care for Chronic Medical Conditions:

Discuss with your current healthcare provider if they can continue managing your student's care or if a transfer to a specialist in Austin is necessary. Referrals can be obtained from the current provider or the student's insurance company. Schedule an appointment at the UHS General Medicine clinic (healthyhorns.utexas.edu/gmc) for students requiring ongoing monitoring or treatment for chronic conditions. UHS providers are board certified in various specialties, and appropriate referrals to community providers can be made for specialty care.

For allergy desensitization programs or injectable medications, UHS can provide shots. Learn more about this at healthyhorns.utexas.edu/allergyimm. However, Texas state regulations require injection orders from a Texas-licensed provider. If your student is from out of state, prompt establishment of care with a local specialist is important to obtain necessary prescriptions and prevent treatment delays.

Transitioning Mental Healthcare:

For questions about transitioning mental healthcare, including psychiatric care, call the Counseling and Mental Health Center at 512-471-3515. 

Texas Parents

Making 431 Acres feel like 40!

If you have come to Family Orientation this summer, you've likely heard me share an observation during the Welcome Session that when it comes to our students’ parents and families, you are literally scattered across the world. Having the Texas Parents office on campus, regardless of where you call home, affords you a piece of mind that there is a dedicated team here specifically in place to help you help your student, now through graduation. I go on to say that you may never need to contact us, and I hope you don’t, but when you do, rest assured this big campus becomes smaller.

Texas Parents can operate because parents and families recognize the importance of having this unique resource and choose to make a tax-deductible gift to the University to fund our department. If you’re unable to make a gift, the complimentary U-Touch membership is an option to receive our monthly communications. Learn more here.

The parents and families of every undergraduate student belong to Texas Parents but it is necessary for you to sign up for the membership that best suits your family. You can sign up for supporting memberships here or you can do it in person at Family Orientation. If the complimentary U-Touch membership is best for your family, sign-up open later in the summer. 

If you have already signed up, thank you and know how appreciative we are for your support. If you are still weighing your options, we asked the awesome Texas Parents Association member community to share their insights on the value of supporting membership and have assembled the shameless plug with their responses here.

Hook 'em!

Susie Smith

Director of Texas Parents

University Federal Credit Union

Open a Free Checking account and be entered for a chance to win $1,000!

• Instant-issue VISA® Debit Card
• Online Banking and Mobile app
• No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees
• Four convenient campus-area branches 
• Over 25 campus-area ATM locations

Federally insured by NCUA. Click here to learn more about UFCU.

Visit UFCU.org/Promo for current sweepstakes rules and details. 

Texas Financial Wellness

REMINDER: Register Now for Family Orientation at The University of Texas at Austin

If you have already completed family orientation registration, your spot in the session is secure and you should receive a confirmation email. For additional information, please visit our website.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: student and family orientation programs are hosted separately and require separate registration systems.

What to expect in the next issue of Next Steps



• How the Sanger Learning Center is invested in your student's academic success
• Several ways for your student to get involved early in their time on the Forty Acres
• How to obtain the right parking permit or register your student's belongings with Parking and Transportation Services

You can always review the full academic calendar to get more information on academic and tuition-related deadlines coming up.

2024-2025 Academic Calendar

registrar.utexas.edu/calendars/24-25