Dear students,
Welcome to a new semester at the University of Michigan! I hope you enjoyed a restful summer and are ready for fall in Ann Arbor. This is my favorite time of year.
We might have a few days of August left, but it is not too early to begin preparing for flu season. You can check our public health dashboard for more details about illness activity around campus.
Remember these steps to help keep you and your community safe and healthy.
- If you are sick, stay home. While this simple guidance is not always easy to implement, staying home and away from other people is one of the most important steps to both recover faster and prevent the spread of disease. Learn more about when to stay home from the CDC.
- Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccination clinics are taking place across campus this fall. All clinics offer the influenza vaccine and many will include the updated COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available. Every shot makes a difference.
- If you need medical care, contact University Health & Counseling. University Health Service, part of University Health & Counseling, offers expert care especially designed for college students. Schedule online through your patient portal or call 734-764-8320 for the first available appointment. 24/7 nurse advice is also available at that same number. Our nurses can help you determine when and where you should seek care, no matter the time of day. When in doubt, call.
Stay healthy, Wolverines,
Robert D. Ernst, M.D.
Chief Health Officer
Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness in Student Life
Health and Wellness Updates
Join the first-ever NAMIWalks Ann Arbor on September 8
Help raise awareness for mental health care and fight stigma! Join like-minded students at the first-ever NAMIWalks Ann Arbor, presented by the University of Michigan and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Michigan chapter. Register to walk or become a team captain.
Stay in the Blue app
If you choose to consume alcohol this fall, be sure to download the Stay in the Blue app from Wolverine Wellness. This app is one Stay in the Blue strategy to help you track your drinks, estimate your blood alcohol content, and connect you with ways to get home safely, including free transit services through SafeRide and Ride Home. Look for updates to the app coming soon.
Rec Sports Expo and Well-being Festival on August 30 (tomorrow)
Join us on Palmer Field from 3:00-6:00 pm for games, giveaways, music, food, and fun. Meet all the units of Rec Sports as well as other well-being groups like M Dining, University Health & Counseling, and Wolverine Wellness. Meet up with your friends and even make new friends as you “Move your way to well-being.”
Well-being Toolkit Spotlight
A brand-new well-being toolkit is now available through the Well-being Collective. These tools are designed for anyone involved in student well-being, from advisors to student org leaders. There are plenty of tools to use for your well-being, too.
Tool of the Month: My Self-Care Plan
Self-care doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Use this worksheet to reflect on ways you can support yourself, even when you only have five minutes.
Tuition and health insurance plans
If you need health insurance, consider the Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan, a low-priced voluntary plan available to all domestic U-M students through Blue Care Network of Michigan. Open enrollment is available through September 30, 2024 for coverage dates August 24, 2024 through August 23, 2025.
Tuition insurance covers students who need to completely withdraw from a semester due to a physical or psychological illness or injury. For the cost of less than 1% of tuition, the insurance will refund up to 75% of the insured term’s costs (less any refund or credit due from the university) for tuition and mandatory fees. Open enrollment for tuition insurance for the 2024-25 school year is available through September 6, 2024.