Wellness Center: Health & Counseling

Phone: (315) 792-7172

Fax: (315) 792-7371

SUNY Poly values the health and well-being of our students as demonstrated by a new, state of the art Wellness Center.  The Wellness Center features Health and Counseling Services that support and enhance the educational experience for SUNY Poly students.

At the Utica site, the Wellness Center is located in the Campus Center, Suite 217. Office hours during the semester are Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

The Wellness Center services are supported by a mandatory health service fee that students pay each semester, thus most services are covered. The health service fee provides each student comprehensive, confidential health and counseling services on campus.

Please do not confuse the health service fee with the medical insurance fee.  These are two distinctly different fees providing different functions. The health service fee covers most services at the Wellness Center, the medical insurance fee covers medical services off campus at hospitals, urgent care facilities, physician offices, etc. The Wellness Center does not bill your medical insurance company.

The Wellness Center is staffed by licensed and experienced health professionals.

At the Albany site, students can use the Student Health Center at the Albany Medical Center, 25 Hackett Boulevard, Albany NY (518) 264-0900.  Appointments are required and students must bring their medical insurance card for all services rendered and their SUNY Poly ID card.

Health Services:

Sick, injury and preventative care is provided by a physician, nurse practitioner, registered nurses, health promotion coordinator and support personnel. Appointments are recommended, however walk-ins are welcome.

Medical  Services:

  • Medical evaluation, treatment & follow-up care
  • Women’s and Men’s Health – GYN examinations, birth control, STD testing, etc.
  • Laboratory services: On campus – strep, mono, HIV, etc., Off-campus – nationally recognized laboratory pick-up service of specimens for testing
  • Medications – prescription & over the counter
  • Medical Equipment/Supplies/Other – crutches, band-aids, cough drops, hot/cold packs, etc.
  • Referrals – to private practitioners, community agencies, etc.

Health Promotion Services:

  • Free, confidential HIV testing & counseling (oral swab with 20 minute results)
  • Alcohol/substance abuse screening &  education
  • Current health-related educational literature and resources
  • Appropriate health guidance with necessary referral (topics include: sleep, stress management, nutrition, etc.)
  • Prevention focused programs such as flu vaccination clinics
  • Peer education programs
  • Smoking cessation assistance & counseling
  • Relaxation Room and therapeutic massage services

Counseling Services:

Counseling Services play a vital role in the mission of the college by providing a safe and confidential environment for students.  Discussion of life’s challenges and the exploration of the complexities of self to enhance the emotional, social and psychological well-being of each student to help them reach their academic goals.

Counseling is a confidential process designed to help students express their concerns such as college adjustment, anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, sexual identity, self-esteem, etc.

At the Utica Site, Counseling Services are located in the Campus Center, Suite 217. Appointments are required and can be made by calling (315) 792-7172. All services are strictly confidential and are provided by a licensed mental health provider.

At the Albany Site, students requiring counseling services should visit the Student Services suite, NanoFab south building, Suite 309. Appointments are required and can be made by calling (315) 792-7172. All services are strictly confidential and are provided by a licensed mental health provider.

Questions regarding Counseling Services can be directed to (315) 792-7172.

Other Health Related Information:

Health Requirements to Attend SUNY Poly:
All students at both the Albany and Utica sites, are REQUIRED to provide the following health documents to the Wellness Center before August 1 for fall admission and January 1 for spring. Student athletes and nursing students have more stringent health requirements. Please refer to those respective departments for details.

Immunizations – Mandatory for all students registered for six (6) or more credits. Non-compliant students will be de-registered pursuant to the directives of the law.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) – NYS Health Law § 2165 requires all students taking on campus classes to provide documentation of immunity to MMR. Persons born prior to 1/1/57 are exempt.

 Required documentation:

  • Measles: Two dates of immunization given after 1967 AND on/or no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday
  • Mumps: One date of immunization given on/or no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday
  • Rubella: One date of immunization given on/or no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday

OR

  • Titers: Date AND positive numeric results of the measles titer, and/or mumps titer and/or rubella titer

Meningococcal Meningitis – NYS Health Law § 2167 requires all on or off campus students provide the following documentation:

  • One date of the meningococcal immunization given within the past  5 years

OR

  • Completion of the Meningococcal Information Response Form indicating acknowledgement of meningococcal disease risks and refusal of the meningococcal meningitis immunization signed by the student (or student’s parent/guardian if under 18 years old). The Meningococcal Information Response Form is available on the SUNY Poly Wellness Center website.

Health History and Physical Examination within the last two (2) years – Mandatory for all students registered for twelve (12) or more credits. A SUNY Poly student may only receive clinical services at the Wellness Center once  the health history and physical examination are on file. Full-time students will not be permitted to register for another term until this health requirement has been met. Students taking less than 12 credits may use the clinical services if a physical examination within 2 years is on file

Medical Insurance

Domestic Students – Medical insurance is mandatory for all students at both the Albany and Utica sites who are registered for twelve (12) or more credits and all nursing students, regardless of credit hours. SUNY Poly provides a basic, medical insurance plan for students who need coverage or wish to purchase additional coverage. Part-time students registered for at least 6 credits per semester may request enrollment EACH semester by the first day of class.

FALL ADMISSION:

All full-time domestic students (12 credit hours or more) and all nursing students regardless of credit hours, are required to purchase the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance IF they do not have other medical insurance coverage.  If you have other insurance and wish to waive the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance, you must complete the on-line waiver by the first day of class and EACH FALL SEMESTER thereafter, otherwise the student will be automatically enrolled AND billed for the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance.

Failure to submit the waiver will result in the student being enrolled and billed for the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance plan. The premium is non-refundable and no waivers will be accepted after the first day of classes.

Submission of the waiver in the fall semester waives the medical insurance for the entire academic year, fall and spring semesters.

Your username and PIN number are required to access the on-line waiver. All newly registered students receive their username and PIN number through the mail prior to your first semester.

Within 3 business days of your medical insurance waiver submission, an e-mail is sent to your SUNY Poly e-mail address confirming that you have not been billed nor enrolled for the medical insurance.  Your tuition bill will indicate no charge for the medical insurance once you have received the e-mail confirmation.

Always check your tuition bill.  Direct your questions to the Wellness Center, (315) 792-7172.

Online insurance waiver site: www.sunypoly.edu/healthwaiver

Please have your medical insurance information for waiver submission: insurance company name, address, subscriber ID number, etc.

If your insurance needs have changed in the fall semester and you wish to purchase the medical insurance for the spring semester, please contact the Wellness Center (315) 792.7172 by the first day of class of the spring semester.

Part time students (6 to 11 credits) who do not have medical insurance can purchase the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance plan by requesting it through the Wellness Center (315) 792-7172. Part-time MUST REQUEST ENROLLMENT EACH SEMESTER.

SPRING ADMISSION:

All newly enrolled full-time students (12 credit hours or more) and all nursing students regardless of credit hours ARE enrolled and billed UNLESS they complete the on-line waiver which remains in effect for ONLY the spring semester.

If you choose to waive this coverage, you must do so before the first day of classes for the spring semester. Failure to submit the waiver will result in you being enrolled in and billed for the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance plan. The premium is non-refundable and no waivers will be accepted after the first day of classes for the semester.

Part time students (6 to 11 credits) who do not have medical insurance can purchase the SUNY Poly designated medical insurance plan by requesting enrollment by the first day of class by contacting the Wellness Center (315) 792-7172. Part-time MUST REQUEST ENROLLMENT EACH SEMESTER.

Always check your tuition bill PRIOR to accepting your charges.

If you successfully completed the medical insurance waiver, 

no charge is indicated for the medical insurance fee on your tuition invoice.

The medical insurance waiver MUST be completed once an academic year.

  • If the waiver is completed in the fall semester: NOT enrolled, nor billed for the entire academic year (fall and spring).
  • If the waiver is completed in the spring semester:  NOT enrolled, nor billed for only that spring semester.

International Students – International Student Medical Insurance Policy – The State University of New York requires that all international students entering the country for study or research, or any US student studying abroad in a SUNY sponsored program purchase a SUNY medical insurance policy.  Medical insurance information is provided upon admission and students are automatically enrolled and billed.

Questions regarding enrollment and billing, please call (315) 792-7405.  Questions regarding utilization, please call (315) 792-7172.

Please note: Students who have the international insurance plan who are referred for further evaluation by the Wellness Center to an off-campus healthcare provider (hospital, urgent care, specialist, etc.) are not responsible for the $50. deductible. A deductible waiver form is provided to the international student prior to the referral.