Health Promotion
Health Promotion works to foster a campus community that encourages positive health behaviors supportive of UC Merced students' academic success and well-being during their collegiate experience. Trained Peer Health Educators facilitate workshops, host tabling events, give out free health and wellness materials, and run an active Instagram account (@UCMHealthPromo). Topics covered include sexual health, substance use, sleep, nutrition, and mental well-being. Before coming to campus, remember to complete the mandatory online health and wellness programs: AlcoholEdu and Mental Well-being for Students.
You are not alone! Make sure to seek out services and connect. The campus offers various programs and activities that promote your overall well-being.
Mental Health services
On behalf of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), we welcome you to our Bobcat community! The mission of CAPS is to support the mental health and well-being of our students. It is the intention of all CAPS staff to provide a safe, confidential atmosphere of acceptance and accessibility to professionals in the field of psychology. Services specialize in the unique needs of UC Merced students in an effort to promote their academic, personal and social development.
CAPS focuses on meeting the unique needs of our student population by maintaining an environment that is supportive and affirming of all intersectional identities and cultural diversity statuses, including but not limited to:
- Ethnicity
- Race
- National Origin
- Age
- Socioeconomic Status
- Gender Identity and Expression
- Sexual Orientation
- First Language
- Ability Status
- Religion or Spiritual Beliefs/Affiliation
- Immigration Status
- Military Status
- Class
- First Generation (college student and/or American)
CAPS provides free, confidential counseling services to all registered students, regardless of their health insurance plan. Services include individual and couples counseling (both parties must be registered students), group therapy, crisis support and assessment, consultation services and outreaches and workshops related to collegial well-being.
Counseling Services are provided by licensed clinicians as well as supervised, psychological interns and trainees. Sessions may be held in person or remote, when clinically appropriate. Services can be provided in Spanish, Tagalog, Punjabi, Hindi and Mandarin Chinese upon request and clinician availability.
CAPS has also teamed up with The Black Girl Doctor organization to sponsor free, coaching sessions to any registered student at UC Merced! In addition, students who have enrolled in UC SHIP (campus sponsored health insurance) may access free, telehealth services including counseling and psychiatry through LiveHealth Online.
To schedule an appointment with a CAPS provider, please contact us at (209) 228-4266 or visit us on the second floor in the Health and Athletics Center. We are open Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:40 pm. After-hours crisis support can be accessed by calling (209) 228-4266, option #1. For further details about our staff, services, LiveHealth Online and The Black Girl Doctor please visit our website at counseling.ucmerced.edu or follow us on Instagram @UCMercedCAPS.
awareness
Campus Advocacy, Resources and Education (CARE) provides prevention education and confidential support services for the UC Merced community. CARE's vision is to eliminate all forms of oppression and gender-based violence such as sexual assault, domestic/dating abuse, stalking, and human trafficking. CARE encourages the UC Merced community to step in and speak up by practicing the 3'Ds, Direct, Distract and Delegate. Reminder: Complete the mandatory online Sexual Violence Prevention (SAP) training within the first six weeks of starting school.
Health Promotion fosters a campus community that encourages positive health behaviors supportive of UC Merced students' academic success and well-being during their collegiate experience. Reminder: Complete the mandatory online Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Programs (DAAPP) training within the first six weeks of starting school.
All registered students, regardless of insurance, are eligible to use Student Health Services. The Health Center provides basic treatment and prevention services by board-certified physicians, certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Medical services include:
- Consultation with medical staff for injury, illness, or chronic health conditions
- LiveHealth Online video doctor visits
- Laboratory testing
- Immunizations and flu shots
- Travel exams and advice
- Men’s and women’s health
- Physical exam/annuals
- Sports physicals
- Psychiatric and psychological services
- Prescription management and delivery
- Prevention and wellness education
All students are required to have major medical insurance as an academic condition for enrollment. The UC system offers the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). This plan offers a wide range of medical benefits including coverage of specialty office visits, diagnostic services, and out-of-area care when traveling. The UC SHIP coverage includes dental, vision, and pharmaceutical benefits.
Student Health Insurance Plan
UC SHIP offers affordable medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, mental health and substance use disorder benefits for University of California undergraduate and graduate students and their eligible dependents. All registered UC students are required to have major medical insurance as a nonacademic condition of enrollment, and are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP and billed through their student account. If you opt to be enrolled in UC SHIP, coverage begins Aug. 15 and you can obtain your insurance cards through the app labeled "StudentHealth." Find out more about the app. If you already have a health plan that meets the University health coverage requirements, you can apply to waive enrollment in UC SHIP by Aug. 1. If you have already submitted a waiver, and it has been approved, please allow 14 days for the waiver to process and be applied to your bill. If you have any questions, you can contact the insurance department through email at insurance@ucmerced.edu or call (209) 228-4876, option 1.
immunization requirements
All new incoming first year and transfer students are also required to comply with the UC Immunization Requirement. You must complete an Immunization Form and a TB Risk Questionnaire by Aug. 28 at My Health on UC Merced Connect. Noncompliance with these mandatory requirements will result in a future registration hold.
You can find more details about the immunization requirement process here.
The following immunizations must be completed before you enroll:
Required Immunizations
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR): Two doses; first dose on or after age 1 - OR - Titer (blood test) showing immunity.
- Varicella (Chickenpox): Two doses; first dose on or after age 1 - OR - Titer (blood test) showing immunity.
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap): One dose on or after age 7. NOTE: Td/DTaP does NOT satisfy the requirement.
- Meningococcal Conjugate Serogroups A, C, Y, & W-135: One dose on or after age 16 for all students under 22 years of age. Students 22 or older leave blank.
Please check your My Health messages regularly. Once we receive your TB Risk Questionnaire, we will send you a secure message there with instructions about how to proceed if we require additional TB action. If no additional action is required, your TB requirement will be satisfied. If you have questions about immunization or TB requirements, you can visit the Health Center's Immunization FAQ or call the Immunization Line at (209) 228-2273, option 3. You also can send a message to the immunization nurse in the My Health portal. COVID-19 Vaccination As a reminder, the COVID-19 vaccine is required for everyone who learns, lives or works on campus. Effective June 2023, the UC Merced COVID-19 vaccine requirements now include an opt-out/declination option to meet this requirement. COVID-19 vaccination declinations can be submitted on your My Health portal. You can find more information on the Student Health Center website at health.ucmerced.edu.
