SUNY Potsdam

SUNY Potsdam Student Health Services (SHS) must ensure all new, re-admitted and transfer students meet state and local health requirements.  The submission of these forms is tracked for each student. 

Failing to comply with the health requirements will result in progressive consequences. 

• Move-in: If you live on-campus you may not be allowed to get your keys until you have visited Student Health Services. 
• First week of classes:  You will get a message to complete the requirements every time you use your Student ID card.  
• Subsequent Weeks: Your ID card will be deactivated and you won’t be allowed to attend classes.   
• 30 - 45 days after start of classes: If you remain non-compliant with the immunization or meningitis requirements you will be disenrolled from SUNY Potsdam, as New York State Law demands.  Failure to meet all the other health requirements will result in a “Hold” being placed on your account.  You won’t be able to register for classes or receive your grades until the requirements are met.
  

Follow these two steps to complete your health requirements:

1. Mail or fax proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella to Student Health Services. 
   
   Proving you are immune to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella is required for all students born on or after January 1, 1957.  You must submit proof of two live vaccines for measles and at least one each for mumps and rubella.  The first measles vaccine must be no earlier than 4 days before your first birthday and the two measles vaccines must be separated by at least 28 days.  Proof constitutes having an “official copy” of your immunization record faxed ((315) 267-3260) or mailed (44 Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, NY, 13676) to Student Health Services.  An “official copy” of your shot record is one signed by your medical provider or high school nurse.  Alternatively, you may see your medical provider to have blood tests done to check for immunity, then have the results sent to SHS.  If the tests show you are not immune you must be vaccinated.  Lastly, instead of supplying a copy of your immunization record, you can ask your provider to fill out a “Proof of Immunization Form” and have them send it to SHS.   Copies of this form can be found on the “Health Forms” page of the Student Health Services website (http://www. potsdam.edu/shs).  
   
2. Complete the online Health Information Forms.  
   
   These forms should be submitted as soon as you receive confirmation of your deposit with SUNY Potsdam.  Please call (315) 267-2377 or e-mail Student Health Services (shs@potsdam.edu) if you have any questions or difficulties completing them.
   
   
   • The forms are accessed by signing on to BearPaws with your Campus Computer Account username and password.
   • Go to “New Student Services” then “Student Health Services Portal.” 
     Only the staff at SHS will see what you submit.  The portal is HIPAA compliant, CCHIT certified, and completely confidential.  You are only able to submit these forms once.
     

Health Information Form

This form asks you questions about your medical history, medications, allergies and surgeries.  To complete it you must set your web-browser to allow pop-ups from the website “shsweb.potsdam.edu.”  If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, please wait up to a minute for a window to pop-up so you can add details.  The information you submit is sent directly into your medical record at SHS.  Once you are in the portal (see above), click on “Required Health Information” followed by “Health Information Form.”  Answer the questions and click “submit.” 

Meningitis Response Form

Also under “Required Health Information” on the portal is the “Meningitis Response Form” link. Click on it.  If you are 18 or older, the form will open.  You can select the appropriate response and click “submit.”  If you are younger than 18 years, you will be taken to a version of the form that must be printed, filled out by your parent/guardian, then faxed ((315) 267-3260) or mailed (44 Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676) to SHS.  Submitting this form is required for all new and transfer students, but only some re-admitted, students. 

Tuberculosis Questionnaire

The last form under “Required Health Information” is the “Tuberculosis Questionnaire.”  Please click on it, answer the questions presented to you, and click “submit.”  If you are instructed to do so, you must have further testing for tuberculosis.   Have this testing done before you arrive on campus in the fall.  Make an appointment with your medical provider and have them fill out the printable version of the Tuberculosis Testing Form found at:

http://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/healthservices/upload/Tuberculosis-Screening-Form.pdf

Your medical provider should follow the steps on the form and fax or mail it to Student Health Services. 

Insurance Information

Whether or not you have health insurance, you should submit your information through the portal.  If you don’t have insurance, choose “none” from the dropdown list of insurance companies.  When you come to Student Health Services we may need to order tests.  If you’re sick you won’t want to return to SHS just to drop off your insurance information.  Click on “Insurance” which is found in the same column as “Required Health Information” on the first page of the portal.  Fill in the information and click “submit.”  If you don’t find the name of your insurance company on the drop-down list of insurers, please send a message to shs@potsdam.edu.  We will add your insurer to the list and you can return later to the portal to put in your information.