University Wellness Services
University Wellness Services, operating out of the University Wellness Center is the hub for all campus wellness activities and encompasses clinical, counseling, health promotion, public health and emergency response services. While remaining committed to quality outpatient care, Wellness Services focuses on wellness not only as prevention of disease, but as a philosophy of life. This philosophy emphasizes self-responsibility and taking an active role in maintaining one’s health with the assumption that true health must consider the individual as an integration of mind, body, and spirit.
Prior to enrollment, students must comply with certain health requirements to protect the health and safety of the Northwest community including:
- Completion of a Health History Form (required for all students).
- MMR Immunization. All Northwest students born during or after 1957 must show proof of immunization against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR). Students who do not show proof of MMR immunization will have a hold placed on registration for classes in the next trimester. The following students are exempted from this requirement:
- Online-only students,
- Students attending one of Northwest’s Distance Learning Centers,
- Dual enrollment students.
- Meningococcal Education and Immunization. Per Missouri State Law, all students who will reside in residence halls must meet or complete the Meningococcal requirement by:
- providing proof that they’ve received the vaccination after the age of 16;
- receiving the immunization; or
- signing a waiver stating they understand the dangers of meningitis, and have made the decision not to be vaccinated. Students may not move into the residence halls until they have completed this requirement.
Wellness Services strongly recommends that all Northwest students receive the Meningococcal immunization.
- Tuberculosis Screening is required of all first-time students at Northwest Missouri State University. This screening is found on the health history form that is given to all first-time Northwest students.
- Tuberculosis Testing (required for first-time students who are foreign-born, students who have spent more than three continuous months outside the United States, and/or have a known exposure to tuberculosis. Details on how to satisfy these requirements can be found at http://www.nwmissouri.edu/wellness/beforenw.htm.
Clinic Services
Wellness Services provides clinical health services to full- and part-time students. In the fall and spring trimesters, full-time nursing and physician services are offered between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Due to decreased volume demand in the summer, fewer clinic service hours are available. Wellness Services currently files insurance claims for office visits, procedures, lab work, etc. for students that have insurance and accepts insurance reimbursement as full payment for these services. Students that don’t have insurance are responsible for procedure and lab costs incurred.
Personal Development and Counseling Service
Wellness Services is committed to the personal development and success of all Northwest students. Personal Development and Counseling Services offers individual, couples and group counseling to students. In addition, the following services are provided to the campus community: workshops, guest lectures, referral services, consultations, training and crisis intervention.
Health Promotion Services
Wellness Services offers a variety of services promoting health and wellness that are designed to help students modify their lifestyles and move toward a higher level of health and wellness. These services include but are not limited to: grant-funded public health initiatives, health and wellness related speakers, awareness weeks, health education activities, and other health promotion events.
Peer Education
Northwest Bearcat Peer Educators are students who have received certification through the Bacchus Network, a national peer education network. Through interactive activities in and out of the classroom, they share the vision of Wellness Services with the campus community. They educate other students through classroom seminars, special programs, and awareness campaigns. Topics Peer Educators address include: alcohol and drugs, wellness, relationships, sexual assault, body image, diversity, stress management, and others. Presentations can be tailored to fit the audience’s needs. For more information about becoming a Peer Educator or to schedule a presentation, contact Peer Education at the Wellness Center, (660) 562-1348 or email at peeredu@nwmissouri.edu.