Student Health Fee

Student Health Fee

Student Health Fee:

Did you know that the student health fee gives you access to health and wellbeing services on campus that consist of direct medical and psychological care, health and wellness fairs, vaccination clinics, wellbeing support and health programming?

By paying the required annual Health and Wellness Support Services Fee, students gain access to the Student Health Services, Rice Counseling Center, the Student Wellbeing Office, and the SAFE Office.

Rice University believes that care comes in many forms, and giving students access to services on campus helps them return to wellness and their academic work in a timely and safe manner.

Many students rely on the Student Health Services for preventive and outpatient care; the Rice Counseling Center to provide solution-focused short-term therapy, psychiatry, mental health crises or for referrals to vetted off-campus providers ; Wellbeing advising when they need to find ways to manage stress, speak with their advisors, and manage everyday living needs; and the SAFE Office which can help students learn how to navigate healthy relationships on and off campus or provide support if harm occurs.

Further, the health fee covers campus public health prevention and action regarding contagious diseases in the Rice community, vaccination clinics, programming across campus, outreach to undergraduate and graduate programs, travel consultation for study and research abroad and assistance with emergency management in the case of a traumatic event on campus.

These services are a vital part of the health of our students, especially when the unexpected happens - a minor accident or illness, mental health crisis, having been impacted by harm, or an unscheduled need for time away from Rice.

Students experiencing financial difficulties with copays, prescriptions or medical bills from their off-campus provider should speak to one of these offices to explore available options and resources.

If you should have any questions about the health fee, please contact Allison Vogt, Associate Dean of Students/Deputy Title IX Coordinator avogt@rice.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I already have a doctor and therapist off campus, can the fee be waived?

No, the health fee is a mandatory fee that supports all students and the campus community collectively. The fee itself supports the programming, services, and service administration of many programs, including Student Health Services, Student Wellbeing Office, Rice Counseling Center and the SAFE Office.

What programs are specifically covered under the health fee?

Student Health Services, Student Wellbeing Office, Rice Counseling Center and the SAFE Office.

Student Health Services:

  • Vaccines and tuberculosis screenings

  • Well person exams

  • STI/birth control/family planning

  • Sick visits

  • Injury visits

  • Wellness fairs

  • Travel consultations

Student Wellbeing Office:

  • Wellbeing Advising

  • Case Management

  • Learning differences support

  • Substance use and recovery support

  • Psychoeducation

  • Health and Wellbeing Fairs

  • Peer support groups, such as: Rice Health Advisors (for undergraduates), Graduate Wellbeing Peers (for graduates), Caregiving program, Rice Alliance for Mental Health Awareness, Rice Coalition on Substance Use, SA and GSA Wellbeing Committees

The SAFE Office:

  • Navigation

  • SAFE Talks

  • Accompaniment to law enforcement

  • Accompaniment to forensic exams

  • Accommodations

Rice Counseling Center

  • Solution focused therapy

  • Couples therapy

  • Group counseling

  • Psychiatry

  • Tailored referrals

General Funds:

  • Health vending machine

  • Staff salaries

  • Handout, marketing materials

  • Emergency Assistance

  • Crisis Management

Can you give an example of how the health fee supports me if I don’t use the services?

Sure, these services touch every aspect of student life.

  • Consultation and Assessment Team (CAT): a team of staff who work to monitor campus safety, work together to assist students in crisis, and work on systems that affect students to make sure they are healthy

  • Vaccination clinics to keep the campus healthy so you do not become ill from the spread of an infectious disease

  • Public health management in the community

  • Programming and outreach to residential colleges, graduate housings, and academic departments to teach them how to address mental health and wellness in the classroom and advisor settings

  • Placard training for staff to address ally-ship in the queer communities, working with interpersonal violence, working with substance abuse, etc.

  • CTIS and Grad programming around interpersonal violence prevention

  • Direct services that impact the way a student may interact with the campus community as a whole

  • Party and event planning and safety

Ok, but what can I reasonably use, can you give examples?

Have an itchy throat or cough that isn’t clearing?

Schedule an appointment at Student Health Services to see if you need allergy medication. Same day appointments are usually available and you can get back to class and work quickly.

Are you and your advisor not getting along?

Make an appointment with the SAFE Office or Wellbeing to discuss ways to have a constructive conversation about how to move forward.

Going out of the country and need a consultation on vaccines and preventive medication?

Schedule an appointment at Student Health Services for an exam.

Dealing with family issues?

Speak to a therapist at RCC to help you with solution focused therapy to get you back on track.

Feeling overwhelmed and out of sync with your studies?

Schedule with Wellbeing to give you time management tools, and help reduce your stress to get you back to yourself.

Do you have ADHD, ADD, Autism or other learning differences?

Meet with our Learning differences case manager who will make sure the services you are receiving are appropriate to you and your needs.

And so much more...

Including unanticipated events:

  • Injury

  • Crime victimization

  • Family crisis

  • Campus crisis

  • Mental health crisis

  • Professional Relationship Issues

Does the Health Fee assist students with their medical or therapy expenses?

The health fee is not a reimbursement program nor does it act as insurance. Past due bills and bills in collection are not considered emergencies, but we do know that it can cause stress, so Wellbeing advisors are trained in how to assist you with working with creditors.

Can I or a group of students make a special request of one of the offices to provide a service we believe is missing?

Yes, we welcome any and all ideas. Please feel free to email Associate Dean Allison Vogt, avogt@rice.edu to discuss ideas.

I think I may have ADHD and would like to be tested, can the Rice psychiatrist do that?

ADHD, ADD and other learning differences are considered developmental disorders and need specialized testing. Testing can last several hours and is performed by off campus providers who have been identified by Rice Counseling Center. If you wish to explore testing, please contact RCC.

Rice University does not prescribe medication for these forms of learning differences as the medications themselves are a controlled substance needing monitoring and have a high incidence of addiction. Should you need these medications, we suggest that you connect with a primary care physician either to assist you with a prescription or for your provider to refer you to another treating provider.

If you are interested in discovering more about how to manage your symptoms or need accommodations, there are three resources on campus to assist you: Disability Resource Center, Rice Counseling Center for referrals, and the Student Wellbeing Office for learning differences case management.

Student Health Fee Flyer

The Wellbeing and Counseling Center is proud to be supported by the Moody Foundation as part of the Moody Experience at Rice University. The Ann McLeod Moody Fund for Student Wellbeing enhances the Wellbeing and Counseling Center and expands the resources and services it is able to provide to students.

“I have always hoped that, if needed, a kind individual would extend a branch of love and friendship to my children or family. The students of Rice University have access to a fine campus counseling and support center[s], and I am thrilled that the Moody Foundation is contributing to this essential program in such a significant way.”
—Ann McLeod Moody