As a parent, guardian, or family member, one of your primary concerns is that your student is safe, healthy, and happy. At Michigan Tech, student safety is a priority, and the University has established several programs, partnerships, and services that help to ensure this important need is met.
Having conversations with your student prior to college about safe and healthy habits and behaviors is critical. Without family members around all the time, students will need to learn practices to protect themselves and their belongings; may potentially encounter situations involving alcohol and other drugs; may need to make decisions about sexual activity; and will be responsible for taking care of their own physical and emotional well-being. These changes can be daunting for a student who has never even scheduled a routine doctor visit for him- or herself.
Be sure to educate your student on the basics of their health insurance coverage and discuss how any chronic medical conditions will be managed at school. It is vital for your student to have access to information about their health insurance and coverage (including a membership card and plan numbers), medical history, and immunization records, especially if they are away from home and in need of urgent medical care. If your student has regular care or prescription medication needs, planning for their continued care before they arrive on campus will help to relieve stress. It may also be helpful to find health care providers in the vicinity of campus that accept your insurance coverage by conducting a search on your insurance company’s website or by calling customer service.
In case of an emergency, your student should have on hand a listing of pertinent medical information, including surgeries, allergies, immunizations, prescription drugs, blood type, etc. Equipping your student with this information will prevent them from having to inconveniently track it down from campus.