Health Services for Students
Students registered for five or more hours per semester are required to participate in the outpatient student health services as provided by the Department of Family Medicine; participation by students registered for less than five hours per semester is optional. Hospitalization and major medical costs are not covered for students by outpatient Student Health. These charges will be filed with your insurance carrier (for UNMC insurance, claim forms can be obtained from the Student Insurance office by calling 559-7276).
All graduate students registered for five or more hours per semester are required to have health and accident insurance through a student insurance program contracted by UNMC unless evidence of comparable coverage is provided. All UNMC students are required to be skin tested annually for tuberculosis and those who may have direct contact with patients or with material that may be contaminated with Hepatitis B virus must be immunized against Hepatitis B before there is any opportunity for such exposure. Specific details regarding Student Health Services, the student insurance program, and student immunization policies can be found in the UNMC Student Handbook.
Counseling & Student Development Center
The UNMC Counseling and Student Development Center offers a wide range of professional counseling services, including general problem-solving, individual psychotherapy, stress management training, couples counseling, career exploration, communication consulting, and academic performance enhancement. These services are provided free of charge to all UNMC graduate students and their significant others. Counseling Center staff members have master's degrees in counseling or clinical social work, and the director is a licensed psychologist.
Counseling services are provided in a private, confidential environment. With the exception of life-threatening situations (clear danger to self or others), no information is released without the written consent of the client. Counseling files cannot be accessed through any UNMC or hospital computerized records systems. And since services are free, there is no need to file insurance claims.
In addition to personal counseling and consultation services, the center coordinates several student development programs designed to enhance the overall quality of campus life at UNMC.
These programs include:
- Student government advising and administrative support.
- The academic success program (study skills, learning style assessments, test-taking).
- Student clubs and organizations.
- The student insurance plan (policy revisions, claim filing).
- Substance abuse education.
- Services for disabled students.
- A variety of new student orientation activities.
Graduate students from all UNMC programs are invited to visit the Counseling Office located in the Student Life Center, third floor, room 3015. To schedule a counseling appointment or to ask questions, please call 559-7276.
UNMC has established an Ombudsperson system for all students, faculty and staff. The intent of the Ombudsperson Office is to help students and others resolve problems and to promote fair and equitable treatment for all members of the UNMC community.
Dr. David Carver has been designated as the primary Ombudsperson for the students at UNMC, but other individuals may also be utilized. Contact the Ombudsperson Office for more information on this service (402-559-2491).
Research laboratories containing modern equipment within the various colleges and institutes are available to students pursuing advanced research training. Modern computer facilities are available for graduate student research and education through the UNMC Computing Services.
The Leon S. McGoogan Library of Medicine is one of the country’s major health science libraries. The library’s collection numbers over 240,000 volumes, with a current journal list of 4,500 titles, over 3,500 of which are available in electronic format. The library’s catalog of books, journal holdings, and electronic resources such as MEDLINE and other health-related databases can be searched 24 hours a day both on and off campus from the Library's webpage. However, licensor restrictions limit availability to some electronic journals to on-campus only.
Multimedia materials for computer-assisted instruction are collected and made available in the Sievers Facility for Interactive Instruction and adjacent Learning Resource Center. Reference and Education Services provide assistance and instruction with information needs, self-searching of numerous health related databases and understanding the concepts and scope of medical information management. Document delivery and interlibrary borrowing are also available, as are special services such as dissertation binding and medical and consumer health information services for the state of Nebraska.
Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs
The goal of the Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs (OSEMA) is to advance the equal education opportunity commitment of the University of Nebraska Medical Center by implementing recruitment and retention activities that identify and support students seeking a health care/research career with special emphasis on activities which target increasing the number of minority and disadvantaged persons entering and successfully completing the health/research careers educational pathways. The objectives of the office are to:
- Coordinate recruitment and retention activities with UNMC program units to recruit and retain qualified students with a special emphasis on recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged students.
- Promote retention by providing support services to enhance the performance of all enrolled students.
- Provide services for undergraduate students that will improve their chances for admission and sustain their interest in the career of their choice.
- Identify, motivate and prepare students at the pre-college level to explore and pursue health career options.
- Collaborate with UNMC departments, other educational institutions and community organizations to implement outreach programs that promote health career education.
- Participate in and initiate community relations efforts that promote health care careers and health care education at UNMC.
- Facilitate the continuing development of in-state and out-of-state affiliation agreements with other institutions of higher education to diversify the faculty and studies bodies.
Student Organizations
Graduate Student Association
The Graduate Student Association of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (GSA-UNMC) is open to all students in an approved graduate program. The GSA-UNMC serves as a voice for the graduate students at the Medical Center, investigating and proposing solutions to problems unique to graduate students.
The GSA-UNMC annually elects a representative to the Medical Center Graduate Council.
Medical Center Student Senate (MCSS)
The Medical Center Student Senate is the campus-wide student government body for the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The purpose of the MCSS is to provide student input and leadership on issues related to campus life and student development. MCSS also sponsors philanthropic events and social activities.
Senate members serve on a variety of UNMC committees and meet regularly with the Chancellor and other senior administrators. The President of the MCSS also serves as a non-voting member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
MCSS business meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from September through May and are open to all students. Elections for the Graduate Studies senate seats and MCSS officers (President and Vice President) are held each November.
The MCSS administrative office is located in the Student Life Center, Room 3015. Students with questions about MCSS are encouraged to contact David Carver, Ph.D. or Patti George at 559-7276.
New Student Organizations
UNMC students who wish to establish a student organization and use campus facilities must receive formal recognition and approval. Application forms and guidelines can be obtained from the Counseling and Student Development Office, Student Life Center Room 3015 (phone 559-7276).
