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Health, Wellness, and Safety

University Health Services (UHS)

University Health Services provides current UW–Madison students with primary health care, health education, and disease prevention services. With experts in college health, they provide services such as: medical treatment of injuries and illnesses, flu and allergy shots, X-rays, and travel check-ups; counseling for mental health issues, stress reduction, smoking cessation, and nutrition; specialized care in dermatology, sports medicine, and women’s clinics; and confidential testing and treatment of HIV and STDs in the Blue Bus Clinic. Phone: 608-265-5600. Highlighted links particularly relevant for parents are listed below.

University Health Services offers information, resources, and services to help students live well. These services include health and wellness practices that facilitate changes for reducing stress, improving diet, promoting exercise, and increasing one's sense of community.

Healthy Ways to Manage Stress

Wellness Services

Division of Recreational Sports

The Division of Recreational Sports offers programs in four different indoor facilities and 63 acres of outdoor field space. In addition to group/team activities, there are opportunities to participate in sports and exercise on an individual basis, personal training available, and access to most facilities is free to students with a valid UW–Madison ID.  All facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Online privacy

More and more students are communicating through social networking Web sites, which provide both great opportunities and risks. Find out the importance of smart social networking and talk with your student about responsible usage.

Campus Safety

Visit the Safe U Web site to learn more about Campus Safety.

UW–Madison views student safety as a partnership between the university and students. As partners in staying safe, students should take personal responsibility for their safety. Parents can reinforce the university’s safety messages to their student by encouraging them in the following ways:

University Police Department

The University Police Department is devoted to providing for the safety and security of all people who come in contact with UW–Madison and supports the university’s academic and research mission.
Emergency: 911
Non-Emergency: 608-264-COPS (2677)

Moped safety: Information about how to safely operate a moped on campus and in Madison, as well as details about parking, registration, and licensing, can be found on the Transportation Services website.

SAFE Nighttime services

SAFE (Safe Arrival For Everyone) Nighttime Services, the university’s comprehensive late night transportation system, is available free to students, faculty, staff and university guests. SAFE offers walks, cab rides and bus service, and educates the UW community about nighttime safety. Phone: 608-262-5000.

Emergency Telephones can be found in more than 90 areas on campus. They are usually red, blue, or silver totem-style poles. By pushing the button, students are connected directly to the UW Police Department.

Lightway Walking Pathsis a network of well-lit sidewalks and paths for pedestrians. Students and staff are encouraged to use the Campus Lightway, which is marked by stickers displaying light bulbs.

Chimera Self Defense Courses teach verbal assertiveness skills and physical techniques to reduce the risk of harassment and assault. Classes are for females only. Contact the Dane County Rape Crisis Center at 608-251-5126 for registration information.

View City of Madison safety information, or contact the City of Madison Police Department Central District office at 608-266-4945 for information about safety resources and crime statistics in Madison.

Photo of Nancy Sandhu handing out safety information.

Nancy Sandhu (right), assistant director of Visitor & Information Programs, talks with the parent of a UW–Madison student moving into a downtown Madison apartment. As part of ”Safety 24/7”, an event designed to promote personal safety, Sandhu and other campus representatives distributed bottled water and safety tips to students moving into downtown Madison apartments and houses. Photo: Bryce Richter

We Conserve - UW-Madison Environmental Stewardship

The Parent Program is a proud member of the WE CONSERVE Campaign.

Obtaining information about your student’s health care

The privacy of health care information and medical records for university students that are maintained by University Health Services (UHS) is protected by a federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and several state laws. The protections of FERPA and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which also protects the privacy of personal health information, are very similar. In compliance with these laws, as a general policy, UHS does not disclose information to family members or others without the consent of the student. However, in an emergency situation, UHS will exercise its professional judgment to determine if family members, usually parents, should be informed of the situation.

If you want information about non-emergency health care situations, it is best to work through your student, asking him or her to give UHS permission to speak with you about a health concern. And, while UHS needs written consent to formally release medical records, usually a phone call from the student can grant permission for the UHS staff to speak with you.

 

Contacting your student in an emergency

Parents, guardians, or other family members often find it difficult to contact students in times of crisis, such as medical emergencies or the death of a family member.

All emergency inquiries should be directed to the University Police Department, at 608-262-2957. Every effort will be made to contact the student about the emergency situation.

PACE: Talking to your student about alcohol