Carnegie Mellon University

Health Services is here to provide quality care during your time as a CMU undergraduate or graduate student.

As a new student, there are several health requirements you must fulfill prior to the start of classes. Please review the following details regarding health records, health insurance, and online courses. 

HEALTH FORMS & IMMUNIZATIONS

All new students to the Pittsburgh & Silicon Valley campuses must submit required health forms and immunization information, including uploading a CMU Immunization Record Form signed by their healthcare provider before arriving on campus. Students should log into HealthConnect and select Medical Clearances in the left menu to review and submit all required health information.

Failure to comply with the below requirements will result in administrative suspension and removal from university housing. 

Your records must verify the following immunizations:

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

  • 2 doses after age 1 or 
  • combination of 2 measles vaccines, 2 mumps vaccines and 1 rubella vaccine, or
  • positive immunoglobin (IgG) antibody blood test to each (proves immunity)
To learn about this risks associated with these diseases, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pages on: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.

Varicella (Chickenpox)

  • 2 doses after age 1 or
  • birth in the U.S. before 1980, or
  • Date of disease, or
  • positive Immunoglobin (IgG) antibody blood test (proves immunity)
To learn about the risks associated with this disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Varicella page.

Meningococcal AYWC (applies to students living in university housing)

  • single dose of Quadrivalent or Pentavalent at or after age 16 
  • Pennsylvania requires the completed Meningitis AYWC vaccine.  
  • We also strongly recommend the Meningitis B vaccine. 
To learn about the risks associated with this disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Meningococcal Disease page.

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Form

  • Followed by TB testing, if indicated with Blood IGRA test
To learn about the risks associated with this disease, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuberculosis page.
Need a required vaccine?

The following nearby pharmacies offer Varicella, Meningitis, and MMR vaccines on a walk-in basis and are in-network for CMU SHIP (so the vaccines are fully covered for students with CMU SHIP):

CVS MinuteClinic

Rite Aid Pharmacy

Giant Eagle Market District Pharmacy

Giant Eagle Pharmacy

Allegheny County Health Department Immunization Clinic is another local option for vaccines.

Immunization & Vaccines Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended for all students:

  • Hepatitis A - especially for those traveling internationally
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV9)
  • Polio
  • Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)
  • COVID-19 
  • Flu 

Recommended for members of high risk groups (consult with your medical provider regarding need):

  • Meningococcal B
  • Pneumococcal
We only accept an IGRA blood test completed no more than 6 months before the start of your classes at CMU Pittsburgh. A chest Xray is only needed if the blood test is positive. In the US the name of this test is Quantiferon Gold or T-Spot.

After being officially enrolled, you can access all of our online forms and upload records in HealthConnect, under Medical Clearances in the left menu.  

Please note: in order to access HealthConnect, your birthdate in the Student Information System (SIO) must be correct. If you are unable to access HealthConnect, check your birthdate in SIO. If it is incorrect, correct it at the HUB. The following day, it should be updated in HealthConnect. If you still have problems, email us for help.

No. Incoming students only need to complete the online forms and upload their vaccine/immunization records for verification. Before completing your forms, please gather your health and vaccine records, and review the information with your family, if needed.
Submit your information and records prior to the due date with your current information. We will review the information and contact you via your andrew email account to notify you if you are missing any requirements. 

Yes, if vaccination is not advised for medical reasons or conflicts with your religious belief/strong moral or ethical conviction. You can find and submit a vaccine exemption form in HealthConnect, under Downloadable Forms.

If a contagious disease outbreak occurs, the University reserves the right to ask students who have not been vaccinated against that disease to leave campus until the outbreak is over.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

All full-time students (and some part-time, degree-seeking students, depending on program requirements) who are physically located within the U.S. must have medical insurance that meets the university's requirements.

The university offers the Carnegie Mellon University Student Health Insurance Plan (CMU SHIP), as well as vision and dental insurance plans, through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. The CMU SHIP Highmark BCBS PPO plan is a national plan with participating health care providers across the U.S. 

Prior to Open Enrollment, a default charge for the medical CMU SHIP annual premium fee is posted on each student's account. This charge is reversed for students who apply for and receive an approved waiver during open enrollment. 

CMU Student Health Insurance Plan Details

Student Health Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

During Your Open Enrollment Period

If You Enroll in CMU SHIP 

The insurance premium fee will remain on your student invoice. If you enroll in the vision or dental plans, or add dependents, the additional charges will appear on your student invoice. 

You have the option to pay your insurance premium monthly.

You may also add dependents to your plan during certain times.

If You Apply for a Waiver

If your current insurance meets the university's requirements, you may apply for a waiver. If approved, a credit for the university plan premium fee will appear on your student invoice.

If You Take No Action (not recommended)

If you do not enroll in SHIP or apply for a waiver, you will be enrolled in CMU SHIP. The insurance premium fee will remain on your student invoice.

Waiting for this default-enrollment will delay your insurance enrollment and will delay access to your insurance details, so it is not recommended. If you intend to enroll in the student health insurance plan, please complete the steps to enroll during your Open Enrollment period.

SUBSTANCE USE, DEI, & SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Health and safety are critically important to the student experience, both in and out of the classroom. All new undergraduate students must complete online courses about substance use, diversity, equity and inclusion,  and sexual violence prevention. Incoming undergraduate students will receive access and an invitation to these courses on July 1st and should complete them by August 18th. You can also access the courses here

Incoming graduate students will also receive invitations to courses on diversity, equity, and inclusion and sexual violence prevention on August 1st and are encouraged to complete them by September 12th. 

Having issues with the course? Try using a chrome browser, and if that doesn't help contact Vector Solutions support through the course website. Questions? contact healthpromotion@andrew.cmu.edu 

HEALTHCONNECT

HealthConnect is our secure online portal, where students can complete health history and immunizations forms, schedule certain appointments, order prescription refills, request medical records and more. 

Before receiving care at University Health Services, all students should:

  • Log into HealthConnect with your Andrew ID and password.
  • Update their HealthConnect profile and enable text messaging from UHS
    • To enable text messaging:
      • Select Profile in the left menu
      • In the Text Messaging row, click Edit
      • Enter mobile number, check "I would like to receive text messages", and select mobile carrier
  • Complete the health history form in HealthConnect
  • Read and acknowledge the UHS treatment agreement in HealthConnect
  • Read and acknowledge our Statement of Privacy Practices