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Student Health Insurance
All UW international students are required to have health insurance. Unless they are eligible for an insurance waiver from ISO, most students choose the UW Accident and Sickness Insurance. For more detailed information about this plan, check out the following Web site:
Student Accident and Insurance Plan:
http://depts.washington.edu/ovpsl/insurance.html
Hall Health Primary Care Center
Hall Health is an outpatient clinic that provides health care to University of Washington Students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Many valuable health services are available at no cost to currently registered UW students who pay the quarterly Student Activity Fee. For detailed information regarding services available, visit:
Hall Health Center (located across the street from HUB)
General Information – (206) 685-1011
Appointments and Registration (Patient Services Center) – (206) 616-2495
After-hours medical advice – (206) 731-2500
Open weekdays 8 am – 5 pm; Tuesdays 9 am – 5 pm
http://www.hallhealthcenter.com
Striking a Balance—The Counseling Center
The culture shock you may experience over the first few months in Seattle can be quite stressful. You might find yourself alone too much, or you may encounter too many choices, too much freedom, and unfamiliar people, places, and situations. You might worry about how to make friends and to communicate with others, or about your academic performance. You may feel uncertain how to spend your free time, especially on weekends.
All of these things can be very difficult to handle. Sometimes students react to this stress by adopting extreme methods of coping, such as putting all of their energy into their academic pursuits, or into social activities and meeting new people.
A better approach to dealing with the complexity of college life is to find a balance between the time spent on academics and time spent on other activities. This is different for each student, as some people require more time to do their academic work than others. Keep in mind that a successful college experience strikes a balance between academic and social activities.
The University of Washington Counseling Center offers personal counseling, career counseling, and study skills workshops to help students find the right balance in their lives. Students can receive counseling individually or in a group to resolve relationship difficulties, to improve time management skills, to overcome substance abuse, etc. They can attend free “Study Smarter” workshops to learn how to study well in the American educational system and improve their grades. Seasonal affective disorder prevention is also available for those who feel particularly sad in the winter months.
Contact the Counseling Center to make an appointment:
Counseling Center
401 Schmitz Hall
(206) 543-1240
Open weekdays 8 am – 5 pm
http://depts.washington.edu/counsels
counsels@u.washington.edu
Wellness Resource Center (Hall Health 213)
At the Wellness Resource Center (WRC), you can get information and resources that will help you make informed health-promoting behavior changes. Brochures are available on topics such as alcohol and other drug use, depression, nutrition, quitting smoking, eating disorders, reproductive health, and more. Bike lights, helmets, and other safety and wellness products are also available at reduced prices.
U-CALL
U-CALL is an after-hours telephone listening service. When Hall Health is closed at night or on the weekends, you can talk with a trained student volunteer about any concerns you might have (classes, relationships, stress, money, etc.) Information about resources to contact the following day is also available. Dial (206) 543-2255. Visit the Hall Health Center Web site for details:
http://www.hallhealthcenter.com
Seattle is generally considered safe for a large city, but like any metropolitan area, crime is present. Using common sense and cautious behavior is advised. If you are confronted with a threatening situation, you will improve your chances of a safe outcome if you have considered possible scenarios and your reactions to them.
The University of Washington Police Department (UWPD)
Located at 1117 N.E. Boat St., the police station is staffed 24 hours every day. The department consists of Seattle Police officers who enforce state and local laws and patrol the campus on a 24-hour basis. In addition, the officers staff a detective unit, a crime prevention unit, a traffic unit, a bicycle patrol, and a Residence Hall Patrol.
Police (emergency, fire, medical aid)
From non-campus telephones: 911
From campus telephones: 9-911 or 911
For the hearing impaired: (206) 543-3323
Non-emergency police contact number: (206) 543-9331
Night Ride
Night Ride vans operate Sunday through Thursday from 8 pm – 12:15 am during Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, but do not operate during Summer quarter. The vans carry students, faculty, and staff from campus to their destinations in three zones within one mile north, east, and west of campus. Passengers can ride free with a U-PASS or purchase a $1 ticket at the HUB on weekdays until 10:00 pm. Shuttles will pick up passengers every 15 minutes at five stops—at the HUB, Stevens Way at Garfield Lane, Meany Hall, at the flagpole southeast of Parrington Hall, and at the Art Building. Upon request, East Zone vans will drop off passengers along Whitman Court; however, the Night Ride does not pick up passengers. Wheelchair-accessible vans run every 30 minutes beginning at 8:15 pm.
For more information, call the Transportation Office at (206) 685-3146 during business hours, or visit:
http://www.washington.edu/admin/niteride/
Email: shuttles@u.washington.edu
Preventing Theft
Theft is the most common crime on campus. The best means of prevention is to reduce or remove the opportunity. Remember that keeping property is not worth endangering your life. If you are confronted by an armed person or someone who claims to be armed, and he or she demands your money or property, give it up.
Helpful Tips:
--Lock all doors and windows of your office, laboratory or residence hall room even when you are going to be out only for a short time. Never prop open outside doors, and never let anyone you do not know into the building.
--When answering the door, look through your peephole or a window first to see if it is someone you know. If not, do not open the door. If the stranger is representing some group, insist on identification. Don’t worry about being polite.
--Get to know your neighbors. You can keep an eye on their homes and rooms, and they may return the favor by watching yours.
--Avoid walking alone at night. Use the Night Ride or call a friend instead.
--Chose major walkways or a route that avoids dark, vacant areas.
--Be conscious of your surroundings.
--When storing a purse or wallet in an office, put it in a seldom-used file cabinet, then lock the cabinet.
--Do not leave backpacks, purses, or briefcases unattended in public places, especially in libraries or cafeterias.
--Record the serial numbers and descriptions of your valuables.
--Lock your bicycle with a U-shaped lock.
--Register your bicycle at the University Police Station or the ASUW Bike Shop in the HUB.
--Do not park your bike in the same location all the time. Don’t allow thieves to target your bike.
--Do not leave important documents or valuables in your vehicle and/or in public view where a person(s) might be enticed to gain entry into your vehicle.
If you feel threatened:
--Try to get away from the danger. Yell or scream. Create a commotion. If you carry a whistle, use it.
--Run toward well-lighted public areas.
--Go into open businesses. Call the Police immediately.
--Be able to describe what happened and where it happened; pass along any details about the suspect.
Sexual Harassment:
Sexual harassment may include unwanted sexual or gender-based conduct severe or pervasive enough that it unreasonably alters the condition of employment, academic progress, or use of University facilities. Examples are:
--Requests for sex in exchange for grades, promotion, references, or salary increase
--Punishment for failure to comply with sexual demands
--Sexually suggestive looks or gestures
--Visual displays of sexually explicit materials
--Sexual teasing or jokes
--Pressure for dates
--Attempts to kiss or fondle
--Unwanted touching
--Demeaning comments based on gender
How to deal with sexual harassment:
--Don’t delay. Pay attention to cues or comments and address unwanted conduct immediately.
--Say no. Tell the person that the conduct is unwanted and you want it stopped.
--Tell someone. Tell your department chair, your supervisor, your Human Resources Consultant, the Ombudsman, or the University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office what happened.
--Keep a record. Keep track of dates, times, places, and statements to help you make your report.
If you believe you are being harassed, seek help. The UW has designated offices to help you. They are:
University Ombudsman for Sexual Harassment (206)543-6028
There are also many resources in Seattle that you can turn to:
Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence (206) 685-4357
Crisis Clinic 24-hour Crisis Line (206) 461-3222
Harborview Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress (206) 521-1800
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center 888-99-VOICE
The University Ombudsman
Role of the Ombudsman:
The role of the Ombudsman is to assist in the protection of the rights and interests of students, faculty, and staff against arbitrary or capricious actions by University agencies, the student body, the faculty, or the staff. As a neutral third party, the University Ombudsman does not advocate for the University or for either party during a dispute. The objective is to provide a process for achieving a fair and reasonable settlement. Working within existing policies and procedures, the Ombudsman seeks to address disagreements in an informal manner. If formal mechanisms are desired, the staff of the Ombudsman’s Office can direct individuals to the appropriate University offices.
Concerns Commonly Addressed by the University Ombudsman:
Academic Concerns
--academic misconduct
--academic procedures
--course accessibility
--faculty evaluations
--grade concerns
--quality of instruction
Employment Concerns
--benefits
--discipline or termination
--discriminatory treatment
--evaluations
--lay-off rights
--reclassification
Academic Departmental Concerns
--merit review
--RA/TA appointments
--salary inequity
--scientific misconduct
--space/resource allocation
Harassment and Mistreatment
--learning environment mistreatment
--workplace mistreatment
--peer harassment
--sexual harassment
For more information contact the Ombudsman’s office:
University Ombudsman
HUB 301
(206) 543-6028
Weekdays 9 am – 4 pm, or by appointment
http://www.washington.edu/about/ombudsman
ombuds@u.washington.edu
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