Incoming Student Information

Congratulations on your decision to come to Gordon College! We're excited to welcome you and your family into our community. There are many details to coordinate as you prepare for your arrival, so we hope these resources are helpful as you gather your health records and pack. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the services the Health Center provides, as well as the additional ways you can care for yourself once you're on campus. If you have any questions throughout the process, don't hesitate to contact us!

In this section, you'll find information on:

• Medical Questionnaire & Immunization Information
• Student Health Insurance
• What to Bring and Preparing for Transition

Medical Questionnaire

A completed medical packet is required of all Gordon College students, by August 1st.  It consists of multiple components: 

1. The Medical Questionnaire: available as an online form in your admissions portal. 
2. Medical Requirements Packet, this packet includes:
   1. A physical examination (performed within 12 months of submission)
   2. Your COMPLETE vaccine record
   3. Screening for Tuberculosis (TB) via screening or QuantiFERON - TB Gold blood test. 
      • These must all be completed by your medical provider and uploaded into your admissions portal by August 1st.

This information is confidential and will not be released to anyone without your knowledge and consent. 

PLEASE NOTE: Registration for classes will NOT be allowed until complete medical information is provided. You will be placed on a medical hold if any portion of the paperwork is incomplete.  Please save a copy of the completed Medical Requirement Packet for your future reference.

Massachusetts State law requires all college students to show satisfactory proof of immunizations, and they must be completed prior to arrival on campus. Review the Immunization Information for a complete list of what records are required. Additionally, please review the school policies regarding medications that are considered controllable substances.

Optional wavier for Meningitis vaccine ➔

Student Health Insurance

Massachusetts Law requires that all students enrolled in at least 3/4 course load (or more) must either provide proof of enrollment in a medical insurance plan that meets the Commonwealth mandated guidelines or be automatically enrolled in a university-sponsored plan. Therefore, if you are a full-time or three-quarter-time matriculating undergraduate or graduate student, you are required to have sufficient health insurance coverage while in attendance at the College. 

To meet the requirements of Massachusetts law, Gordon College provides an insurance plan to its students. The student health insurance plan for the policy year 2024-2025 is through United Healthcare Student Resources.  

For students enrolling in this plan, information about premiums and coverage dates can be found at 

www.gordon.edu/healthcenter/newstudents#insurance  

www.universityhealthplans.com/gordon

If you have comprehensive health insurance, you may have this fee removed from your college bill, by completing the online Waiver Form found at www.universityhealthplans.com. 

Parents/students with questions about the waiver/enrollment, or general benefit questions can contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1720. 

Please note that if your current coverage is terminated at any point during the remainder of this year, you will need to contact the school within 60 days so that you may be covered under Gordon’s health insurance plan.

A Waiver Form must be submitted each academic year. Please take into consideration if your Health Plan offers coverage in the Wenham/Greater Boston area before waiving the school insurance plan. HMO plans based in states other than Massachusetts have a limited network and limited coverage. 

Parents, it is important for students to BE AWARE of their health insurance benefits: office visit co-pays, pharmacy benefits and prescription co-pays, medical services that might need pre-authorization and behavioral health benefits and co-pays.

To assist you in making an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs, here are some general questions to ask your current health insurance provider to ensure that it provides adequate coverage: 

• Does your current health plan provide coverage while in the area of Gordon College? Many HMO plans provide coverage for Emergency Treatment only, while out-of-area of the local HMO.
• Does your current health plan cover mental health services? Many employer-sponsored plans provide very limited coverage for behavioral health services.
• Does your current health plan provide coverage anywhere in the world, including medical evacuation and repatriation benefits?
• Does your current health plan include a nationwide network of Preferred Providers, guaranteeing acceptance of your insurance plan, and reducing the student’s out-of-pocket expenses? Many employer-sponsored plans are managed-care type plans, with a regionally based preferred-provider network.
• Does your current health plan include Prescription Drug coverage and a nationwide network of member pharmacies? Many employer-sponsored plans do not provide prescription drug coverage, or only very limited benefits available at certain local pharmacies.

If your current insurance plan meets the guidelines stated above, you should complete the online Waiver Form at www.universityhealthplans.com.

If you are enrolling in the school-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan, you should complete the online Enrollment Form to confirm your acceptance of the plan and expedite the processing of your insurance card.

To access all forms and benefit information on the school-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan, go to www.universityhealthplans.com and click on “Gordon College.”

What to Bring & Preparing for Transition

It’s a good idea to have a supply of the following products on hand with regard to minor illness and injury. Also, be sure to read through our policies on medications and controlled substances so you know what to expect regarding prescription medications once you arrive to campus.

First Aid	Illness
Allergy Medicines (Claritin, Benadryl or other antihistamines	Soup
Pain and fever relief (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc.)	Crackers
Cold and cough medicines	Gatorade
Lozenges	Ginger Ale
Safe or lockbox for prescription medications	Water
Digital Thermometer	Kleenex
Multi-vitamins
Bug Spray & Anti-Itch Cream
Ace Bandages for sprains and strains
Gauze
Band-Aids for cuts and scrapes
Disinfecting wipes
Reusable ice pack
Sunscreen
Waterless hand sanitizer

In addition to your regular packing and preparations, it's good for everyone in the family to start preparing for the big transition that is moving a student to college. Especially for the incoming student, there are many ways that he/she can start preparing mentally and emotionally for such a monumental change.

We wanted to point you toward Set to Go, a program by The Jed Foundation (JED) that aims to help prepare students and families for the transition from high school to college. Whether it be the social and emotional changes that college brings, needing to master certain life skills on your own for the first time, or recognizing and battling mental health issues, these resources from Set to Go are here to get you started in building that healthy foundation.