Family Page

Before Your Student Goes to College

A Family Member's Checklist

1. See the doctor for a checkup

It may be important to get a physical or a check up one last time before heading off to college. This could help the student evaluate medications, refill their prescriptions, or just discuss the life changes that may happen when transitioning from life at home to life at college.

2. Have a plan for prescriptions

If you receive prescription medications by mail and will be living in the residence halls, you can consider getting a P.O. box at the Lamar University post office mail center to have them delivered to your P.O. box. If you need prescriptions filled at a local pharmacy, search online for pharmacies in the area such as H-E-B, Kroger, Walgreens, and CVS.

The Student Health Center is able to provide basic prescription medications as well as some over-the-counter (OTC) medications in the event of illness. The Student Health Center is also able to provide prescriptions that you can bring to a local pharmacy to have filled.

3. Receive appropriate vaccinations, and maintain records

Lamar University has bacterial meningitis requirements that all students must adhere to. To learn more details about this requirement, follow this link.

The Student Health Center offers meningitis vaccinations subject to stock availability. You do not turn the form in to the Student Health Center. The form is to be turned in at the Records Office, located in the Wimberly Building, Room 102.

4. Obtain Academic Health Plan Insurance

The Academic Health Plan insurance is optional for students but required for International Students. To learn more about this service, follow this link.

5. Have the important conversations

Talk with your student about important topics like medical emergencies and safety. Ensure your student knows where to go in the event of an emergency, who to call on campus, and reassure them that calling for help is important when they feel they need it.

6. Discuss mental health

College is difficult. It can be challenging because of academics, but it can be challenging even more so because of the standards students set for themselves and the pressure they feel by others as well. Students may be working jobs, have families of their own, may be taking care of loved ones, or have other situations that cause them to have stress. College students face high levels of stress in multiple areas every single day. Remind your student that this is a common occurrence and that they are not alone. The Student Health Center works diligently to put into place multiple systems to help your student in the event they need mental health and support. Click here to learn more about our in-house counseling center that hosts highly experienced licensed counselors. When your student may need help outside of normal business hours, we have instituted a partnership with TimelyCare as a virtual 24/7 therapy service which can be learned about here.

In addition to in-house counseling services and after-hours virtual counseling, there are many local community resources specific to mental health that can be utilized. To learn more about local resources, visit our page here.

7. Address sexual health

Talk with your student about the changing dynamics that may occur with sexual health when they move away from the home and into a college setting. To practice safe sexual health, the Student Health Center has increased its testing capacity by hosting new technology for sexually transmitted infections, which can be scheduled via telephone or through the patient portal. In addition, the Health Education Department has partnered with local clinics to bring STI testing to Lamar University for free pop-up clinics throughout the semester. Discuss with your student that getting tested is smart and safe, and part of routine healthcare.

8. Discuss drinking and other substances

Teaching your student what to do in alcohol emergencies and to avoid using harmful substances will substantially increase their ability to have a successful academic career. Talk with your student about the dangers of choosing negative coping skills and to instead choose more positive coping skills that allow them the freedom to have fun in a healthy way when blowing off steam and taking a break from the demands of school.

9. Communicate

Remind your student that you are there to support them. You may understand exactly what they are going through, or you may not understand at all. Supporting them, listening to them, and checking on them throughout their time during college can increase their mental health when done in a healthy way.