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About Bennington FAQs

Health Services FAQ

Can't find your question about Health Services? For Health Care questions, call 802-440-4431 or email Kay LaRoche, nursing supervisor, at klaroche@bennington.edu. For Billing information,call 802-440-4426 or email Administrative Assistant Suzanne Ottomanelli at sottoman@bennington.edu. Health Services fax: 802-440-4427.

In addition to the questions below, you can click here to learn more about health and wellness at Bennington.

Questions: 

 

What health services are offered on campus? Student Health Services is open 10 hours a day Monday through Friday, 8 hours on Saturday, and is staffed by a registered nurse. A doctor is available weekday mornings, and by telephone for advice regarding emergencies when Student Health Services is closed. Our doctor is Board Certified in Family Practice, and provides a broad range of services, including, but not limited to: male and female checkups and preventative services, allergy/asthma/respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, travel vaccinations and advice, diabetes management, acute and chronic gastrointestinal illnesses, skin/acne care, urinary tract disease, gynecological care, family planning, orthopedic injuries, etc. We do basic office laboratory testing, and send specimens to the local lab for analysis. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is 15 minutes from campus, and provides a wide array of specialty services and close coordination of care when necessary. All health care information and medical records are kept in strict confidence.

I have medical insurance through my parents. Do I need the school insurance? The school insurance is mandatory for all undergraduate students. It is a supplemental policy to guarantee students basic health care on campus. It has very limited benefits for any off-campus medical needs, so it would be wise to maintain your current medical insurance as well. The school insurance is billed twice a year for two six-month periods: September 1 through February 28 (or 29 if applicable) and from March 1 through August 31; billing is issued on the fall and spring term bills.

Am I permitted to register and attend classes if I have not had a physical or if I have no proof that I have had the required immunizations? No. The state of Vermont requires that each student have documentation of a tetanus vaccination within the last 10 years, and 2 MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines since the age of 12 months.

How can I get my immunization record if I can't contact the health care provider who originally gave me the immunization? Your high school should have an immunization record on file for you. If not, you can have the health care provider who does your physical take a blood specimen to determine whether you have immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus.

What if I can't get a doctor's appointment in time to meet the return date for my Health Form? We recognize that it's not always possible to get in to see your doctor immediately for a well visit. Just make an appointment as soon as possible, and return the Health Form to us by mail or fax it prior to the start of Orientation. You may also bring the completed Health Form to Health Services on the day of Orientation.

Where do I send the completed Health Form? Student Health Services, Bennington College, One College Drive, Bennington, VT 05201 or fax to 802-440-4427.

If I have special medical needs, who should I contact? Send a copy of the appropriate medical records with the Health Form. Our doctor will be made aware of the condition and either help you manage it or refer you to an appropriate local specialist if needed.

I need continued psychological care; who should I contact? Bennington College has psychological counselors and a staff psychiatrist available. You may call Counseling Services at 802-440-4451, and you may fax pertinent records.

What vaccines are required? The State of Vermont has recently issued new school entry immunization requirements, effective August 2008. All college students born after 1956 and enrolled more than half time are required to have completed the following immunizations:

  • Tetanus booster within last 10 years
  • 2 doses of measles vaccine
  • 2 doses of mumps vaccine
  • 2 doses of rubella vaccine
  • 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine
  • 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, unless student has had disease, and parents fill out a documentation form
  • 1 dose of meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine for first year students living in campus housing

If a student has not had these immunizations, or does not have official records of having had them, they will need to schedule an appointment with their local physician or health department to receive them as soon as possible. The two-dose regimens require a month between doses, and the hepatitis B series is given over six months. This is very important as the College cannot legally allow students who have not met these requirements into campus housing, or to register for classes. Despite the College's best efforts to make this clear, unfortunately several students have to be excluded each term.

The documentation forms for students who have had chickenpox and for religious exemptions can be downloaded by clicking the previous links or from the Vermont Department of Health’s website at www.healthvermont.gov. The College will also have these forms available on campus. If you have questions regarding these or other health requirements for attending Bennington College, feel free to contact Health Services at 802-440-4426.

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Bennington College         One College Drive, Bennington, Vermont 05201      802-442-5401[tel]
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