Health and Wellness

Your mental and physical well-being are fundamental to your ability to do well academically. This page is your source for resources available to help you be your best self.

The Counseling Center

Prioritizing mental health for students on campus.

ESF offers short-term mental health counseling on campus. Our professionally trained licensed therapists are available by appointment for solutions-focused counseling.

View Services

Medical Care Resources

All full-time in-person students are required to have health insurance — either through their family’s plan or one affiliated with ESF. This ensures students can access health care services when needed, and that ESF students have access to an affordable, cost-effective private insurance plan with benefits that have been carefully reviewed and approved by the College.

Please note: ESF does not have a health clinic on campus, and ESF students are not eligible to use health services at Syracuse University. Below is a list of off-campus health services available. 

ESF provides transportation through Uber for residential students to to access off-campus medical appointments for allergy shots, blood work, and urgent care visits.

Fitness Center Access

The Barnes Center at SU

ESF students have access to SU’s health, wellness, and recreation complex that serves as a hub for student wellness.

Features: fitness centers, climbing wall, esports, multi-activity court, weight room, basketball courts, dance studios, table-tennis courts, two pools, showers and changing facilities, and locker rooms.

Learn more about the Barnes Center

Insurance Requirement for Students

All full-time in-person students are required to have health insurance – either through their family’s plan or one affiliated with ESF. All full time domestic students are eligible to participate in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Students are also eligible to enroll in a voluntary dental insurance plan. Policy details and enrollment deadlines are available below and also on our partner’s website.

HF&C Website

Immunization Requirements

New York State law, SUNY policy, and Syracuse University policy direct the MMR, meningococcal meningitis, and COVID-19 requirements for ESF students.

MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)

All students born after January 1, 1957 who are registered for six (6) or more credits must demonstrate proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella. Students are required to upload their MMR documentation through the ESF Wellness Portal before the first day of new student orientation. 

Any student who believes they should be exempted from the MMR requirements must apply for and be granted an exemption by uploading their request and supporting documentation through the ESF Wellness Portal before the first day of Orientation.

Meningococcal meningitis

All students must acknowledge that they have received information about meningitis vaccinations and have made an informed decision to receive or decline an immunization against meningitis. Students are required to upload their meningococcal meningitis documentation through the ESF Wellness Portal before the first day of new student orientation. 

COVID-19

Vaccination against COVID-19 is not required by New York State or SUNY. 

Login Instructions

1. Open a new Incognito window in Chrome and enter this link: esf.medicatconnect.com
2. It will prompt you to log in using Microsoft. Use the same credentials used for your student portal. This is your ESF ID followed by "@esf.edu" and your ESF password.
3. After you enter your credentials, it will queue DUO (our Multi-Factor authentication). You will have to install DUO as well.
4. After you have logged in, instructions for the required Immunizations and Forms will be on the landing page.

Wellness Portal

Opioid Overdose Assistance

All resident assistants and live-in professional staff of Centennial Hall have been trained in and have access to Naloxone for the treatment of a suspected opioid overdose. Additionally, several staff in Student Affairs are trained in the use of Naloxone (Narcan) to treat a suspected opioid overdose.

Drug-Free Schools & Colleges

Enacted in 1989, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) has been instrumental in shaping substance abuse prevention efforts at institutions of higher education. The DFSCA requires colleges that receive federal funding implement drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs for their campuses and notify members of their community of these initiatives and resources available.

Biennial Review for 2022 - 2024

Fall 2024 Annual Notice