Welcome to TCNJ Student Health Services!
We hope that your time here will be healthy, happy, and intellectually stimulating. We encourage you to come see us if you have any health care needs or concerns.
Please read the following information carefully regarding health requirements.
Graduate students are subject to health requirements as a pre-requisite to attending TCNJ classes that are held on or off campus, regardless of how many course credits are taken. These requirements are mandated by New Jersey Higher Education Immunization laws and The College of New Jersey. Students who have not completed health requirements by the due date will incur registration holds and late fines.
Deadlines For Students Taking Classes On-Campus:
|
Starting Semester or Session |
Due Dates |
|
Fall Semester |
Aug 15 |
|
Winter Session |
Dec 15 |
|
Spring Semester |
Jan 15 |
|
Summer Session |
June 3 |
For students enrolled in an off-site program (e.g., N.J. Cohort, etc.):
|
Fall Semester |
Aug 15 |
|
Summer Session |
June 3 |
|
Spring Semester |
Jan 15 |
Completing and Submitting Health Forms and Requirements (applies to those under the age of 31)
All health requirements are completed in the Online Wellness Link (OWL), TCNJ’s secure student health portal. Students can log into OWL 24 hours after being assigned a TCNJ email account. Health forms are located in OWL under the tab, Forms, in the Pre-Entrance Health Requirements section. Instructions are on the home page of OWL. Completed forms, vaccination records, and other health documents are uploaded to OWL following the instructions on the Upload page in OWL. Records that are faxed, emailed, mailed, or brought in person to our office will be not be reviewed. Please allow 7 business days after you submit your records for them to be reviewed by our immunization compliance staff. Your TCNJ email account is the official method of communication and they will communicate with you using your TCNJ email address. Please monitor your TCNJ email account at least weekly for our messages and other important TCNJ notices.
TCNJ Pre-Entrance Health Requirements:
(applies to those under the age of 31)
Step One: Complete the Student Medical History form
Complete the Student Medical History form (located in OWL in the section, “Pre-Entrance Health Requirements” under “Forms”)
Step Two: Upload to OWL a copy of your Immunization Record
Information on Vaccine Requirements Graduate Students
Information on Acceptable Evidence of Immunizations
Docket app to obtain a copy of your immunization record in New Jersey
Step Three: Complete the Physician’s Evaluation for Tuberculosis form
Physicians Evaluation of Tuberculosis (only if indicated): Located in OWL in the section “Pre-Entrance Health Requirements” under “Forms”: required only if the student has answered YES to one or more of the questions on the Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Questionnaire in the Student Medical History.
Step Four: Complete the Privacy Consent Form
Located in OWL in the section, “Pre-Entrance Health Requirements” under “Forms”
Step Five: Complete the Opt-In for Text Message Form
Located in OWL in the section, “Pre-Entrance Health Requirements” under “Forms”
Late Fines and Registration Holds for Noncompliance with Health Requirement Due Dates
All students are expected to complete pre-entrance health requirements by the due date listed above.
- Late Fines: Students who have not completed health requirements by the following dates will incur nonreversible late fines as follows:
- Fall entering: August 10 ($50); October 1 (additional $50)
- Spring entering: March 1 ($50)
- Registration holds: Students who have not completed health requirements by the due date will incur a registration hold, which will prevent class registration. This hold will be released when the student completes health requirements.
The above applies unless Student Health Services has provided the student with an extension to complete health requirements, such as when spacing between certain vaccines is necessary.
Exemptions From Health Requirements
Age
Graduate students who will be 31 or older by the date your pre-entrance health requirements are due (see due dates above) are exempt from pre-entrance health requirements. However, TCNJ highly recommends that all students are age-appropriately immunized.
**Age Exemption does NOT apply to International students.
Academic
Students who have NOT been admitted to a TCNJ degree or certificate program (non-matriculated) AND are taking less than 3 course units/semester (part-time status) are exempt from immunization requirements. You must meet both criteria to qualify for exemption.
Students taking online classes are NOT exempt from pre-entrance health requirements unless their entire program is 100% online. Verification from the Office of Records & Registration is needed to confirm this before an exemption can be issued.
When a student no longer meets the exemption criteria, they become subject to TCNJ health requirements. This typically happens when a non-matriculated student taking less than 3-course units/semester enrolls full-time or is formally accepted into a degree or certificate program at TCNJ and becomes subject to health requirements.
Medical
Per N.J.A.C. 8:57-6.14, students are not required to have any vaccinations that are medically contraindicated based upon valid medical reasons as enumerated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For current ACIP immunization schedules and recommendations, including contraindications, click HERE.
To apply for a medical exemption from required vaccinations, your healthcare provider must complete the Request For Medical Exemption From Mandatory Immunization Form.
Upload the completed form to OWL by the due date for pre-entrance health requirements. All other health requirements must be submitted prior to uploading this form.
The information on the form will assist our office in determining the validity of the exemption and whether it should be accepted or rejected. Supporting medical documentation may be requested by our office and/or by local or state public health authorities.
Laboratory test reports showing immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella are acceptable in place of vaccination.
The student requesting the exemption will receive an email sent through OWL informing them of the status of their request. If approved, the student will be exempted from the specific immunization permanently (in the case of a permanent medical condition) or temporarily until such time that the student’s medical condition permits vaccination.
The College of New Jersey may temporarily exclude a student with an exemption from vaccination from classes and from participating in college-sponsored activities during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak. The decision to exclude a student with a medical exemption will be made by the College in consultation with the New Jersey Commissioner of Health.
Note that medical exemptions apply to vaccination only and not to other health requirements.
Religious
Per N.J.A.C. 8:57-6.15, a student may be considered for exemption if the student provides a written statement, signed (handwritten signature) by the student (and a parent or court-appointed legal guardian if the student has not yet reached 18 years of age), explaining HOW the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with the student’s bona fide religious tenets or practices. A general philosophical or moral exemption to the vaccination will not be sufficient for an exemption on religious grounds.
The statement must include the current date.
Upload the written statement to OWL by the due date for pre-entrance health requirements. All other health requirements must be submitted prior to uploading this document.
Laboratory test reports showing immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella are acceptable in place of vaccination.
The student requesting the exemption will receive an email sent through OWL, informing them of the status of their request. If approved, the student will be exempted from the specific immunization.
The College of New Jersey may temporarily exclude a student with an exemption from vaccination from classes and from participating in college-sponsored activities during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak. The decision to exclude a student with a medical exemption will be made by the College in consultation with the New Jersey Commissioner of Health.
Note that religious exemptions apply to vaccination only and not to other health requirements.
Contact information for questions about health requirements:
Call 609-771-2889
Email health@tcnj.edu
Resources for Disability and Mental Health Counseling
ADA Accommodation Requests
Please direct requests for accommodation for a physical or mental disability to the Accessibility Resource Center (formerly Disability Support Services) by email at arc@tcnj.edu. See the ARC website for more information.
Counseling & Prevention Services
Questions and concerns about the availability of mental health services at TCNJ can be directed to Counseling and Preventive Services. Call 609-771-2247 or by email at caps@tcnj.edu. Check out the Counseling and Prevention Services website.