Wellness

Your health is essential to achieving your goals at UDC Law. Access to health care and adequate health insurance are important to your health. Without adequate coverage, unexpected expenses could alter your future dramatically.

Student Health Insurance Plan

All students enrolled at UDC Law are required to have adequate health insurance to provide coverage for medical and mental health care needs in case of an illness. Every year, students are automatically charged for enrollment in the university sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) once registered for classes.

SHIP is a comprehensive, high value plan. To review the full list of SHIP benefits, check out the plan brochure at firststudent.com. To learn about Health Insurance Marketplace plans available, please visit healthcare.gov.

Eligible students who can demonstrate they have other health insurance that meets the university’s waiver criteria may request that the requirement to enroll in the SHIP be “waived.”

Waiver Criteria

UDC’s criteria for adequate health insurance are designed to assure that all students have access to quality, timely, confidential and affordable medical and mental health care and are protected against costs that could undermine their education, financial or personal wellbeing.

Students are required to purchase the SHIP unless they can demonstrate that they have an alternate U.S.-based insurance plan that meets the criteria to waive the SHIP. To learn about UDC’s required criteria for adequate health insurance, please visit UDC Health Services – Waiver Criteria. The criteria are subject to change each academic year.

Please be advised that submission of a waiver form is not an automatic approval. Students wishing to waive their insurance should visit firststudent.com to submit a waiver form during the designated waiver period for the semester in which they start at the university and every fall semester. Once a student has taken action to waive or enroll in the SHIP during an academic year, they are not required to take any action again until the next fall.

Immunization Requirement

For a complete list of immunizations required, please visit UDC Health Services – Immunizations.  

International Students

International students should also visit UDC Health Services – International Students. 

Contacting Health Services

For more information about Health Services, please visit UDC Health Services or call (202) 274-5030. 

The University has taken the necessary steps, precautions, and modifications to operate the Law School in a manner consistent with protecting the public health and safety of the entire UDC Community by reducing risks of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Please visit COVID-19 Protocols for more information. 

The UDC Counseling and Wellness Center is available to promote psychological wellbeing that helps students reach their academic, personal and relational goals. The Counseling and Wellness Center works to help students address any issues that may be interfering with students’ wellbeing or success. Services are provided by trained professionals and are fully confidential. 

Students receive free professional assistance in managing depression and anxiety and other mental health disorders, learning about themselves, creating healthy relationships, developing life coping skills and improving decision-making skills. Essentially, the counseling services are provided to help students address any personal, emotional or psychological issues that pose a barrier to their success so that students can achieve their full potential. Personal counseling and mental health services are provided on an individualized basis, and the student and counselor create treatment goals together. 

Students frequently visit the Counseling and Wellness Center to work through issues such as: 

• Stress management
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Feeling “stuck”
• Self-defeating patterns
• Relationship issues
• Family Problems
• Self-defeating patterns
• Self-esteem
• Trauma
• Identity
• Grief
• Anger and hostility
• Procrastination
• Difficulties adjusting

The Counseling and Wellness Center offers individualized services to help students address their concerns in a supportive and collaborative manner. Services include a single session (following consultation session), short-term therapy, insight-oriented therapy, biweekly counseling and consultation.

For more information and to request an appointment, please visit UDC Counseling and Wellness Center.

Crisis Line

The Counseling and Wellness Center also offers telephone crisis support for UDC students after hours. If you would like to speak to a Crisis Counselor on evenings, weekends and holidays, call (202) 274.6000 and press option #1 for urgent assistance. 

WellTrack  

Check out WellTrack, an interactive self-help therapeutic resource that can help address stress, anxiety, depression and more. Download the WellTrack App or visit UDC WellTrack to get started. You must use your UDC e-mail address to gain free access.

The DC Bar Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) offers free, strictly confidential mental health and wellbeing services to law students in D.C. who plan to apply to the D.C. Bar. 

LAP services are free, strictly confidential and available via teletherapy or in person by appointment. Services include:  

• Evaluation and short-term counseling with licensed mental health professional
• Referral to appropriate community resources and other providers
• Support Groups
• Consultations (i.e., concerns of a colleague, or family/friends)
• Educational programming, workshops, CLEs and trainings
• Bar Prep Support Group
• Volunteer mentoring and support

To speak with a LAP counselor or schedule an intake appointment call (202) 347-3131 or email LAP@dcbar.org.

The Mindfulness In Law Society (MILS) Student Division seeks to improve the mental health and wellbeing of law students across the nation by connecting and supporting individual students and student groups interested in contemplative practices. MILS offers two weekly guided virtual mediations that are appropriate for all experience levels. Whether you are an individual student hoping to create a community through meditation or are part of an existing student organization, MILS is here to support your growth. As a member of the MILS Student Division you can connect and network with a community of legal professionals who care deeply about mental health and work/life balance.  Learn more about the MILS Student Division at their website or reach out via email at mils.studentdivision@gmail.com.

UDC Fresh Food Pantry

With the mission of leading the fight on campus against student food insecurities, the UDC Fresh Food Pantry’s guiding principles include linking students to additional resources (internally and externally), empowering students to make choices and helping to remove barriers to retention.

The UDC Fresh Food Pantry is open each semester for enrolled UDC Law students. Services are free. For more information about the UDC Fresh Food Pantry and to access services, please visit the UDC Student Food Pantry page.

Additional Food & Nutrition Resources

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 15 federal nutrition assistance programs including WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meals. For information about each program, please visit USDA Food and Nutrition. 

Download the LiveSafe Mobile Safety App.

The LiveSafe Mobile safety app enables two-way communication between students/staff and the UDC Police Emergency Communications Center. Users can share information – anonymously if they choose – via text, photo and video directly from their smartphones.

• Access UDC resources: Have fast access to important information, including phone numbers and emergency procedures
• Share information with UDC Police: Send safety info and concerns. Attach a photo, video or audio file. Send anonymously if you prefer.
• Know what’s around you: See where important safety areas are located and where nearby incidents have occurred
• Get safety alerts: Receive important, timely alerts from UDC Police.
• Virtual Escorts. Get home safely and help your friends: Use SafeWalk to virtually walk your friends home by watching them move along a map in real time.

Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one? You’re not alone. The Veterans Crisis Line is here for you 24/7, 365 days a year to offer confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. The Veterans Crisis Line serves Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members and those who support them. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1.  Chat online at the Veterans Crisis Line site or text 838255.   

Please visit UDC Health Services Helpful Resources to find additional health and wellness resources.