Health Services

Health Services creates a culture of care, so you feel cared for as an individual! The staff is committed to encouraging students to collaborate and engage in the services provided. We want you to feel you have inherent value and the right to be treated with dignity. We enhance the educational process by helping to change or modify health-related barriers, promoting optimal wellness and educating students to make informed decisions about health-related concerns.

Our services are professional and confidential.

Services Offered

• Assessment and treatment of illness and injury
• Emergency care
• Referrals and appointments made to appropriate health care providers, such as physicians, dentists, optometrists, and counselors
• Over-the-counter medications and basic medical supplies, free of charge
• Loan of special equipment, including crutches, cold/heat packs, and vaporizers
• Medical treatments and monitoring, such as blood pressure screenings and weight checks
• Suture removal
• Wound care
• Ear irrigation
• CLIA Waived lab tests free of charge
• Injections by request, with client-provided medication, with the exception of allergy injections
• Assistance with billing and insurance questions
• Free influenza vaccine every fall to students, faculty, and staff

Counseling Services

BVU's Counseling Services are offered free of charge to our Storm Lake campus students. Appointments can be conveniently made through our online portal. Our mission is to enhance the academic environment and to promote the wellbeing of our students through mental health services. 

Counseling Services are professional and confidential.

Services Offered

• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Consultations, assessments, and treatments
• Off-campus referrals
• Support groups
• Crisis Services Educational Programming

If you need emergency mental health assistance, please use one or more of the following resources:

• Call Campus Security at 712.749.2500
• Call 911
• In a situation of imminent harm, call or have a family member or friend call your local hospital's emergency department. 
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255
• Text the Crisis Text Line by texting START to 741741 

Freshman and Transfer Students

Please submit your completed Student Health Form including current immunization record and insurance card front/back by Aug. 1 if entering Fall semester and Dec. 15 if entering Spring semester. This form must be received and immunization status approved before you are permitted to complete the validation process.

Waiver Statement

This waiver statement is required by all students at Buena Vista University every year. This statement indicates that you have your own health insurance and DO NOT want to be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan offered by Buena Vista University. 

Required Health Insurance

All full-time students (12 credit hours or more) and/or students residing on campus are required to have health insurance. If you have health insurance coverage and do not wish to be enrolled in the policy offered by Buena Vista University, complete the waiver form. The cost of the policy offered by BVU will be added to the student's registration fees if the parent/guardian or the student does not return the waiver by the date indicated on the form. Any inquiries, please contact the Business Office at 712.749.2041 or Health Services at 712.749.1238.