The Role of Students in Formulating Health Policy on Campus

1. The Role of Students in Formulating Health Policy on Campus Wobo Bekwelem, MD, MPH Heather Horton, DDS Co-chairs, Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) University of Minnesota

2. OUTLINE • Overview of University of Minnesota SHAC • History of University of Minnesota SHAC • SHAC Tasks • Typical meeting • Importance of student involvement in campus policy • Requirements for successful policy proposals • SHAC Accomplishments • Boynton Health Service supporting SHAC • Motivating SHAC

3. Overview of UMN SHAC Membership SHAC is a student advisory committee consisting of 20 students members; both undergraduate and graduate student membership. • 16 members representing constituency groups • Resident's Hall Association • Student Cultural Centers • Disabled Student Cultural Center • Intercollegiate Athletics • Queer Student Cultural Center • Minnesota Student Association (MSA) • Pan-Hellenic Council • Council of Graduate Students (COGS) • Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) • Center for Health Interdisciplinary Programs • Minnesota International Student Association (MISA) • 4 at-large members • 1-2 chairs or co-chairs

4. Logistics • Meetings held every 1st and 3rd Thursdays as a group • Twice a month as co-chairs to set agenda for group meetings Bylaws • Bylaws are reviewed annually and any changes are voted upon. • Bylaws set the standard for membership, involvement, and voting protocols

5. History of UMN SHAC • SHAC has been in existence at the University of Minnesota since 1990 • Policy Advising vs. Peer Education • Driven by potential controversy • Abortions on Campus (procedure and pills) • Blood Donations • Selling Tobacco Products at Student Union • Intentional set-up, different from other student groups

6. Tasks • Present student concerns and suggestions to the administration at Boynton Health Service and the University. • Participate in policy formation, program review, and program development at Boynton Health Service. • Provide input into the formal development of the student service fees request, approve its final form, and participate in the presentation of the request to the student service fees committee. • Prioritize health care and health education issues for students. • Assist in improving and enhancing existing services and proposing new ones.

7. Typical UMN SHAC meeting • Agenda is set week prior to SHAC meeting with Advisor and co-chairs • Administrative Support present at every SHAC meeting • Director of Boynton, COO, Director of Health Insurance Benefits, Fiscal Advisor, SHAC Advisor • Lunch served 15 minutes before hour-long meeting • Introductions of any guests and/or new members • Action items • Constituency concerns • New issues • Adjourn

8. Why involve students in campus health policy formulation? • Leaders of tomorrow • Great new ideas spring form this group • Highly motivated and eager to make an impact • They are the reason for everything we do on our campuses; so why not?

9. Requirements for successful health policy proposal by students • working with policy that directly affects students ensures high interest amongst representatives • success of programs and policy changes is dependent upon wanting positive results, and having strong support from the administration • monitoring and assessing the issues that affect the health of the university community often results in great SHAC initiatives • It’s okay to start small!

10. Accomplishments Successful recommendations/policy changes/action items, both to BHS, UMN and Nationally. All UMN SHAC recommendations made to Boynton have been implemented. • Extended clinic hours one day per week; • Alcohol-sponsorship policy to the Vice-President; • Student Development and Athletics; • Co-payments for mental health services; • Spending capital reserves to connect Boynton by tunnel to Basic Sciences Building and Coffman Memorial Union; • Abortion policy on campus; • University-Sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan; • Development and presentation of student fees request. • Implementation of a campus wide Smoking Ban (action item) • Recommendation to the NCAA to not hold NCAA-sponsored events at schools that do not have a comprehensive tobacco free policy (including outdoor air)

11. Extended Hours of Operation • Students voiced concerns about clinic hours of operation • Survey administered to generate campus opinions on operating hours of clinic • Areas of need recognized • Later hours • Saturday hours • Lunch time hours • SHAC voted to recommend extended hours • Boynton implemented extended hours in fall of 2009

12. Student Service Fees • Annual approval of Boynton’s budget • Presentation of the student service fees request • Background • Explanation of operating costs • Services • Beneficial changes • Detailed breakdown of total fee request • Good track record of approval by the committee

13. Year round fees • Students voiced concerns about potential lapses in coverage • Concept of year-round fees created • Coverage through the summer months regardless of enrollment status • Total dollar amount of fee request remained unchanged • Rejected the first two years it was proposed and approved the following year

14. Insurance • Boynton Request for Proposal (RFP) for Student Insurance carrier • SHAC members served on committee and helped to increase student benefits while keeping cost down • Concerns brought forward by SHAC members from constituencies • HPV and other vaccines • Gender Reassignment • Mental Health Co-pays • Dependents • International Students • New sub-committee for Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP)

15. Stake in the ground • Director of Boynton brought to SHAC a goal: • NO alcohol related deaths or severe violence • Has asked SHAC to work on coming up with ideas to help reach this goal

16. Smoke Free Policy • Brought up as action item in Spring of 2008. • Voted in favor to send request to the President of the University to have a comprehensive smoke free policy including outdoor air • Work group was formed by vice-provost for student affairs • Two members of SHAC served on committee • Surveys were administered • Consultations • Open forums • Recommendation sent to the President

17. Smoke Free Policy (cont.) • Proposed smoke free policy to NCAA after policy was not acted upon by president • Recommended that no NCAA sponsored competitions (including regional and national competitions) be held on campuses that do not have comprehensive smoke free policies (including outdoor air) • Support for NCAA policy from ACHA, Student Athlete Advisory Council • Social concerns committee requested a formal campus-wide smoke free resolution from SHAC • SHAC involved in Minneapolis smoke free parks policy passage

18. Motivating SHAC • Motivation and involvement increases with feeling that opinions and recommendations are being considered and used • Relationship with administration gains trust and respect among both parties. • Collaboration on policies that directly affect students ensures the voice of both the administration and the student body are taken into consideration • Voting on recommendations related to both the Health Service and the University

19. Motivating SHAC (cont.) • Success of programs and changes is dependent upon wanting positive results • Monitor and assess the issues that affect the health of the University of Minnesota community. • Working with concrete issues and concrete solutions so SHAC has something to show for all of the hard work put in! • Administration present at SHAC meetings, providing suggestions, technical support and implementing SHAC recommendations • Lunch is provided at every meeting!!!

20. Acknowlegements • SHAC, University of Minnesota • Dr. Ed Ehlinger • Dave Golden • Carol Uchal • The entire BHS leadership and Staff

21. Thanks for listening!  Questions? Comments?