Incoming Student Info - Fall 2023
Fall 2023 Incoming Student Health Forms are due June 30th, 2023.
Welcome to Barnard!
Before the start of the semester, you'll need to complete several health related forms, due in the coming weeks.
For any questions regarding your incoming student forms, please reach out to the Public Health Response Team at phrt@barnard.edu, vaccine@barnard.edu or 212-853-8175.
Please refer to the New Student Health Form site on the Public Health Response Team's (PHRT) website for all questions, concerns and guidance regarding your Incoming Student Forms. This site details the mandatory forms and how to complete them. We also strongly recommend reading through PHRT's "How to Complete Your Incoming Student Health Forms" Guide. This guide, and PHRT's website, should help answer any questions you may have. Any further questions can be routed to phrt@barnard.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Insurance
All incoming students are automatically enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan. If you are a Fall 2023 incoming student and would like to waive out of the student insurance, you must complete the waiver form located here. International students must take the College's Aetna Student Health Plan. (note: this link becomes active starting 6/13/23 through 8/25/23).
For insurance questions only, please contact Elliot Wasserman at ewasserman@barnard.edu or 212-854-8305.
Many answers to frequently asked questions about the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan and waiver can be found here.
All information regarding health insurance is located on our insurance site:
http://barnard.edu/primarycare/insurance
Incoming Student Health Forms
First, please check the New Student Health Forms page on PHRT's website.
All electronic forms are located on the Open Communicator website. You must activate your myBarnard/gBear IDs before you can access the Open Communicator website. More information on account activation can be found on the Student Computing website.
All forms are due on June 30th, 2023 to Open Communicator (bchealth.barnard.edu)
All forms must be uploaded (we do NOT accept forms via email) to Open Communicator.
Late submission of the Incoming Student Health Forms may result in housing and registration delays. No student will be allowed to register, receive a housing assignment, be allowed to check in to the Residence Halls or be on campus until we receive and approve your forms.
Yes! We recommend PHRT's guide on How to Complete your Incoming Student Health Forms.
We ask that you DO NOT contact our office regarding the status of your forms.
However, that doesn’t mean that we want to leave you in the dark! You can check if the College has received your paper forms, and reviewed and processed all of your forms by checking the Medical Clearance section of the Open Communicator website. Everything should be green and say compliant once it has been reviewed by someone at Barnard.
Below are some general notes about our review process:
- Once you submit your electronic and paper Incoming Student Health Forms, your job is done.
- We do not contact incoming students if their forms are complete, so no news is good news!
- If we do find any problems or unmet requirements we will contact the student via their personal AND Barnard email addresses. It is very important that you check your email!
- It can take up to 7 business days to process and review the Incoming Student Health Forms, especially as we near the due date, so please keep checking your personal and Barnard email and the Open Communicator website!
No, we CANNOT accept any medical information via email due to privacy concerns. All paper forms must be uploaded to Open Communicator by June 30th, 2023.
No, Barnard does not require that incoming students receive a physical exam. However, the paper-based “Incoming Student Immunization Form” must be completed and signed by a physician (MD/DO), physicians assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP/APRN/DNP). We suggest making an appointment with your health care provider for as soon as possible to ensure that you have ample time to complete the forms and if necessary, receive any vaccinations or a tuberculosis screening.
No, New York State Health Law requires that your forms be completed and signed by a physician (MD/DO), physicians assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP/APRN/DNP).
No, you must submit all of the official electronic and paper-based Barnard College Incoming Student Health Forms. We CANNOT accept any pre-existing forms or previously documented immunization histories.
For Transfer students this includes health forms from your previous university, you must submit the official Barnard forms!
If you would like to include a copy of your immunization record or any other medical history in addition to the official Barnard forms, you may attach it to the completed and signed paper-based “Incoming Student Immunization Form”.
No, your health care provider must complete and sign the Barnard College paper-based “Incoming Student Immunization Form”.
If you would like to include a copy of your immunization record or any additional records in addition to the official Barnard forms, you may attach it to the completed and signed paper-based “Incoming Student Immunization Form”.
No, we cannot accept forms that are signed by a relative, even if they are a physician, physicians assistant or nurse practitioner.
Yes! If you are 17 years old or younger at the time of filling out the Incoming Student Health Forms, you must download and print this “Minor Consent Form”. Your parent/guardian will need to complete and sign this form, and it must be uploaded to Open Communicator with your “Incoming Student Immunization Form” by June 30th, 2023.
Please reach out to the Public Health Response Team at phrt@barnard.edu, vaccine@barnard.edu or 212-853-8175.
Medical
No! The Covid-19 vaccine primary series and booster is strongly recommended, but not required for all enrolled students, including new and visiting students. The submission of your Covid-19 vaccine is part of your Incoming Student Immunization Forms under Strongly Recommended Vaccinations, but is not required for you to enroll at Barnard as of the Fall 2023 semester.
The immunizations that Barnard and New York State law require are measles, mumps and rubella. All incoming students must provide documentation of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella.
There are three ways to meet the MMR requirement:
- Two doses of MMR vaccine (see below for New York State requirements).
- Two doses of individual measles vaccine, one dose of individual mumps and one dose of individual rubella vaccine (see below for New York State requirements).
- Proof of positive measles, mumps and rubella blood titers. Positive titers mean that you have immunity to measles, mumps & rubella.
Your MMR or individual measles, mumps and rubella dates must meet the requirements below in order to be compliant with New York State public health law. If your vaccine dates do not meet the requirements, you must submit proof of positive measles, mumps and rubella titers or receive additional doses of the vaccine.
Combined MMR Vaccine:
- Dose 1: must be given no earlier than 4 days before your 1st birthday
- Dose 2: must be given at least 28 days after the first dose
Individual Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccines:
- Measles Dose 1: must be given no earlier than 4 days before your 1st birthday
- Measles Dose 2: must be given at least 28 days after the first dose
- Mumps Dose 1: must be given no earlier than 4 days before your 1st birthday
- Rubella Dose 2: must be given no earlier than 4 days before your 1st birthday
No, Barnard does not require the meningococcal meningitis vaccine but it is strongly recommended for all students.
Regardless of if you receive the vaccine, all incoming students MUST submit the electronic “Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Response Form".
No, these vaccines are strongly recommended, but not required. If you have received any of these vaccinations please have your health care provider document the dates on the “Incoming Student Immunization Form”.
All incoming students must submit the “Tuberculosis Screening Form”.
If you have ever had a documented positive tuberculin skin/blood test you must submit official documentation of:
- The initial positive tuberculin test.
- Report of a negative chest x-ray and if applicable, INH treatment plan.
- If you do not have official documentation of the initial skin/blood test AND a negative chest x-ray, you will need to get another skin or blood test and if necessary, chest x-ray.
If the answer is “YES” to ANY of the questions on the “Tuberculosis Screening Form” and you DO NOT have a history of a documented positive tuberculin skin/blood test you must submit:
- A PPD skin test from within the last 6 months or a Quantiferon Gold/T-Spot blood test from within the last 6 months.
- If the blood or skin text is positive, you must submit proof of a negative chest x-ray.
- Even if you have had BCG, if the answer is “YES” to ANY of the questions and you DO NOT have documented history of a positive tuberculin skin/blood test AND a negative chest x-ray you must submit a PPD skin test from within the last 6 months or a Quantiferon Gold/T-Spot blood test from within the last 6 months, and if necessary a chest x-ray.
Open Communicator
Open Communicator Website:
https://bchealth.barnard.edu