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

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

Overview of UMN SHAC

MembershipSHAC 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

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

History of UMN SHAC

SHAC has been in existence at the University of Minnesota since 1990

Policy Advising vs. Peer EducationDriven by potential controversy

Abortions on Campus (procedure and pills)Blood DonationsSelling Tobacco Products at Student Union

Intentional set-up, different from other student groups

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.

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

Why involve students in campus health policy formulation?

Leaders of tomorrowGreat new ideas spring form this groupHighly motivated and eager to make an

impactThey are the reason for everything we

do on our campuses; so why not?

Requirements for successful health policy proposal by students

working with policy that directly affects students ensures high interest amongst representativessuccess of programs and policy changes is dependent upon wanting positive results, and having strong support from the administrationmonitoring and assessing the issues that affect the health of the university community often results in great SHAC initiativesIt’s okay to start small!

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)

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

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

Student Service Fees

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

Base Fee Year Round Fee

Annual Cost

$109.63 X 2 = $219.26

$116.75 X 2 = $233.50

Months Covered

9 12

Monthly Cost

$219.26 / 9 = $24.36

$233.50 / 12 = $19.46

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)

Stake in the ground

Director of Boynton brought to SHAC a goal:NO alcohol related deaths or severe

violenceHas asked SHAC to work on coming up with

ideas to help reach this goal

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

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

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

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!!!

Acknowlegements

SHAC, University of MinnesotaDr. Ed EhlingerDave GoldenCarol UchalThe entire BHS leadership and Staff

Thanks for listening!

Questions?

Comments?