Counseling and Health Services is designed to make it easy for Hamline students to ask for help.
“Part of our job is recognizing it is the first time a student is navigating the healthcare system, for mental or physical health, on their own,” says Jen Vaupel, director of health services.
During the 2025-26 academic year, the office recorded 1,573 counseling appointments and 736 health visits. In this Q&A, Vaupel explains the services students can access, what confidentiality means and how to make an appointment.
Question: What is Counseling and Health Services?
Vaupel: Counseling and Health Services is a combined office where we offer medical and counseling services to students. We intentionally take a holistic approach because there is a lot of crossover between physical and mental health. Our offices and waiting rooms are combined so there's no stigma and students can just come see us for whatever they need.
Question: What kind of support and services does Counseling and Health Services offer?
Vaupel: We offer a variety of health services, many of which are similar to what you'd receive at your primary care clinic or your doctor's office at home.
We offer reproductive health, STI testing, pregnancy tests, birth control, sports physicals and sick visits. If you have a fever, haven't been feeling well, think you have a sore throat, the flu or COVID, come see us and we can check you out.
We also do lab tests and provide prescriptions. We can help with some mental health medications and discuss mental health needs.
On the counseling side, counselors treat a variety of mental health concerns. Some of the most common concerns include anxiety, depression, trouble with roommates or friends, stress related to home, and stress related to school. If we can’t provide the care, Counseling and Health Services can refer students to an outside provider.
Question: Who is eligible to use the services, and how much does it cost?
Vaupel: Graduate students and undergraduates are eligible to use health services at Hamline University. If you’re a full-time undergraduate student, there's no charge for provider visits. These services are covered with tuition and fees. If you're a part-time undergraduate student, an Online Degree Completion (ODC) student, or a graduate student, you can pay a fee per semester or per year. There are no copays, deductibles or visit limits. There may be a charge for labs or medication.
Question: How can students make an appointment and is it confidential?
Vaupel: We're open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for students. We’re closed during lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Students can make an appointment through the student portal, call us at 651-523-2204 or visit us in the basement of Manor Hall to make an appointment in-person.
Appointments are confidential. If a student is over 18, they can be seen without us telling their parents, professors or anyone else. The only exception is if we have concerns about the student’s safety at that moment. If that happens, we would discuss our concerns with the student and a plan for their safety.
Question: How quickly can a student make an appointment at the campus clinic?
Vaupel: For health services, we usually have appointments available the same day or next day. If you check the portal and don't see an appointment, but need to be seen that day, give us a call and we'll figure out how to get you in. For counseling, students can usually get an appointment within a week, especially at the beginning of the semester. As it gets later in the semester, there may be short waitlists for counseling.
Question: What is something about Counseling and Health Services that might surprise students or that they may not realize is available to them?
Vaupel: Students might not realize the variety of services we offer. When you come in the medical clinic, it looks very similar to your clinic at home. We offer many of those same services and have physician associates and a physician on staff. We are not the same as the nurse’s office in high school; we can do much more.
On the counseling side, there are four doctoral-level counselors who have all been here for 15 years or more. They have extensive experience working with college students and understand the variety of needs students may have. We also offer group counseling. This semester, there are two groups being offered: Social Life Unlocked and Stress and Anxiety Support Group. Students can make an appointment for a screening with a counselor if they’re interested in participating. The screening is typically a quick 30-minute visit.
Question: What is one piece of advice you’d give students for taking care of their mental and physical health and making the most of Counseling and Health Services?
Vaupel: Be comfortable asking for help and advocating for yourself. Don't be afraid to come to our office, reach out, and ask for what you need so you can get the support and resources available to you. And for your overall mental and physical health, eat well, get enough sleep and connect with others.
Question: What would you say to students who are hesitant to reach out because they
don’t think their problem or concern is serious enough to make an appointment?
Vaupel: We know that students can be hesitant to reach out. It's OK to come to the clinic in Manor Hall and ask questions. We've probably heard it before, so don't think that you're the only one experiencing it. Ask for help and ask for what you need.