Health and Safety Requirements

Meningitis Policy

Effective January 1, 2012, Texas law requires that all new, entering, and transfer college students age 21 and younger must receive a vaccination or booster against bacterial meningitis. An entering student also includes a student who has had a break of enrollment of one or more fall or spring semesters. For more information, please visit the Meningitis Vaccination Requirement website.

Tuberculosis Screening

All new international, newly transferred international students, and those considered to be International by TAC §21.25(c) (formerly, HB 1403) or TEC 54.052 who were born in, resided in, or traveled to a country other than the United States, are required to have completed the screening process for tuberculosis (TB Blood testing only) prior to registering for class.  Students must complete the TB Screening Form and submit all required documentation. 

Students who are noncompliant with this policy will be blocked from registration and class attendance until they come into compliance.  The Tuberculosis Clearance Statement is only required for students with positive TB Blood test results or a history of TB treatment.  

For additional information regarding this policy, please contact Student Health Services.  International students may consult with International Student and Scholar Services.

Students in Health-related Majors

Students admitted to education and health-related programs that involve contact with patients are required to be immunized against chickenpox, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, tetanus/diphtheria, and have annual TB screening; some departments have additional immunization and testing requirements. Proof of immunization is required at the time a student begins clinical coursework. 

Some clinical facilities and school systems with which the University affiliates require that students be tested for drugs and have criminal background checks done. When this is required, students will have the screening done at their own expense. Departmental policy governs the procedures to be followed. Failure to meet the screening standards may result in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

Clinical facilities may require that students have health insurance. When this is required, students must show proof of health insurance.

Texas Woman’s University does not require HIV testing of its students; however, some agencies with which the University affiliates for clinical training may require such testing. Texas law requires that if a health care worker who is HIV positive performs exposure-prone procedures, the health care worker must notify a prospective patient of the health care worker’s seropositive status and receive the patient’s consent to perform the procedure.