Dear Loggers,

Hello from Counseling, Health & Wellness Services (CHWS)! We are excited to welcome you to campus this fall for the 2022 - 2023 academic year! Our goal this year is to help you stay healthy, well, and provide accessible medical and counseling services. We want to make sure you are able to do the things you love, and participate in the camaraderie, activities, and educational opportunities that make Puget Sound a great place to be!

Please read this email carefully for important information about fall arrival, COVID-19, and general CHWS initiatives this fall.

COVID-19 Campus Arrival Procedures

  • Before you arrive, please take a COVID-19 test 1-2 days prior to your departure for campus.  You do not need to provide proof of test results. At-home test kits or lab-based tests both fulfill this requirement.
    • If you test positive prior to departing for campus, please stay home and complete your isolation period.  Reach out to contacttracing@pugetsound.edu for more specific guidance.
  • After you arrive, please take a pooled saliva test within 5 days of arriving on campus, and continue to test once a week for the first 2 weeks of classes. You should NOT test if you have had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
    • On-campus students: Saliva test kits, antigen test kits and instructions will be distributed during residence hall check in and key pick up. Drop off your completed test kit in the drop box upstairs in Wheelock Student Center across from room 208. Students housed in double rooms should take an antigen test upon arrival in addition to saliva testing.
    • Off-campus students: Please pick up a saliva test kit from the table outside of room 208. Please complete your test and then drop it off at the drop box.
    • Pooled results are available within 24–48 hours.
    • The goal of saliva testing is to identify positive cases and safely isolate them in order to prevent an outbreak.  Isolation space is available on campus for students who test positive.
  • If you stayed on campus this summer, please start pooled saliva testing the week of August 22, and continue to test once a week for the first 2 weeks of classes. You should NOT test if you have had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

Communicable Disease Outbreak Prevention

  • Our focus this year is preventing outbreaks and increasing health and wellness outreach on campus. Preventing outbreaks helps maintain a busy, vibrant, and community-centered campus experience.
  • Once you arrive on campus, please be aware of actions you can take to prevent outbreaks:
    • Currently, masking during indoor, group activities is not required, but is strongly recommended. Our COVID-19 Dashboard and COVID-19 Mitigation Action Plan will help us determine if/when masks become required throughout the fall.
    • If you feel sick, stay home from class and other activities. Take precautions such as masking, getting tested for COVID-19, and scheduling an appointment to see a healthcare provider if needed.
    • If you test positive for COVID-19 with an at-home antigen test or at a testing site off campus, please email contacttracing@pugetsound.edu to inform us of your test result. 
    • COVID-19 information and FAQs are available on the website to learn more!
    • Stay up-to-date on your vaccines–keep an eye out for our fall flu vaccine clinics in October!
    • Stay tuned for Wellness Wednesday events which will focus on fun ways to stay healthy in college.

CHWS Services

  • It’s important to recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our mental and physical health in different ways. CHWS is here to support your mental and physical health by providing medical, counseling, and referral services on campus. 
    • We want to see you! See our website for a list of services we offer, and attend our first Wellness Wednesday to learn more about CHWS!
    • Update your vaccine records and health history in your CHWS portal
    • Schedule an Appointment - To schedule an appointment for medical or counseling services just walk in or call our front office at (253) 879-1555. Scheduling for fall appointments begins August 29, 2022.
    • A Recommendation and Referral appointment is the first step towards accessing counseling services at Puget Sound. Simply schedule your appointment through our front office and we will help to get you connected.
    • Groups are an essential component of our wellness programing. Stay tuned for our new group offerings by checking out our Groups page on our CHWS website in late August.
    • Check out TAO. TAO offers over 150 brief, effective, educational sessions covering 50+ topics and skills related to mental health, wellness and substance use issues.
    • Follow CHWS on Instagram @chwspugetsound for updates!

It’s going to be a great year, Loggers! See you soon.

Best wishes,

Dr. Kelly Brown, Director of Counseling, Health & Wellness Services
Dr. Erin Potts, Psychologist & Clinical Training Director
Libby Baldwin, ARNP, Medical Director

& and the rest of the CHWS Team