The health and wellness of every Grinnell College student are of the utmost importance. Because of this, the College has several health compliance requirements that all incoming students are required to meet. All first-year students should complete the required health forms and submit them to Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) by July 15, 2024. SHAW understands that some students will not be able to complete everything before the July 15 deadline due to insurance and immunization availability. Students will not be eligible to register for spring semester classes until all forms and immunization requirements are submitted and completed. Upon arrival to campus, any student who does not have their health requirements completed will be required to meet with a SHAW provider to discuss and schedule any missing requirements.
If your doctor’s office does not have a required immunization, we suggest contacting your local public health department or local pharmacy. International students whose countries do not provide certain immunizations will have an opportunity to schedule needed vaccines upon arrival. Please message the nursing team through the health portal with questions or concerns.
COVID-19 Vaccination Encouraged: Grinnell College strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination and booster for all students.
Exemptions: If you request to waive your required immunizations based on a medical or religious exemption, please download and complete one of the below forms. Email SHAW the completed documentation to officially submit this request. Please note that these exemption requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with SHAW’s medical director.
Students will not be able to access the health portal until they receive their official Grinnell College email and password. As we know some will want to start working on their requirements early, feel free to download the PDF of Grinnell College Student Health Requirements. Note that information will have to be entered and/or uploaded into the health portal before a student is considered compliant.
Steps to Take Before Your Appointment with Your Health Care Provider
Complete the online Student Health History and the Tuberculosis Risk Screening.
Download and print the Clinical Tuberculosis Assessment by Health Care Provider form, if applicable.
Review vaccine requirements and compare them to your official immunization record so you may obtain the needed immunizations at your physical exam appointment.
Your official immunization record may be obtained from your primary care provider, public health office, pharmacy, or your school system.
Please schedule your physical exam early and start all vaccination series so all requirements are met prior to arriving in Grinnell. Student Athletes: due to NCAA requirements, you must have a physical exam after April 1, 2023.
You will need to have your Duo-registered mobile device or hardware token in your possession when logging in. After entering your Grinnell credentials, a Duo authentication screen will appear. If you are using a mobile device, you can select “Send Me a Push” or “Enter a Passcode.” If sending a push, a confirmation will be sent to your registered mobile device for approval. If entering a passcode, you can get the code by opening the Duo mobile app on your registered device, or by using a hardware token. Authenticate via DUO on the device (mobile phone or hardware token) that you use for logging into your Grinnell College account.
Confirm your date of birth. Please use the drop-down arrows to select your birth month, then birth day, then type your birth year. Click “Proceed”.
You are now logged in. The left side contains the navigation selection menu. Click “Medical Clearances”
The medical clearance list appears on the right side of the portal window. Items required for clearance are listed. Once an item has been reviewed by our staff, the status will change to Compliant. If an item has a status of Not Compliant and the Details state Awaiting Review, the item has not been reviewed by our staff.
If you have trouble logging in, please contact the Grinnell College Technology Services Desk at 641-269-4901 or email ITS.
Required Items
Detailed instructions and information about health requirements.
Student Health History — Please enter all known allergies, medications, medical conditions, family history, hospitalizations, and surgeries/procedures. If there is no applicable history for any section, select the green “No” button in that section. After you have entered a response for each section, click the red “Done” button. All sections must have an entry in order to be compliant.
SHAW Consent for Treatment — Read this form carefully and check the box next to “I acknowledge and agree to the following:” prior to clicking “Submit Final.” If you do not agree or have questions about the Consent to Treat form, please click “Cancel” and contact SHAW directly.
Tuberculosis Risk Screening — Please answer all screening questions and click “Submit”. Based on your answers, further compliance items may appear on your Medical Clearances Menu. Note: Check your medical clearance list for additional requirements.
Paper Forms
Physical Exam — Download and print the Physical Exam form (PDF). Take this form to the health care provider who is completing your required physical examination. All sections of the form must be completed and the form signed and dated by your health care provider. Upload the completed form within the Physical Exam section on the medical clearance list. Note: All physical examinations must be completed within one year of the first day of classes. (Aug. 29, 2023–Aug. 24, 2024) UNLESS you are a student athlete. Because of NCAA regulations, students participating in a sport must have their physicals completed after April 1, 2024.
Clinical Tuberculosis Assessment by Health Care Provider — If this appears on your medical clearance list, download and print this form. Take the Clinical Tuberculosis Assessment by Health Care Provider form to your health care provider for required tuberculosis testing. After all requirements on the form are complete, the form is signed and dated by your health care provider. Upload the completed form within the Tuberculosis Clinical Assessment second on the medical clearance list. Note: If you do not see this item on your medical clearance list after you have answered the Tuberculosis Risk Screening, it does not apply to you.
Minor Consent — This form will be required of all students who are under the age of 18 as of Aug. 1, 2024. Download and print the Minor Consent form (PDF); have your parent/legal guardian review, sign, and date the form; once complete upload the form. Note: If you do not see this item on your medical clearance list, it does not apply to you.
Items That Require Online Entry and Corresponding Documents Uploaded
The following items require dates and/or results entered by you. In order for staff to verify the information that is entered, a corresponding document needs to be uploaded (i.e: official immunization record, laboratory results, etc.). A PDF version of items required for medical clearance is available.
Immunization Record — Upload the official immunization record provided to you by your medical provider, public health office, pharmacy, or school records.
Measles — Enter the two dates that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. The first dose must be administered after 12 months of age to be considered valid.
Mumps — Enter the two dates that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. The first dose must be administered after 12 months of age to be considered valid.
Rubella — Enter the two dates that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. The first dose must be administered after 12 months of age to be considered valid.
Meningococcal A,C,W,Y — Enter the date that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. The most recent dose must be within the last 5 years. (ie: Menveo, Menactra, etc.)
Serogroup B Meningococcal — Enter the two dates that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. This immunization is typically given as a two-dose series with vaccines administered at 0 and 1 month (Bexsero) or 0 and 6 months (Trumenba) depending on the brand of vaccine. If you start the series with one brand your second dose must be with the same brand.
Tetanus-diphtheria — Enter the date that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. The most recent dose must be within the last 10 years.
Varicella — Enter the two dates that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record. Each dose must be administered after 12 months of age to be considered valid.
COVID — Not required, but strongly encouraged
Enter the dates that you received this immunization. Dates are located on your official immunization record or your official COVID vaccine card. We encourage you to obtain this vaccination as soon as possible. If you have limited or no access to vaccination and would like to obtain this vaccine, Grinnell College can help facilitate inoculation upon arrival.
Additional Information
If a student falls ill and is going to miss class, it is important that they email their faculty directly. We also encourage the student to call SHAW and connect with one of our SHAW providers who can help guide their care moving forward. We offer a variety of services and are here to support them during their time of need. SHAW does not offer faculty notification for minor illness like a cold. However, for more serious illnesses like strep, mono, or flu SHAW can obtain a release and alert faculty of this illness. A good guideline is if a student may miss for more than one day but less than a week, SHAW will send a notification.
For illness longer than a week, Disability Resources can help put accommodations in place. Students can reach out to their office directly or can be referred from SHAW. If a student is struggling with their academics while they are ill, they may wish to reach out to Academic Advising for additional support. This department knows the academic options and works with faculty and students regularly to ensure student success.
We understand that occasionally, parents or legal guardians may want to speak directly with one of the SHAW providers regarding their student’s health or mental health status. All students must sign the Authorization to Release/Exchange Information before any protected health information can be released to anyone, including parents/guardians. This form must be signed before a SHAW provider or staff member can discuss your student’s health information with you. We realize that this is sometimes inconvenient, however your student’s privacy is our priority.
This form cannot legally be signed prior to an appointment with a SHAW provider or staff member. This form can only be signed at the time of appointment or for appointments that have occurred in the past. The form will stay valid for one year unless specified otherwise or revoked in writing.
Please note if a student is hospitalized for a serious condition or injury, Student Affairs would be the department that would make the student’s emergency contact aware of the situation if appropriate.
I am having trouble logging in to the Portal.
Please contact the Grinnell College Technology Services Desk at 641-269-4901 or email ITS.
I'm unable to see a doctor for an exam and/or finish my immunizations before the deadline.
You aren't alone! We know that many students may have to get an exam closer to arrival at Grinnell College. Students can upload information at any time. The largest concern is getting it uploaded and reviewed before the hold slips are printed. Any student who doesn't have their forms uploaded and reviewed by a certain date (this date is decided closer to NSO) will have a slip printed and placed in their mailbox. These students must meet with a SHAW provider to get this form physically stamped before registering for classes. If you know you will have to get an exam or vaccine after the deadline of July 15, please message a provider on the portal. We will try to limit what reminders we send you based on these communications.
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