Additional Charges 2017-2018

Direct Charge Policy

SMU permits students to have purchases from the SMU Bookstore charged directly to their miscellaneous student accounts. Charges are billed monthly and are due on the date specified on the bill. Students with outstanding balances on their miscellaneous account will be charged 1.5 percent monthly on the past due balance. Students who have an outstanding balance during their tenure at SMU may lose the privilege to use direct charges from the SMU Bookstore. Students with repeated delinquencies on the account and/or returned checks will lose the privilege for the remainder of their matriculation at SMU.

The mission of the SMU Health Service is to provide quality, caring, cost effective and convenient ambulatory healthcare and health education services in association with other university departments that promote lifestyles and enhance academic productivity leading to satisfying and rewarding college experiences.

Beginning in fall 2013, a new fee for health services was charged to the student tuition account. The fee is mandatory for all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the Dallas and Plano campuses, and is separate from any mandatory insurance costs.

For each term (fall and spring), the fee is:

• $100 per term for full-time undergraduates
• $50 per term for part-time undergraduates
• $50 per term for all graduate students

This fee is only assessed to students who do not reside in a residence hall. Otherwise, this fee is incorporated in the student's rent.

 The fee allows the University to enhance health care facilities and services for students, including increased access to specialists and mental health counselors.

It is important to note that students also are required to maintain health insurance to cover the costs of specialty care, prescriptions, emergency care, inpatient care, and other off-campus health services. This requirement can be met either by purchasing the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or an alternative insurance plan that has comparable benefits.

All SMU students paying tuition and fees, including the Health Services Fee, are eligible for the following services at no additional cost, and are distinct from those covered by SHIP or a student's private health insurance. Students who are in programs that do not charge fees, including the general student fee and the new Health Services Fee, can pay at the time of service.

Primary care medical services at the Health Center at no additional cost, including:

• Medical appointments during weekday hours
• Access to convenient pharmacy on the premises
• Influenza vaccinations

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), including:

• Psychological evaluation and short-term therapy
• Initial psychiatric medication evaluation
• 24-hour crisis on-call services

Health Education programs, including:

• Alcohol and other drug evaluation and education
• Nutrition counseling and education

(There are lost/replacement charges, processing fees and overdue/late fines that have varying amounts depending on count and type of items involved.)

SMU is committed to the health and well-being of all students. The Student Health Center is here to serve and provide students with medical care while attending the University. In order to ensure that students have appropriate health care coverage, a mandatory health insurance requirement was passed by the President's Executive Council in February 2008. This mandatory health insurance policy requires domestic students, both undergraduate and graduate, enrolled in nine or more credit hours to maintain insurance coverage as a condition of enrollment. All international students enrolled in one or more credit hours must enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), unless they receive a special waiver personally granted by the SMU Insurance Department.