• Housing
• Healthcare
• Health Requirements
• Health Insurance
• Transportation

Housing

Living in the residence hall is one of the many learning experiences you will enjoy at Georgia Southwestern State University.  You will have the opportunity to meet new people and make lifelong friends, to feel a sense of independence, yet belong to a community, and live in close contact with people who have values, attitudes, desires, and academic interests different from your own.    Residence hall staff and the residence hall council provide many different programs and social activities to students in the resident halls, such as seminars, dances, and movies.  The residence halls are not just a place to sleep; it is a place to learn.  All residence halls include amenities such as air conditioning, local phone service, study lounge, laundry room, kitchen, game room, common area/TV room and cable TV.  Certain residence halls provide non-smoking floors and Greek floors as well as computer labs and Internet connection.

MEAL PLAN:  All students living on campus as freshmen or sophomores or those having the equivalent of 60 earned semester hours, are required to purchase one of the available meal plans. 

For more information about housing and meal plans, please visit Residence Life Website.  (All rates subject to change.)

NOTE:  Students studying on an F-1 student visa are NOT eligible for Georgia Residency.

Healthcare

Georgia Southwestern State University is proud to house the Herschel A. Smith Health Center on campus.  The Health Center serves the health needs of all registered students.

Health Requirements:

ENTRANCE MEDICAL FORM: This health history form should be completed one month before the start of school. This form along with any other documentation should be mailed directly to the Health Center.

TUBERCULOSIS CLEARANCE - (Completed within the first ten days of arrival to campus.)  A mantoux skin test must be administered and read by nurse licensed health care provider within ten days of your arrival to Georgia Southwestern State University.   If you have a history of a positive TB skin test, you must have a chest-x-ray report performed within ten days of your arrival to Georgia Southwestern State University.  BCG alone is not acceptable as a positive history unless a skin test has been given and the result was 10mm or greater.

IMMUNIZATIONS:

• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) two doses required for students born in 1957 or later),
• TETANUS-DIPHTHERIA –required of all students, Completion of primary series (DTaP, DTP or TD) within the last ten years prior to matriculation OR TETANUS  Booster within the past 10 years
• VARICELLA – required for all students , history of Varicella (Chicken Pox) OR Laboratory /serologic evidence of immunity  OR  
• HEPATITIS B- required of all students who are 18 years of age or younger. (Three doses of vaccine or a positive surface antibody)
• MENINGOCOCCAL-vaccination or waiver required of students residing in campus housing

*If you elect to show proof of vaccination or immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hepatitis B, copies of Laboratory Reports for positive titers are required.  For negative titer results, please provide documentation of post titer vaccinations. 

PROOF OF HEALTH INSURANCE

For your protection, GSW requires all international students to purchase and maintain health and accident insurance.  Please submit copy of insurance card with dates of enrollment to the Health Center.  A student who purchases insurance other than the plan offered through GSW, must have the plan approved by the business office.  (You can learn more about this requirement below.)

NOTE:  All reports and documentations must be in English.  Unless otherwise noted, all requirements must be met prior to arriving at GSW.

Insurance

Health care costs are very expensive in the United States.  Unfortunately, the United States government does not subsidize health care costs.  As an F-1 international student who is responsible for all personal costs, you will need to purchase a health and accident insurance plan to assist with any medical or accident costs incurred during your stay.  Georgia Southwestern State University requires all international students to submit proof he/she (and all dependents) is covered by an approved health insurance plan. International students must present proof of this coverage each semester prior to registering for classes.

International health insurance plans are generally not accepted at U.S. hospitals, clinics or physician’s offices.  Therefore, Georgia Southwestern requires students to purchase a plan from a company within the United States.  A plan may be purchased through the university at approximately $45 per month (students will be assessed for the entire term when they register).  Brochures for the plan endorsed by GSW can be picked up from the Herschel A. Smith Health Center or through the Business Office (Cashier’s Window).  A student who purchases insurance other than the plan offered through GSW, must have the plan approved by the business office.

Transportation

Public Transportation

• The Office of Student Life (OSL) offers a shuttle that takes students to various places around town.  Call the OSL at (928-1387) for a schedule of dates and pick-up times.
• The City of Americus also offers a public transit system for those who need a ride to shopping, banking, and other local destinations.  Operating hours are 8:00am till 5:00pm  Monday through Friday.  For further information please call the Americus Public Transit at (229) 924-4414.
• Check the local telephone listing for local taxi services.  Remember, you are responsible for any incurred fares/fees.

Driver’s License

You may apply for a Georgia Driver’s License at the Georgia State Patrol Post located at 506 West Lamar Street (Phone: (229) 928-1200).  Click here to learn more about requirements, procedures, and operating hours.