Student Eligibility
Fall/Spring – All students assessed the student common fee for professional services and enrolled at Missouri State-West Plains are eligible to access the Professional Services benefit. Services provided from first day of fall/spring semester through last day of fall/spring final examinations as published in the catalog. Services continue through break periods for those students who pre-enroll as continuing for the upcoming semester.
Summer – Students who are pre-enrolled for fall classes at Missouri State-West Plains are eligible for summer professional services beginning the first business day following spring semester final examinations.
Online & Missouri State Outreach Students – Students taking Missouri State University-Springfield classes through the Outreach office are not automatically enrolled to receive the Professional Services benefits. Students interested to receive this benefit may request these services to the business office no later than the close of business the second Friday of full semester classes and receive the benefits of the Professional Services program. (Springfield students should first contact the Missouri State Outreach office at 417-255-7931.)
Dual Credit - Dual Credit students, students who take college level courses at their local high school campuses, are not enrolled to receive professional services benefits and are therefore not eligible to access these services.
Student Health Services
Missouri State University-West Plains students are entitled to basic office visits at no charge to themselves. A basic office visit is a 15-20 minute appointment where a doctor or other medical services provider meets with a student, asks the symptoms and makes a diagnosis. Any additional services, such as x-ray, lab work, etc., will be charged to the student by Southern Missouri Community Health Center (SMCHC). Prior to any x-rays, lab work or other procedures being performed, the medical provider will present the student with a consent form. The consent form will contain the name of the procedure to be completed and any costs associated with the procedure so that a student will be fully informed.
Missouri State-West Plains has a contractual relationship with SMCHC to provide basic office visits to Missouri State-West Plains students at their clinic locations in the region. Medical personnel in these clinics will also provide many medical related services and procedures, as well as referral services to women's health services, counseling and a variety of specialists and surgeons. The basic office visit is provided at no cost; all other services will be charged to students or process private insurance if available.
The Clinics
The following clinic locations and times are available. Appointments are not necessary at SMCHC West Plains, but appointments are highly preferred. In all cases, please indicate that you are a Missouri State-West Plains student and you will be advanced to a priority status if possible.
| Clinic | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Missouri Community Health Clinic - West Plains 1137 Independence Dr. West Plains, MO 65775 (417) 255-8464 |
Closed | 8 - 5 | 8 - 5 | 8 - 5 | 8 - 5 | 8 - 5 | Closed |
| Southern Missouri Community Health Clinic - Thayer 9394 US 63 Thayer, MO 65791 (417) 264-2990 |
Closed |
8 - 12 1 - 5 |
8 - 12 1 - 5 |
8 - 12 1 - 5 |
8 - 12 1 - 5 |
8 - 12 1 - 5 |
Closed |
Flu Shots
Vaccinations for Type A/B seasonal influenza are provided each fall at no cost to Missouri State-West Plains students. The shots are also available to students' family members for a fee. Watch your campus email for publicity.
Counseling Services
Mental health can have a significant impact on college success. For that reason Missouri State-West Plains encourages all students to seek attention for mental health and substance abuse issues that may be negatively affecting their college experience. Students who are enrolled at any Missouri State-West Plains location have options on campus or within the community.
Students at Missouri State-West Plains have the opportunity to utilize 8 sessions per semester, at no additional cost. Licensed counselors are available to provide short-term counseling to students enrolled in at least 1 credit hour of the semester. The Counseling Center provides both individual and group counseling sessions. Many students seek out counseling services to help them with problems they are facing such as mental health challenges, relationship issues, changing habits, making life decisions, adjusting to changes in life and others. To schedule an appointmnet or gather more information on the Missouri State-West Plains Counseling Center, call 417-255-7290 or email wpcounseling@missouristate.edu. The Counseling Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.
Missouri State-West Plains Counseling Center is not available for crisis intervention. If a student is in crisis, they are enouraged to call 911 in the event of a medical or psychological emergency. Students may also attain crisis support at 800-356-5395. If a student is in need of more counseling sessions than the Counseling Center is able to provide, students will be referred to SMCHC Mental Health Services. This service is provided to MSU-WP students at no additional cost. Students may call 417-255-8464 or visit 1137 Independence Drive, West Plains to schedule an appointment.
Students living in the Thayer area can access counseling services through the MSU-WP Counseling Center, or SMCHC located at 9394 US 63, Thayer, MO by calling 417-264-2990. For individuals seeking immediate crisis services, call 800-356-5395 for 24 hour services.
Legal Services
Legal Services are available for students who meet financial guidelines through Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM). LSSM has a location in West Plains at 408 Washington Ave, Suite 200 and can be reached by calling 417-255-0348 or toll free 800-444-4863. LSSM provides services to 43 counties in southern Missouri and also has locations in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Springfield, and Rolla.
Notary Services
A Notary Public is a person appointed by a state official to serve as a disinterested witness and verify that a signature is authentic. Many types of documents require signatures to be "notarized." All documents presented for notarization must have the correct form of notary certificate on them. Identification is required. The best form of identification is one that includes a photograph and signature (such as a valid driver's license). Do not sign the document until you present it to the notary. Some documents, such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees and school documents (i.e., diplomas, transcripts), cannot be notarized. Notary services are available to students at the student services reception desk in Lybyer Technology Center 207 and in the Veterans' Center located in Hass-Darr Hall 104.
For more information about any aspect of Professional Services for Students, contact student services (417-255-7255), student life and development (417-255-7233), or visit the student services reception desk in Lybyer Technology Center 207.
Health Insurance
Although health insurance is not included as a part of the Professional Services program, the following information has been provided for students in need of health insurance beyond what is available through the Professional Services plan. There are a variety of programs available to meet their needs.
Domestic students seeking health insurance coverage have several possibilities:
This site is by Academic HealthPlans, the company that provides the MSU international student coverage. AHP offers students a wide array of privately purchased health insurance options. The student can select according to their individual preferences with varying premiums and coverage. These insurance plans are not affiliated with Missouri State University.
2) https://www.healthcare.gov/
This is the federal health insurance website. Plans begin January 1, 2015. There are some provisions to obtain insurance earlier if the student has one of the specified qualifying events detailed in the website information.
3) Parent Insurance Plans
Many students have purchased insurance through the parent(s) plans, up to student age 26.
4) Private Insurance Plans
Insurance can also be obtained through private agents or directly from health insurance companies.
International students with an F-1 or J-1 visa status (including ELI students) are required to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan. More information about the program and how to enroll is available at the following website: