Congratulations on Your Admission
to the UConn School of Medicine.

Admission to the School of Medicine is quite an accomplishment, and we are very pleased for you. Before the year gets started there is a good deal of information we would like to share with you, and some information that we will need to gather from you as well. This page is the source for that information, so please check it regularly. We will be adding important information over the course of the summer, and will notify you via email when we have made additions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admissions@uchc.edu.

ORIENTATION/LAUNCH

Launch, which includes orientation and curricular activities, (August 11-28) is a required event for all new students. Launch events may be in-person, or a combination of in-person and virtual activities. Please plan on being engaged, either in-person or online, from 8 am – 5 pm on those weekdays. Students will often rotate in small group experiences, and to accommodate the schedule there will also be some evening sessions that will require your participation. The Orientation/Launch period consists of a combination of activities to help familiarize you with the Health Center, meet your classmates, continue your “on-boarding” to the School of Medicine, and begin the foundational coursework that you will build upon in Block A courses. In other words, you will be attending classes during the Launch.

Preparatory materials for Orientation/Launch will be made available prior to August 11. Instructions on how to access these materials will be provided. You can expect that a significant amount of preparation will be required for a number of sessions during this period.

Academic Calendar

This calendar refers to important dates that pertain only to incoming students in 2025-2026, and is subject to change.
Stage 1 Academic Calendar

Weekly Schedules

Stage 1 students will be placed in one of three learning communities. Each learning community follows their own weekly schedule, consisting of 22 required contact hours per week. When classes begin in August we expect to be in-person, but the schedule and curriculum have the flexibility to respond to the environment as needed. Learning communities (and weekly schedules) will be announced during Orientation/Launch. Students can expect to spend 60 hours each week between the contact hours and preparation/study time for classes.
Example of Weekly Schedules

NetIDs

You used your NetID to make your enrollment deposit. You will need your NetID to access curricular information on HuskyCT (instructions on that later). If you have forgotten your NetID, or need to change the password, you can retrieve it or reset your password at https://netid.uconn.edu/. If you have questions, please contact UITS at 860-486-4357 or helpcenter@uconn.edu.

ID Badges

You must visibly wear your ID badge at all times in the Health Center. The ID Office will prepare your badges in advance, and they will be provided to you on the first day of orientation. In order to do this, you need to provide a “headshot” photo of yourself and email it to admissions@uchc.edu by Monday, June 9th. In the subject line of your email, write your Last name, First name, student photo.

Your photo must be:

• Against a solid background
• A shoulders & up head shot (not a selfie)
• In .jpg format
• Facing forward

White Coat Ceremony

While the specifics of the Orientation and Launch schedule has not yet been finalized (August 11-28), the date for the White Coat Ceremony has been set! The School of Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony will take place on Friday, August 22 at 10 a.m. The current plan (subject to change) is to have an in-person ceremony in the Academic Rotunda. The attire for the White Coat Ceremony is professional.

Each student is allowed to bring a maximum of two guests to the ceremony; tickets will be provided. Please be aware that the Health Center reserves the right to change the guest policy if restrictions change. A link to the live stream of the ceremony will be provided for you to share with family and friends who are not able to attend, and the ceremony will be recorded in case anyone wants to watch at a later time.

Laptops

The standardized laptop requirement for the School of Medicine for students entering in 2025 is the Dell Mobile Precision Workstation 3490. You will receive the required laptop when you arrive on campus, so you do not need to purchase one in advance. It will be pre-loaded with the required curricular software chosen by the faculty. The Precision Workstation 3490 is a top-of-the-line model equipped with an Intel Core  Ultra 7 165H processor technology and 32 GB RAM and meets the strict specifications mandated by the e-testing program used throughout your courses here. The computer comes with a 4-year accidental damage protection warranty in the event that your laptop needs repairs. (*please note the battery coverage is limited and not part of the standard computer warranty)* The laptop is itemized on your tuition and fee bill. If you receive financial aid, the cost of the laptop is included in the budget prepared by the Financial Aid Office.

Order Your White Coat

All students will receive a white coat at the White Coat Ceremony. Place your white coat order and select your size and how you want your name to appear by filling out this survey. These coats use men’s sizing; please refer to the size chart below. Please be sure to submit your answers by June 9. We want to make sure that we have enough time to order a white coat for everyone!

Men’s Chest Measurement
2XS = 32"
XS = 34" or 36"
S = 38"
M = 40"
L = 42" or 44"
XL = 46" or 48"
2XL = 50" or 52"
3XL = 54" or 56"
4XL = 58" or 60"

Health Forms

Incoming students must have a physical exam within 6 months of the first day of Launch. You can complete this requirement with your own primary care provider or with UConn’s Occupational Health Services.

Please note: While it is requested that students stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, it is not currently required. The current requirement is for reporting the status of your COVID-19 vaccinations. Please report this on your immunization form.

If you choose to use your own provider, email all of your completed forms to SOMFormsReview@uchc.edu before the first day of Launch. Your own health insurance will be billed for the exam, as well as any immunizations and tests.

If you choose to use UConn’s Occupational Health, call 860-679-2893 to schedule an appointment before the first day of Launch. Your own health insurance will be billed for the exam, as well as any immunizations and tests.  Bring all of the completed forms with you, including any available immunization documentation. Do not make an appointment that conflicts with new student orientation/launch, as your attendance is mandatory.

• Pay special attention to the immunization requirements and get those you are missing with your own physician before you arrive.
• A Hepatitis B surface antibody is required. If it’s negative, this vaccine should be started immediately by your own physician.

Health Letter
Health Questionnaire
Verification of Health Requirements
Health Requirements FAQ

PARKING PERMITS

Please complete the parking form below and email it to parking.transportation@uchc.edu with “Student Parking – first name last name” in the subject line.

• In the email say you are a 2025 incoming medical student
• Form is due by June 9
• Under category, check SOM 1st year
• Leave payment type and payroll deduction sections blank
• Even if you are not parking on campus, you still need to complete the form and check off the decline box!

Parking Form

FINAL TRANSCRIPTS

We require final transcripts from anyone who received a bachelor’s degree in the Fall of 2024 or Spring of 2025. If this applies to you, please request your final official transcript showing the degree granted be sent to us electronically at admissions@uchc.edu.

APPLYING FOR ACCOMMODATIONS

Students requesting accommodations in relation to a documented disability or condition must register with the UConn’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD).

• To register with the CSD, register online by logging into CSD MyAccess. A NetID and password are required for registration. If you prefer, you can register using a Paper Registration Form.pdf.
• Provide evidence regarding your condition(s) to the CSD. Evidence includes your self-report, which is provided by you during the registration process.  Evidence should also include documentation from a third party.
  • Documentation Guidelines are available on the CSD website.  You are encouraged to share the appropriate guidelines with your treatment provider.  You may upload documentation to your CSD MyAccess account or submit confidentially by email to: myaccess-csd@uconn.edu.
• After completing the online registration process, you will receive an email with the name of your Disability Service Professional (DSP) who will work with you for the duration of your program. Your DSP will email you with the next steps in the accommodations process.

Email CSD@uconn.edu with questions or concerns regarding the accommodations process.

URBAN SERVICE TRACK/AHEC SCHOLARS APPLICATIONS

Please review the information on the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars program, an opportunity to work with urban under-served patient populations. The information includes a link to an on-line application for those who would like to be considered for this enrichment opportunity. The on-line application is available now and will remain open until July 1, 2025.

UST Information Letter

EMAIL ACCOUNTS

New student network accounts have been created! Please use the UConn Health information in the list below to log in to http://user.uchc.edu. You will be prompted to change your temporary password.  If you have any issues updating your password, call the help desk at 860-679-4400 and let them know you are an incoming medical student.

The initial password is set to First Initial First Name Uppercased + First Initial Last Name Lowercase + DOB (formatted YYYYMMDD). For example, John Doe with DOB 12/31/1999 would have an initial password of Jd19991231. You must enter leading zeros. For example, if John Doe were born on May 6, 1989, it would be: Jd19890506

After you change your temporary password, you can access your UConn Health email by visiting http://user.uchc.edu with your new password. As a student, it is your responsibility to check this account on a daily basis.

You will also see your uconn.edu “Storrs” email account on the list. You will need this information during Launch for when you use Office 360. All emails sent to your uconn.edu email will be automatically forwarded to your uchc.edu account.

List of email accounts

HUSKY CT

HuskyCT (Blackboard) is our curricular management system, and it is where you will find information on your courses and assignments. The navigation toolbar on the left is identical for all courses. You will need your NetID in order to log into HuskyCT at lms.uconn.edu.  Please review the brief introductory videos below.

Welcome to Blackboard
How to navigate Blackboard

CLIC PRESENTATION & SURVEY

Beginning in mid-September and spanning three years, you will spend half a day per week with one of our community physician faculty members in their practice. The UConn CLIC Program aims to expose you to patients in a continuity setting and enable you to gradually take on more responsibility in patient care as your skills and knowledge progress. This program is a cornerstone of our medical school curriculum, offering students the opportunity to express their preferences for site placements. While we strive to accommodate these preferences, we may not always be able to match students with their top choices due to scheduling and availability constraints.

For our CLIC office to begin the matching process, you will need to complete the below tasks in the following order:

1. Log in to HuskyCT and navigate to the course “CLIC - Longitudinal Immersion in the Community - Class of 2029”
2. Watch and complete the “Interactive CLIC Presentation AY 25-26” (approximately 15–20 minutes).
3. After viewing the presentation and gaining a clear understanding of the CLIC program, please complete the CLASS OF 2029 CLIC SURVEY HERE

Students begin CLIC around the third week of medical school. We're looking forward to meeting you in a few weeks! If you have any questions, please contact the CLIC Program directly at UConnSOMCLIC@uchc.edu

Please complete the presentation in HuskyCT and the survey no later than Friday, July 11^th.

$3,214 MEDICAL INSURANCE CHARGE

As a student, it is a university requirement that you are insured in a medical insurance plan. ALL UConn Health students are automatically be charged for the university-sponsored Wellfleet/Cigna medical insurance plan. The cost of the coverage, for the full plan year (August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026) is $3,214.

All of your program/tuition/charges/fees will be billed via the UConn student administration system. You should have already received an email notification that your fall 2025 e-bill is available to view. You will not receive a printed/mailed fee bill. The $3,214 student insurance charge will be one of the charges posted on your fall 2025 term fee bill.

You do have the option to choose an alternative medical insurance plan – other than the university-sponsored Wellfleet/Cigna plan. If you choose to be covered by another insurance plan (including a parent’s insurance plan), you MUST complete an online insurance waiver to have the $3,214 insurance charge removed from your fall 2025 fee bill.

If you are considering enrollment in the Wellfleet/Cigna plan and the additional dental coverage, you can find an explanation of the plan benefits/coverage in 2025-2026 Medical Coverage Highlights and Dental Plan Flyer below.

The online waiver to decline the Wellfleet/Cigna plan is accessed via the student administration system using your NetID. You can find the instructions on how to complete the waiver on the Waive UConn Health Insurance page. The online waiver is available until the deadline of September 15, 2025. If you have other alternative medical coverage and do not want to be enrolled in the Wellfleet/Cigna plan – you MUST complete an online waiver prior to the September 15, 2025 deadline. Failure to complete an online waiver will result in your enrollment in the plan, and you will NOT be eligible for a refund of the $3,214 premium.

If you have questions related to the plan, benefits, or waiver process, please contact the University of Connecticut Insurance Coordinator Tara Schlagenhauf at tara.schlagenhauf@uconn.edu, 860-486-9239, or Kathy Aldrich at kathy.aldrich@uconn.edu, 860-486-4535.

Medical Coverage Highlights
Dental Plan Flyer
Waiver Instructions

BOOK GROUP ASSIGNMENT

As mentioned earlier, there will be preparation involved for many of the sessions during Launch.  One of the sessions involves you getting access to a book this summer, The Political Determinants of Health by Daniel E. Dawes so that it can be discussed in a “book group” session early on during Launch.

Soon all of your prep work for Launch will be available on HuskyCT, but the site is not quite ready yet, so we wanted to send you this assignment now to give you plenty of time to prepare.  The syllabus for the session is below, and it lists the required prep work for students (under “Required ReALMs”).  The syllabus for the session includes information on how to access the Dawes book through Connecticut public libraries, or on Amazon.  The ReALMs listed on the syllabus as #2 and #3 have links you can access on the internet.  The PDF document listed as #4 under the required ReALMs is also below.

2025 Launch Book Syllabus
Tellez-Determinants of Oral Health

PREPARE FOR LAUNCH

Preparatory materials for Orientation/Launch have been posted on HuskyCT. Instructions on how to access these materials are below. You can expect that a significant amount of preparation will be required for a number of sessions during this period.

While formal grades will not be issued during the Launch period, there will be a practice examination in the final week of Launch. Those passing this examination will be exempted from completing one or more major graded homework assignments in HSS Block A (in September-October) as well as released from two mandatory review sessions also held during Block A. This material will also be included in the LEAP A examination in November.

Please Note: You will need to check back prior to the start of Launch as some syllabi and preparatory materials will be added in an ongoing basis until the Launch begins.

HuskyCT Ultra is our curricular management system, and it is where you will find useful information regarding schedules, team listings, and contact information for faculty and staff. In addition, this is where you will find preparatory curricular materials for Launch sessions and down the road, all Stage 1 courses. Note: you will need your NetID in order to log into HuskyCT Ultra.

On the HuskyCT Ultra homepage, select “Courses” from the blue panel on the left to display the courses you’re enrolled in. Select the course labeled “EXPL-8000-BSCI-9000-1258 (Launch)” to enter the Launch page. Once in, click on headers to expand a section and reveal relevant information. Course session materials will be found under the “Curricular Materials” heading.

Schedule & Required Preparation: The schedule for Orientation/Launch has not been finalized yet. However, below is a list of all of the sessions that have required preparatory assignments IN ADVANCE of the session.

2025 Launch Sessions With Required Preparation

MATRICULATING STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) surveys all medical students in the U.S. three times during their educational career – once at matriculation, once during the second year, and once at graduation. You have been receiving an email from the AAMC regarding the matriculating student questionnaire (MSQ) with your personalized survey link, but very few of you have completed the survey. This survey is very important to the School of Medicine, as the data helps us to assess our program and be better prepared to meet student needs, as well as being a critical factor with our national accreditation reviews. Please take the time to complete the MSQ, and if you can’t locate the email (it may have ended up in your spam filter), please contact MSQ@aamc.org so they can re-send.

WHAT TO BRING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL

• Students need to purchase this textbook which they need for LAUNCH, as well as for DoCC A-E: Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking (13th ed.)
• Be prepared with plenty of professional clothing (not suits, but business casual).
• You may want to purchase a cheap pair of scrubs for Anatomy Lab.
• During orientation, you will be given a laptop to keep (included in tuition/fees), parking pass for the year, a stethoscope (a generous gift from the Alumni Association), and spacious locker.
• Bring a combination lock to use on your assigned locker.
• Your portrait will be taken on the first day of Orientation, so look sharp (professional dress)!

WHAT TO WEAR

Most of the Orientation/Launch requires you to be in professional dress. Suits are not necessary, but business casual is considered professional. Professional dress is required on the 11th (photos will be taken) and for the White Coat Ceremony on the 22nd. In addition, professional dress is expected on any day that your schedule shows DoCC or Clinical Skills, and that is most days. We are waiting for the schedule to be finalized, and will post it as soon as it’s ready.