March 4, 2013
To Dr. Gilles Bousquet, Interim Chancellor, UW Eau Claire
We are writing to register our concerns with the actions of a Request for Information
(RFI) and most recently a Request for Proposal (RFP) directed at the University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire Student Health Services.
The primary equity issue for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is how
women on campus would be affected by changes that do not consider their perspectives
and health needs. If the student-focused and affordable care currently provided by
Student Health Services (SHS) were diminished, “partnered” or outsourced this would
disproportionately affect female students, as they utilize services more than men AND
comprise a larger percentage of the student body. The second equity issue is the impact
diminished campus health services would have on students who are uninsured or
underinsured.
The Commission on the Status of Women has concerns about the guiding principles for
an RFP and how the following key quality and specialized services currently offered
through SHS would be addressed:

Services provided are student-focused
o Safe, high quality, accessible, affordable, confidential, and meeting unique
student needs – medically, developmentally, and academically

Recruitment and retention would be adversely affected since current services are
offered on campus, are convenient, and less costly
o Hybrid of medical and support services in higher education
o No insurance necessary - eliminates student concerns of being uninsured,
“out of network,” or high deductibles
o Parents know there are medical and counseling services readily available
on campus

Services support mental health of students in partnership with Counseling
Services, CASA, CASE, Women’s and LGBTQ Resource Center, and the
Wellness Center
o Students are able to learn, grow and thrive when healthy
o Emphasis on health education to minimize risks, develop healthy lifestyles
and to appropriately navigate complex health care systems
Dr. Giles Bousquet
Page 2

Services ensure that the public health needs of the university community are met
o SHS is skilled and knowledgeable about what needs to be done to reduce
infection and protect all members of the campus community if there were
an outbreak of flu or other contagious disease
o SHS has provided campus-wide flu clinics that are accessible, affordable,
and part of a broader effort to ensure the health of the entire campus
community
o SHS is integrally linked to the Eau Claire County Public Health
Emergency Planning Committee and its emergency response plan

SHS offers opportunities for faculty practice and clinical experiences for nursing
students
o Providing faculty practice opportunities enhances recruitment and
retention of health care and health science educators, which is vital to the
University
o Providing student learning opportunities in a wellness/urgent care setting
enhances the knowledge of nursing students and advances their clinical
skills and critical thinking abilities
o With increasing competition for clinical sites, having SHS on campus
ensures that UW Eau Claire nursing students will have priority and access
to this valuable learning environment

SHS partners with UW-Eau Claire Campus Community
 SHS has formed strong and committed partnerships with the following
campus entities:
o Athletics, Center for International Education, College of Nursing and
Health Sciences, College of Education, CASA, CASE, Women’s and
LGBTQ Resource Center, Students of Concern Team, Healthy
Living/Learning Community, Activities, Involvement and Leadership,
Student and University Senate
Student Health Services is an important part of the campus community especially for
women. In addition to serving a large number of female students, twenty of the twentyone SHS employees are female. These women are part of an enterprise that is valued and
positively contribute to the overall health and well-being of all students, faculty, and
staff.
Dr. Giles Bousquet
Page 3
We support a transparent, inclusive process that ensures UW-Eau Claire women’s
voices are part of the discussion and decisions that are ultimately made about the
future of Student Health Services
Sincerely,
The Commission on the Status of Women:
Melissa Bonstead-Bruns
Mary Canales
Sanjukta Chaudhuri
Demetrius Evans
Judith Gatlin
Katherine Hinnant
Christopher Jorgenson
Pat Karlen, Chair
C:
Theresa Kemp
Robin Leary
Audrey Mulliner
Teresa O’Halloran
Vicki Reed
Manda Riehl
Mitra Sadeghpour
Emily Vanlandschoot
Laura Chellman, SHS Director
Brian Carlisle, Dean of Students
Mark Reeves, Business Services Director
Beth Hellwig, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Susan Harrison, University Senate Chair
Susan Ayres, Classified Staff Council Chair
Corydon Fish, Student Senate Chair