Student Medical Services to Move Out of Cowell Center Clinic

Student Medical Services in The Cowell Center will be closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)

Santa Clara University will close its on-campus Student Medical Services at the Cowell Center, transitioning student health care to an off-campus clinic operated by Sutter Health.

Starting this fall, students will visit the new Bronco Student Health Clinic at the Sutter University Square Care Center, located at 1111 Washington St., just blocks from campus. The clinic will offer primary care, women’s health services, immunizations and, for the first time, on-site imaging and lab work. Students will also have access to expanded specialty care, behavioral health medication services and contraceptive services that were not previously offered through the University’s clinic.

University officials say the move is designed to expand healthcare options available to students while increasing access to year-round care.

“This transition is an opportunity to expand the healthcare resources available to our students,” said Heather Dumas-Dyer, associate vice provost for student health, counseling and well-being.

In an April 13 campuswide email, Vice Provost for student life Jeanne Rosenberger described the transition as an opportunity to broaden healthcare services and provide access to care beyond the academic year.

Unlike the existing model, which primarily operates during the academic year, the new clinic will remain open 12 months a year. All degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students will have access to medical services. 

According to University officials, services will now be billable through insurance. Students whose insurance is not accepted will still be able to receive covered services through the University’s healthcare model, and the University is developing additional support for Pell-eligible students who may face healthcare-related expenses.

“Cowell closing is a significant step forward for students at Santa Clara,” said Helena Kavanagh ’27, giving her thoughts on the move. “With the new longer hours, summer access, and more resources on-site, it’ll be much easier to get care that fits students’ everyday needs.”

The transition follows years of student feedback requesting expanded healthcare options. According to Dumas-Dyer, students have consistently expressed interest in a broader range of services than the University was able to provide on campus. The partnership with Sutter Health will give students access to services previously unavailable through Student Medical Services at the Cowell Center.

The transition comes with immediate changes. Students with ongoing or complex medical needs are being urged to request their medical records before the June 4 closure. Due to privacy regulations, records will not automatically transfer to the new provider. Students must complete a Release of Information form and submit it to the Cowell Center before records can be securely sent to them for future use.

The Cowell Center’s Student Medical Services team will remain open through the end of spring quarter, with appointments available until June 11. After that, students seeking medical care will need to visit community providers or the Sutter University Square Care Center until the Bronco Student Health Clinic officially opens Aug. 1.

University officials noted that Student Medical Services has historically been unavailable during summer months, making the transition period similar to previous years. However, students using the Sutter clinic before Aug. 1 should confirm that their insurance is accepted, as some may be responsible for out-of-pocket costs before the University partnership formally begins.

Counseling and Psychological Services, SCU Emergency Medical Services and the University’s registered dietitian will remain on campus and continue operating as usual.

University officials say the partnership will allow students to access more advanced care without traveling far from campus. The clinic will also coordinate with local pharmacies for prescription pickup and delivery.

The Cowell Center has long served as a familiar and central location for student healthcare, making the transition a significant change for many students. As the University prepares for the August opening, administrators say they will continue updating a public FAQ page and sharing additional information about healthcare coverage, costs and services available through the new clinic.